Today I read the first release of Microsoft's Edge browser based on Google's open source project Chromium was available. I downloaded the weekly updated Dev version, as Microsoft said it was more stable than the daily updated version.
So far no issues and it's already replaced the Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. Why you may ask. Because it already does a couple of things I've wanted that Google Chrome did but Microsoft Edge didn't. I might even say, even at this stage I'd probably use it as my default browser except for one thing, the spellchecker feature is not yet completed.
The following shows Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge based on Chromium.
As you can see the two don't look very different. That was an interesting experience to see how the front end of the old browser was reproduced for the new browser.
One thing that stood out straight away was the thinner and crisper font used in the interface. I thought that looked good.
The Home button I added as I really didn't think Microsoft would have the feature I really wanted. That is to be able to change the search used in the address bar to the search I use. I've written my own search facility that enables me to include keywords to go to dozens of sites quickly. Keywords to the top 300 sites Australians visit. Keywords I use to help others with their computers. All sites quickly available just by entering a keyword and pressing search. I couldn't get my search to work in Microsoft Edge, but I can with Edge based on Chromium, albeit I have to manually enter the details. For me that's a huge bonus. The Home button will shortly go.
Everything seems to work and whilst I've only been using the Dev edition of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium for a few hours, not a single site has given me an issue. That's pretty good for an early release.
One feature I miss still is the ability to set a new tab to open in a page of my choice. No longer an issue really since using my search from the address bar will work around that feature being missing.
My bookmarks came across from Microsoft Edge without a problem. Features I don't want I could turn off.
Because of my interest in the preferred Australian English spelling and the tools I provided I'll be interested to see if Microsoft provides the ability for me to use my spelling dictionaries. Whilst Google Chrome uses my dated dictionary work from around 2006, Google Chrome does not provide an easy way for me to include my own dictionaries. Only time will tell if Microsoft's Edge provides a better option. If it does, for me that alone will make Edge the preferred browser over Chrome. I can only hope.
I'm not really into add-ons so really can't say whether that area is good or bad. For me it's just a feature I don't use.
Other things I've liked, but aren't necessarily new, but shows how I customise my browser to suit me.
So far no issues and it's already replaced the Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. Why you may ask. Because it already does a couple of things I've wanted that Google Chrome did but Microsoft Edge didn't. I might even say, even at this stage I'd probably use it as my default browser except for one thing, the spellchecker feature is not yet completed.
The following shows Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge based on Chromium.
As you can see the two don't look very different. That was an interesting experience to see how the front end of the old browser was reproduced for the new browser.
One thing that stood out straight away was the thinner and crisper font used in the interface. I thought that looked good.
The Home button I added as I really didn't think Microsoft would have the feature I really wanted. That is to be able to change the search used in the address bar to the search I use. I've written my own search facility that enables me to include keywords to go to dozens of sites quickly. Keywords to the top 300 sites Australians visit. Keywords I use to help others with their computers. All sites quickly available just by entering a keyword and pressing search. I couldn't get my search to work in Microsoft Edge, but I can with Edge based on Chromium, albeit I have to manually enter the details. For me that's a huge bonus. The Home button will shortly go.
Everything seems to work and whilst I've only been using the Dev edition of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium for a few hours, not a single site has given me an issue. That's pretty good for an early release.
One feature I miss still is the ability to set a new tab to open in a page of my choice. No longer an issue really since using my search from the address bar will work around that feature being missing.
My bookmarks came across from Microsoft Edge without a problem. Features I don't want I could turn off.
Because of my interest in the preferred Australian English spelling and the tools I provided I'll be interested to see if Microsoft provides the ability for me to use my spelling dictionaries. Whilst Google Chrome uses my dated dictionary work from around 2006, Google Chrome does not provide an easy way for me to include my own dictionaries. Only time will tell if Microsoft's Edge provides a better option. If it does, for me that alone will make Edge the preferred browser over Chrome. I can only hope.
I'm not really into add-ons so really can't say whether that area is good or bad. For me it's just a feature I don't use.
Other things I've liked, but aren't necessarily new, but shows how I customise my browser to suit me.
- Turn off password prompts. I don't store passwords in my browser.
- Send Do Not Track.
- Turn off sites checking for payment method.
- Turn off send data on how I use the browser
- Turn off send info on sites visited
- Turn of notifications. Do I really want to be nagged by every site I visit.
- On start up go to my preferred site, which is my search site.
- Set Australian English as my preferred and first language, even though the spelling feature is not yet available.
- Turned off the feature to continue running background apps when Edge is closed. May revisit this if its used in a useful way.
- Whether this will change but Microsoft Edge would automatically play ad videos from sites like news.com.au and that was really, really, really annoying. Those ads don't play now. Peace at last. I think we thank Chromium for that change.
- Feels quite fast even on my very low end (read cheap) Acer I use for travel and keep using when not travelling. This may change as Microsoft ads further code, but hopefully not. Feels faster than Chrome.
Whilst I have to admit I was concerned with Microsoft's change of direction with their browser, even though Microsoft Edge really wasn't a good browser, but this new browser based on Chromium already feels better than the soon to be obsolete Microsoft Edge.
Now if there was one feature I'd like in the browser it would be the ability to read a barcode and send that barcode to a site of my choice just like the search now does in the address bar. If Microsoft can keep include features designed for old developers like myself that like to dabble in code in a simple way, that would be appreciated. There's lots of people like me, but I do accept, software is for the many, not for the one as Spock would probably say.
These are my first impressions of the Microsoft Edge browser based on Chromium. Already the new browser is looking better than the old browser. If they continue down the path of making the software cross-platform, and not cripple the experience on mobile devices (e.g. limiting search engine choice) Microsoft may just win back some market share. Something they sorely need to do having gone from being the leading browser to almost obscurity.
Kelvin Eldridge
IT support.
PS. There's one negative I didn't mention above. Microsoft have a site where people like me can sign up and be notified of when the new Microsoft Edge is available. I signed up. So far I've heard nothing and only knew about the release through the media. This almost indicates Microsoft doesn't care, which in turn loses loyalty. If you're not going to use a mailing list to keep people informed then don't offer it. It doesn't look good. The good thing however is this loss of loyalty means we make better decisions in the long run and that's a good thing.
PPS. Another feature which is in the menus but not yet implemented is casting. If casting is implemented using Google Chromecast this will be a bih step forward for Microsoft. To date if you wanted to cast you needed to use Chrome. Microsoft option really wasn't something I found anyone using and really having to resort to plugging in a video cable to see something on the big screen is not ideal.
Update: 10/04/2019
Autoplay of videos on news.com.au site does occur. Tested this is the same using Chrome. I do wish I could turn autoplay off as a standard feature without resorting to add-ins that may or may not work.
PPS. Another feature which is in the menus but not yet implemented is casting. If casting is implemented using Google Chromecast this will be a bih step forward for Microsoft. To date if you wanted to cast you needed to use Chrome. Microsoft option really wasn't something I found anyone using and really having to resort to plugging in a video cable to see something on the big screen is not ideal.
Update: 10/04/2019
Autoplay of videos on news.com.au site does occur. Tested this is the same using Chrome. I do wish I could turn autoplay off as a standard feature without resorting to add-ins that may or may not work.
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