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It's time.
After many leaks, Microsoft is releasing the first preview builds of its next-gen Microsoft Edge browser. The company today launched the new Microsoft Edge Insider site that gives users access to the first preview builds of the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser.
As part of the preview program, there are three different channels: Beta, Developer, and Canary. Canary builds are designed for you, and they are expected to be updated and updated, while you will be able to use them. Builds from the different channels can be run side-to-side, of course, so you are not limited to one channel at a time.
Microsoft is only opening up the Developer and Canary Channels today, with Beta builds expected to arrive in the future. The company also plans to release builds for macOS and older versions of Windows in the near future.
As for the first preview builds of the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, it's very much a polished experience. The browser itself looks very similar to Google Chrome, but with Microsoft's own flavor on top of the interface. It lets you sign-in with your Microsoft Account and even get a Microsoft News-powered News Tab, for example. Extensions support is also here, with Microsoft offering a limited set of extensions from its own third-party stores, as well as letting users install extensions from third-party stores like the Chrome Web Store. That means you'll be able to install any Chrome extension on the browser without any problems.
There's even a dark mode that can be enabled using a flag:
Other Chrome features like support for Progressive Web Apps and the ability to "install" such apps is also here:
And since this is fully based on Chromium, Microsoft is also keeping in the developer tools that come with Chromium instead of its own developer tools. It would not be a good idea for us to use these tools, so we are getting the most powerful F12 tools that ship with Chromium:
Microsoft plans to contribute significantly to Chromium going forward, working closely with Google itself. The company says it is currently focused on things like accessibility, touch, and ARM64 support. It also plans to introduce smooth scrolling, grammar tools, and Microsoft Translator integration.
"We're working with the teams at Google and the broader Chromium community on this work and appreciate the collaborative and open discussions. These contributions can be made today, so stay tuned. We are looking forward to continued engagement with the community to progress Chromium in these areas and others, "said Joe Belfiore, who leads the team behind Microsoft Edge and other Windows experiences at Redmond.
And that's really about it for the new Microsoft Edge. There's a lot of Microsoft-integration still needed here – things like syncing your data between this new browser and Windows does not work. For a first preview, though, this is a really impressive start from Microsoft. I am going to use this new browser for the next week or so report back, so keep an eye out for my experience with the browser after some daily use.
If you want to give the new Microsoft Edge a try, you can download the preview builds here. Microsoft really wants users to provide feedback, so make sure to report any bugs or problems you have with the browser. But more importantly, make sure you download the right version of the software – if you are someone who needs a reliable browsing experience, you should only really download the Developer builds. And if you are feeling brave, feel free to try out the Canary builds too.
Tagged with Chromium, Edge, Edgium, Microsoft Edge
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