*New* Edge (Chromium based) Preview is here! - Get it now!

[GoodBytes]

Several months ago, Microsoft has decided to scrap the Edge web browser. They concluded that they cannot catchup to all the web standards (and keep up with everything new that comes in) in addition, they have difficulty making a feature rich web browser at the same time, let alone perform optimizations. As a result, the software giant decided to scrap Edge completely and restart from scratch, this time using Chromium open source project (this is what Chrome uses) and contribute to it. Already work has been done for Chromium to feature a ARM64 version which is coming along, as well as smoother page scrolling, among other things.

 

Unlike the current Edge, it is no longer locked in to Windows 10. It is completely independent, and Microsoft is working on a version for Linux based OSs, as well as OSX, and even Windows 7 and 8.x support, just like Chrome.

 

 

 

In other words, this new Edge, is Chrome, but instead of having Google service integration, it integrates Microsoft own instead. In addition, it adds its own touches. For example, it uses a cleaner (in my opinion) setting panel and adds the codec and DRM needed for 4K Netflix video streaming support. It is expected that Microsoft will include other Edge specific features to this new Edge or the Chromium project over time.

 

And yes, it does supports Chrome extensions as well as the current Edge extensions! Just go on Chrome extension page, and from there, you can download and install as you normally do in Chrome, any extension you see (beside themes based ones).

 

Quote

Microsoft has focused on the fundamentals of browsing, reliability, and extension support for this early version of Edge built on Chromium, and the company is looking for feedback about the basics to start. Encouragingly, this new Edge browser runs surprisingly well, with full support for existing Chrome extensions. Microsoft is even building in sync support for things like favorites, browsing history, and extensions to sync across Edge. Favorites is only supported in this early version today, but sync support will be gradually improved before this new version of Edge is more broadly available in a beta version.

Both Microsoft and Google engineers have been working together to improve the underlying Chromium project so that Chrome and Edge run better on Windows. Microsoft has had around 150 commits accepted into Chromium, paving the way for improvements to Edge and Chromium on Windows 10. That includes improving accessibility, smooth scrolling support, Windows Hello integration, and things like ensuring the touch keyboard shows up reliably.

 

This new version of Edge is not out yet, not officially. It is under the Insider program (Beta), which you can join and enjoy right now, even if you are not part of the Windows Insider program. It is completely apart.

 

As we speak, the Edge Preview is only availible in Windows 10, users and you can download/join here:

https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/?form=MD18G6&OCID=MD18G6

 

Microsoft annonces the following features that is coming:

• Dark mode (although you can enable it manually under edge://flags/ currently)
• Accessibility Improvements
• Chekcer of Grammar
• Smooth Scrolling
• Reading View
• Built-in Page Translation

 

They are 3 channels you can play with (2 for now, third coming later):

 

Beta Channel - Updated every 6 week: This is the most stable beta version of the new Edge web browser.

Dev Channel - Updated every week: This version is less stable, but features a more solid experience with more complete features, fixes and changes to the web browser

Canary Channel - Least stable. Updated once a day, you basically get versions as they are being worked on. So you may face an issues with the web browser that comes and goes. Use at your own risk.

 

You can pick your prefered channel here:

https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/download/

 

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/8/18300077/microsoft-edge-chromium-canary-development-release-download

Source 2: Mail Box

 

Note: If you previously installed the leaked version of the new Edge web browser, you may need to uninstall it before installing the official Public insider/beta version of Edge.

 

[PlayStation 2]

I'm not even gonna lie, I'm gonna miss old Edge.

I always loved how it actually used your hardware to a good extent, especially compared to fucking Chrome. Hell, I could play 720p60 video just fine through YouTube on Edge on my mom's old laptop compared to not even being able to do 480p properly on Chrome.

[williamcll]

Someone give me some performance numbers, I wonder if chromium edge supports installing extensions not from the chrome store.

[hobobobo]

Chromium cancer is spreading... Thank god for firefox

On a more serious note, there should be an invistigation done by FTC into practices with browsers, chrome stays the "fastest" kinda in a shady way

[Hip]

Thanks for the info. Gonna try it out.

[GoodBytes]

2 minutes ago, williamcll said:

Someone give me some performance numbers, I wonder if chromium edge supports installing extensions not from the chrome store.

What numbers would you like? And yes it works.

[Hip]

13 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

What numbers would you like? And yes it works.

123456789 enough numbers?

[RejZoR]

10 minutes ago, handymanshandle said:

I'm not even gonna lie, I'm gonna miss old Edge.

I always loved how it actually used your hardware to a good extent, especially compared to fucking Chrome. Hell, I could play 720p60 video just fine through YouTube on Edge on my mom's old laptop compared to not even being able to do 480p properly on Chrome.

