Microsoft confirms plan to rebuild Edge browser using Chromium on Windows 10

Microsoft today confirmed plans to rebuild its Border browser using Chromium, in a motion designed to ameliorate web performance and app availability beyond platforms. Windows Primal reported earlier about the shift in strategy and now it is official.

Rebuilding a web browser from the footing upwardly is no small feat, but Microsoft says it is committed to providing the all-time spider web browsing experience on Windows. A developer preview of this new version of Border should exist ready in the coming months, which will provide us with our offset look at Microsoft's new browser. Those who are interested in the Edge preview version can sign upwards here to be notified.

Microsoft is not just slipping the Glimmer rendering engine of Chromium into the existing app on Windows 10; information technology is edifice the entire browser again using Chromium. Information technology's doing this for two reasons, the first of which is that it allows the company to bring the app to older versions of Windows such equally Windows 7, Windows eight, and even Mac. 2nd, information technology will enable the app to be updated independently from the Os, which is something Insiders take been calling for since Edge's inception in 2022.

Microsoft Edge and Chromium: Your questions, answered

This as well ways that many of Edge's existing features will accept to exist rebuilt for the new version, which Microsoft says it is committed to doing. However, non all features may make the cutting, as the company is looking into which features make sense for its new web browser. Still, nosotros believe that everything that makes Edge unique, such as its focus on inking, providing an splendid reading and PDF experience, volition withal be there in the new Edge.

Information technology will still be called Edge

Microsoft is sticking with the Border branding with its new browser, and about users will notice very little alter when this new version of Edge is ready to supersede the existing version equally the default browser on Windows x. Information technology's probable we'll see the UI modify a bit, some erstwhile features get removed, and some new features bear witness up, but the number one benefit for moving to Chromium is that web pages volition render better using Chromium's Glimmer rendering engine.

Microsoft is going to start partaking much more than in the evolution of Chromium, equally Chromium is an open up-source project. Upwardly until now, Google has been the but major player contributing code to the Chromium projection, but now Microsoft is in the game and is ready to commit lawmaking to meliorate Chromium. For example, Microsoft knows that Chrome isn't every bit proficient every bit the current Edge at touch scrolling, so it's going to piece of work on improving that feel in Chromium so that the new Edge doesn't miss out on that smooth scrolling feel.

Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Windows, Joe Belfiore, said the following:

Ultimately, we desire to make the web-feel better for many different audiences. People using Microsoft Edge (and potentially other browsers) will experience improved compatibility with all websites, while getting the best possible battery life and hardware integration on all kinds of Windows devices.

Web developers will have a less-fragmented web-platform to test their sites against, ensuring that there are fewer problems and increased satisfaction for users of their sites; and because we'll go on to provide the Microsoft Border service-driven understanding of legacy IE-merely sites, Corporate Information technology will accept improved compatibility for both sometime and new web apps in the browser that comes with Windows.

It's no longer a UWP app

To fans, the biggest news might come from the fact that the new Chromium version of Edge won't exist a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app. Microsoft tells us it'due south a standard Win32 desktop app, and we're hoping that will tap into Fluent Design APIs for things similar Acrylic and Reveal effects throughout its UI. There's a reason Microsoft didn't opt to go with UWP, and information technology'southward because Microsoft is prioritizing bringing Edge to other platforms over making it exclusive to Windows 10.

Building Edge as a Win32 program allows Microsoft to besides bring it to Windows 7 and Windows 8, which opens upward a vast new market place for potential Border users. Correct now, on desktops Border is limited to Windows ten, which is on around half of all Windows PCs. Bringing it to Windows vii substantially puts it on the other 50 percent, making it bachelor to almost 500 million more users.

Microsoft wants Edge to be taken seriously, and bringing it to new platforms in add-on to rebuilding it using a engineering science near people love, should assist shift its reputation. Of course, the new Edge will still necktie into your Microsoft account and sync your passwords, bookmarks, and other data across devices.

A massive shift for Border

While Google started Chromium, Microsoft is free to take Chromium and "make it their ain." Google forks its own version of Chromium and adds all the Google-ly services and functions into information technology. Microsoft is essentially going to do the aforementioned using its own services and functions.

This is a massive shift for Border and Windows 10, and one that'south going to divide fans and developers for months to come up. However, in one case the new version of Edge is ready, I think most people volition be happy with this change. It means web pages volition render better, Edge volition be updated with new features and changes much faster, and Microsoft can bring Edge to the other one-half of Windows users.

There'due south still lots that Microsoft needs to work out with the new version of Edge, and I'm sure we'll exist hearing about those plans in the near future. What are your thoughts on the news? Permit us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-confirms-plans-rebuild-edge-ground-using-chromium-windows-10

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