Microsoft launches Edge browser on Windows and macOS
- by Nick Cohen
- in Industry
- — Jan 17, 2020
Since it is built on Chromium, the new Edge browser contains many features found in Google's popular web browser. If an organisation is running Home or Pro Editions of Windows 10, they can block the automatic update using Microsoft's Blocker Toolkit available as a free download. It will be "offered to additional devices as data and feedback indicate that users are having a good experience", Microsoft said.
Alternatively, general consumers on Windows can just wait, and have Windows Update automatically load the new browser onto their PC. That doesn't mean you have to reconfigure everything though as all your favourites, settings, password, contact info and other information will sync if you move across to the new browser.
Included among the promised features are thorough privacy tools, 4K streaming support, optimization for Windows 10, enterprise-grade security, and support for Chrome extensions that can be accessed from either the Microsoft Store or Chrome Web Store. Batches of Windows users will receive an update including the new Edge over the next few months.
To get the new Edge for Android and iOS, you'll have to head to the Google Play Store and App Store respectively. Specifically, the browser makes use of the Chromium web engine.
Now click the top right button to add new languages and enable the one that you want to use. Managed devices will not be automatically updated to the new Microsoft Edge. The product replaces the previous version of Edge if running on an up-to-date Windows 10 device.
The new browser offers users three different levels of tracking prevention. There also an Edge documentation page, which links to a document on update policies that can be used by IT pros. If you're a Mac user, Edge is now available for your computer for the first time and it's definitely worth a look. History and extension sync are now MIA, though Microsoft will eventually include them in an update later this year.
The new Edge browser will also come with some minor differences in usability with the lies of Collections which allows you to collate images and content from the web and tracking prevention. This would help Microsoft beta test the rollout approach for the masses. Chrome extensions will also be supported in the new Edge browser, so things should feel extremely familiar even if you have customised your experience considerably. While there have been stable releases before, all of these were not officially released by Microsoft.
Now, users can download the new version. Microsoft contends that there will be no conflicts with an Edge stable channel release if these test browsers are run on the same system. The migration process will begin in the coming weeks with a subset of Insiders in the Windows Release Preview ring (which is what Microsoft calls its beta testing for some reason).