This. Chrome has by far the worst HW acceleration. For me it was 1080p60 on a prehistoric AMD E-450 laptop. Unplayable even at 480p in Chrome as it was still clearly dropping frames, stuttering and being all sluggish. Same goes for Netflix. Edge can play it at 4K or minimum 1080p. All other browsers, 720p that almost feels like 576p... What a progress...

[TheGlenlivet]

Same 4 tabs open in each 

Chrome 1065.5MB

Edge (new) - 617 MB

 

Seems to use a little less RAM.

[Hip]

4 minutes ago, TheGlenlivet said:

Same 4 tabs open in each 

Chrome 1065.5MB

Edge (new) - 617 MB

 

Seems to use a little less RAM.

Brave Browser: 7 Tabs = 770mb 

I think I will stick to it after testing the chromium Edge  

[GoldenLag]

 

 

its missing the feature to set aside entire sets of tabs like you could in Edge. that is the one thing i wanted from Edge Chromium that would make me switch instantly. 

[TheGlenlivet]

Just now, GoldenLag said:

 

 

its missing the feature to set aside entire sets of tabs like you could in Edge. that is the one thing i wanted from Edge Chromium that would make me switch instantly. 

You can suggest that to make sure it gets put into the final version.  I agree it's useful.

[GoldenLag]

2 minutes ago, TheGlenlivet said:

You can suggest that to make sure it gets put into the final version.  I agree it's useful.

yeah i wrote it in the feedback. its one of the things that really set Edge appart from the others. loosing it would make it a chrome clone, something i do not hope it becomes

[nick name]

My biggest gripe with Edge was its stupid right click behavior.  The lag between clicking and getting a menu was irksome and it was only present in Edge.  I don't know if it was because of its stupid cosmetic changes, but it kept me from ever taking the browser seriously.  

[suicidalfranco]

Would have preferred they went with a FF based browser. Still better than doing their own thing though 

[AlexOak]

Spoiler

Chrome takes less ram. 

Even though this is a test best build but dang the amount of ram Chromium edge takes with 6 tabs open is off-putting to low resource users.

Also, Chrome cast to other devices isn't working at the moment.

[Kherm]

I don't even care that it's missing features from old Edge, expecially considering that it ran like I disabled 6 cores on my PC.

 

This new Edge is Certified Fantastic^TM It's just as fast as Chrome, slightly lighter than Chrome, and I love the look!

 

As an intersting aside, here's all the Google junk that Microsoft stripped or rewrote for Edge

courtesy of @h0x0d / Twitter

 

Once this comes bundled with Windows 10, Chrome will be one less thing you have to install! 

 

 

[Kherm]

4 minutes ago, Johners said:

I've installed the beta build on my desktop and laptop are I'm liking this so far. It provides the quality of Chromium without having to solely rely on Google and this is a massive improve of regular Edge (because EdgeHTML is pretty shit). The one issue I'm having is the inability to watch HDR videos on YouTube on my laptop. If I use regular Edge, HDR videos will playback but on both regular Chrome and Edge Insider, it doesn't appear to play back in HDR. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

This is probably something they have to work on, you know how on Windows 10, the only way to watch 4K netflix is in old Edge? I think it's related to that.

[elfensky]

2 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

• Grammar chekcer

I see what you did there.

[GoodBytes]

 

52 minutes ago, Kherm said:

This is probably something they have to work on, you know how on Windows 10, the only way to watch 4K netflix is in old Edge? I think it's related to that.

Just wanted to provide the side note: if you use the Netflix Windows 10 app, you can enjoy 4K HDR playback.

 

[JoostinOnline]

Why would you try to convince more people to switch to a Chromium browser?

[descendency]

the main reason I use Chrome over Edge is because my passwords are stored in chrome. I should really get something like LastPass. 

[GoodBytes]

58 minutes ago, descendency said:

the main reason I use Chrome over Edge is because my passwords are stored in chrome. I should really get something like LastPass. 

When you install the new Edge, it can import your password from Chrome and Firefox

[TrigrH]

So I guess the real question here is: What features does this new Edge have that chrome doesn't? Because the only thing I ever used Edge for was if something wasn't loading correctly on chrome. (There goes that one)

[LAwLz]

4 hours ago, Johners said:

That's something to do with the DRM implemented. Regular Chrome only hade Widevine but regular Edge has PlayReady which is used for 4K & HDR. However, Edge Insider has both DRM formats but I can't seem to watch 4K HDR videos on YouTube.

Chrome also has support for PlayReady. However, because of how Netflix works, it only allows "first party" browsers to view 4k. Microsoft could take Chrome exactly as it is and say "this is our first party browser for Windows", and 4K Netflix would work. However, since it's an external download for Windows, from Google, it's marked as not trusted. 

 

The same Chrome on ChromeOS plays Netflix just fine, with PlayReady enabled, because it's a first party browser.