Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser launches 15th Jan

by Mark Tyson on 5 November 2019, 12:11

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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Microsoft's plans to transition to a Chromium-based Edge browser were first officially confirmed in December last year. Then in spring we got to see preview builds arrive for willing guinea pigs. Now Microsoft has announced the new Microsoft Edge will be coming to users from 15th January, though a release candidate is ready and available for download (Windows and MacOS) immediately.

The new version of Edge is based around Google's open-source Chromium project code and Blink rendering engine. This, admits Microsoft, offers users "best in class web compatibility and performance". Another bonus is that going forward, Edge will be able to support the host of Chrome extensions that have been developed for Google's browser.

However, just because it is based upon this open-source code doesn't mean that Microsoft's new browser will be in any way a clone of Google Chrome. Microsoft mentions some key attractions of its revamped browser as follows:

  • Microsoft Edge starts with tracking prevention on by default.
  • SmartScreen and Tracking prevention help protect you from phishing schemes, malicious software and new types of malware like cryptojacking.
  • There is an InPrivate mode available across your entire web experience so your online searches and browsing are not attributed to you.
  • Collections allows you to build, organise and concatenate data from around the web and export this content to apps like Word and Excel.
  • A built-in read-aloud text accessibility feature.
  • An inking friendly web page annotations feature
  • Searching of co-workers, office locations, floor plans, company acronyms particular to your organisation via the address bar.

Last but not least Microsoft has updated the logo for Edge. This design captures "the waves of innovation that we plan to bring to you," says Microsoft. It appears to be quite a departure from the logos that preceded it, yet retains the form of the lower case letter E.



HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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chrome with a new skin - fun
tomcoleman
chrome with a new skin - fun

It's much more than that - don't get mixed up with “Chromium” and “Chrome”, they are different things. I switched from Chrome to edge 3 months ago and have not looked back - I don't miss anything bar a couple of extensions (which I will now be able to use, yey!) and I saw a big drop in memory usage alongside an increase in battery performance since the switch. I just hope the switch of engine doesn't negatively affect those - given that both were my primary motivation to switch in the first place!

Really lazy choice of logo though - way too similar to the firefox logo imo. Surely the marketing team could have come up with something more original!
The animation makes it appear as though the “E” for Edge is morphing into a “C” for Chrome.


Which is kinda the case.
At least the new logo looks better than the old one. I always got kind of a “Sonic the Hedgehog” vibe from that one.
philehidiot
The animation makes it appear as though the “E” for Edge is morphing into a “C” for Chrome.

Which is kinda the case.

Exactly - i like it!