So long, Internet Explorer. The browser is finally retiring
San Francisco, Jun 15: Internet Explorer is finally headed out to pasture. As of Wednesday, Microsoft will no longer support the once-dominant browser that legions of web surfers loved to hate and a few still claim to adore. The 27-year-old application now joins BlackBerry phones, dial-up modems and Palm Pilots in the dustbin of tech history.
IE's demise was not a surprise. A year ago, Microsoft said that it was putting an end to Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, pushing users to its Edge browser, which was launched in 2015.
The company made clear then it was time to move on.
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, Sean Lyndersay, general manager of Microsoft Edge Enterprise, wrote in a May 2021 blog post.
Users marked Explorer's passing on Twitter, with some referring to it as a bug-ridden, insecure POS or the top browser for installing other browsers. For others it was a moment for 90's nostalgia memes, while The Wall Street Journal quoted a 22-year-old who was sad to see IE go.
Microsoft released the first version of Internet Explorer in 1995, the antediluvian era of web surfing dominated by the first widely popular browser, Netscape Navigator. Its launch signaled the beginning of the end of Navigator: Microsoft went on to tie IE and its ubiquitous Windows operating system together so tightly that many people simply used it by default instead of Navigator.
The Justice Department sued Microsoft in 1997, saying it violated an earlier consent decree by requiring computer makers to use its browser as a condition of using Windows. It eventually agreed to settle the antitrust battle in 2002 over its use of its Windows monopoly to squash competitors. It also tangled with European regulators who said that tying Internet Explorer to Windows gave it an unfair advantage over rivals such as Mozilla's Firefox, Opera and Google's Chrome.
Users, meanwhile, complained that IE was slow, prone to crashing and vulnerable to hacks. IE's market share, which in the early 2000s was over 90%, began to fade as users found more appealing alternatives.
Today, the Chrome browser dominates with roughly a 65% share of the worldwide browser market, followed by Apple's Safari with 19%, according to internet analytics company Statcounter. IE's heir, Edge, lags with about about 4%, just ahead of Firefox.
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ICAI Dubai Chapter officials honor prominent Kannadiga NRI SM Syed Khalil
Dubai: A delegation from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI Dubai Chapter) recently visited the reputed NRI Businessman and founding member of the ICAI Dubai Chapter, SM Syed Khalil, at his residence in Dubai to extend their felicitations.
Led by Rajesh Kumar Somani, Chairman of the ICAI Dubai Chapter, the delegation included Secretary Rishi Chawla, Treasurer Dheeraj Ranasaria, and Executive Member Aashna Mulgaonkar.
During the visit, the delegation commended SM Syed Khalil for his dedicated service to the ICAI Dubai Chapter, where he served as Chairman for two terms between 1987 and 1994. They also acknowledged his ongoing guidance and support to the chapter's office bearers since its inception.
As a token of appreciation, the delegation presented SM Syed Khalil with a memento and expressed their gratitude for his continued support and mentorship in the future.
SM Syed Khalil, a distinguished chartered accountant, has contributed significantly to the UAE's business landscape, notably with the Galadari family for nearly three decades when he first joined as general manager of the Khaleej Times daily newspaper. His tenure includes serving as the Group Executive Director of Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group from 2002 to 2011 and currently holding the position of Founding Chairman of K&K Enterprise, a general trading company based in Sharjah.
Prior to his UAE endeavors, Khalil held prominent roles with Mahindra Ugine Steel in India and served as Vice-Chairman of the Jashanmal Group of Companies. He also serves as the Chairman of Maadhyama Communications Ltd., and Chairman of news channel Sahil Online.
Additionally, he has established various media companies and charitable foundations in Dubai and India, demonstrating his commitment to philanthropy.
