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Microsoft To Finally Retire Internet Explorer In 2022
Microsoft has been gradually phasing out Internet Explorer over the years by cutting it off from accessing some of its products, and promoting Microsoft Edge.
After more than 25 years of service, Microsoft has finally decided to retire its iconic web browser, Internet Explorer.
The official end of its support has been scheduled on June 15, 2022, and the few people who still rely on it are encouraged to switch to Microsoft Edge or some other modern web browser by that time.
“We are announcing that the future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge,” writes Sean Lyndersay, Microsoft Edge program manager, in the official press release.
The announcement is great news for all web developers who still have to implement various compatibility hacks just to make their websites display well on Internet Explorer, whose web browser market share has been hovering around 1 percent lately, according to data from StatCounter.
Microsoft has been gradually phasing out Internet Explorer over the years by cutting it off from accessing some of its products, including Microsoft 365 online services, which will completely stop supporting the web browser beginning August 17, 2021.
“Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure, and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications,” Lyndersay adds.
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Indeed, Microsoft Edge has a built-in compatibility mode for legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications, including those that rely on ActiveX, a deprecated software framework that allows websites to provide interactive content such as videos and games.
The latest iteration of Microsoft Edge is actually based on Chromium, the open-source codebase for Google’s Chrome web browser. Because Edge and Chrome share the same codebase, they also support the same extensions and offer similar features. However, many independent tests show that Edge has the upper hand when it comes to performance, memory usage, and responsiveness.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.