Microsoft actually once thought of rebranding Internet Explorer

Now it can be told: Some folks at Microsoft for a time considered rebranding the Internet Explorer browser due to the negative impressions it left with many users.

 

A report on PC World cited a Reddit "Ask Me Antyhing" session with IE development team members affirmed the idea of renaming IE had been "suggested internally."

 

"It's been suggested internally; I remember a particularly long email thread where numerous people were passionately debating it. Plenty of ideas get kicked around about how we can separate ourselves from negative perceptions that no longer reflect our product today," it quoted Jonathan Sampson as saying.

 

The IE browser, while commanding more than half the desktop browser market, had been perceived as slow and insecure and too proprietary - no thanks to IE 6.

 

Since IE 6, Microsoft had tried to adapt to open standards for IE. IE's more recent versions have adopted features of other browsers such as automatic updates and extensions.

 

PC World also noted Microsoft has since tried to establish websites and post videos poking fun at IE's older versions such as browseryoulovedtohate.com.

 

On the other hand, IE engineers said they are not likely to build an IE for Mac soon.

 

"We don't have plans for that at this time. But definitely on our radar (and has been for previous releases)," said IE program manager Jacob Rossi. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News