Is it named Spartan because of its cheap, rugged efficiency or something?
I’d like to have a browser that had a button I could push that said “we’ll stop all that added crap you get from web pages you don’t want”. We won’t let any embedded video/audio clips load (we’ll load them into trash) and those popups will get put in a folder to trash spam the sender via Outlook after you log off.
Stuff like that. I don’t want Chrome Bars, Google bars, hints, instructions and twenty gazillion boxes popping up asking me if I’m sure I want to do that? I don’t wanna track my steps, heartbeats, blood pressure or mood, look at ways to save money, buy cheaper insurance or find a date.
Just the URL without all the crap. Can Spartan do that?
I don't know for certain yet, but I kinda doubt it. It's in Microsoft's interest to do what nearly everyone else in the social networking and browser arenas is doing, collecting data on you and selling it to the highest bidder, or using it themselves. That's not to slam Microsoft at all, they're just doing business, and let's face it, they're giving away a LOT of engineering effort and they want something in return. Fair's fair.
Now if I were PAYING for a browser, I'd have the right to demand it not track me and tell me what I want. But I'm a realist in this regard -- there's no truly free lunch in commercial software. Everybody wants something.