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As early as last week, a spicy rumor has been making the rounds on the Internet that led to lively discussions in many Christmas-ready offices. Would Microsoft really do it? Are we witnessing the end of an era that has had its fair share of successes, downfalls and desperation? Can you imagine a Mercedes with a BMW engine? Last Friday, it became official: Microsoft will base their next browser on Chromium. How did this happen and what does it mean for you?
For the longest time, the relationship between Microsoft browsers and their users has been frosty. At every corner, Microsoft tried to slip their users Edge. They made it harder to install alternatives and set their browsers as default - to no avail. Practically the only time users ran IE or Edge was when they were downloading a better alternative. Yes, Microsoft heavily invested in their new Edge browser but their efforts weren't reflected in the browser's market share. And if you take away the many companies, government institutions and educational facilities that forced MS browsers onto their users, the number of private (voluntary!) users dwindles even more.
Web developers have long been struggling with the peculiar rendering engines in MS browsers. Sites that work flawlessly with Chrome or Firefox often need additional tweaking to work with Edge or IE. At one time, the mere mention of IE was enough to shut up overconfident web Ievelopers at Ashampoo. Too often had they been haunted by the various quirks in IE over the years. Even Microsoft are slowly realizing that, in it's current state, Edge is performing way below expectations and are now turning to their archrival, Google, for help - in a sense.
Our web developers as they got the good news
Though spearheaded by Google, Chromium is still an open source project with contributions from about 50 other companies. So will Microsoft simply take Chrome and add their own user interface on top? Hardly. After all, Chrome is not Chromium. The latter provides the core codebase for developers seeking to build their own browser. It comes with all essential core components, the most important of which are the rendering engine Blink and the JavaScript interpreter V8. Think of Chromium as a basic car complete with chassis and engine but without a finished body, interior design or controls and switches.
Chromium provides the building blocks, developers provide the rest. So far, Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave and almost every Android browser are based on Chromium, even though there are striking differences in design and handling. So what the user interface of Microsoft's future browser will look like is anybody's guess. The same goes for extension support and memory consumption (Chrome's biggest weakness). The first release is expected to arrive in early 2019 and Microsoft would be well-advised to use the remaining time for some major overhauls. Many consider the current edge too clunky and basic, almost spartan, both in terms of UI and customization options. Once again, MS have slept through a major internet trend.
Browser monoculture: only subtle differences remain
The final release is scheduled for the end of 2019, with support not just for Windows but also macOS. Microsoft's CVP, Joe Belfiore, even admits to their quest for better web compatibility. So it's all good now, right? Not exactly. Though users can look forward to a more standard-compliant Edge that will likely be compatible with most Chrome extensions (just like Opera and others), the browser landscape is gradually turning into a monoculture. In the future, Chromium-based browsers will have an almost 90% market share.
This means there are only two true competitors left: Mozilla's Firefox and Apple's Safari (which runs on WebKit, the codebase of which Blink has forked). And even Mozilla recently put out a Chromium-based browser for Android, i.e. Focus/Klar. Monoculture is never good for a software ecosystem and, just like in real life, creates and exposes vulnerabilities. What if hackers discovered serious flaws in Chromium? Over night, about 90% of internet-enabled devices would be at risk. At least Microsoft vowed to put their full weight behind the Chromium project and to optimize hardware support and accessibility. While optimists are hoping for faster browsers, skeptics, like Mozilla's CEO Chris Beard, paint a more scary picture: Google could finally become the browser overlord and solidify their position as virtually unchallenged steward and driving force in the browser market.
What I would like to know: Can you picture yourself using the new Microsoft Edge or will you stick to your current favorite browser?
once I learned of the idea of hacked IE I stopped using it tried out firefox from its beginning time of development I didn't like the concept of add ons just to use it, it started to lag badly. I also tried others the only one I used primarily was another done by a UK development team for Flock browser it was so advanced more so then IE Opera and Firefox, but during the time of my Linux use Mozilla was the thing then and the Kompoz a German version both worked well, later time goes on Chome pops its head out of the woodworks now not only was Google Search now there was chrome following the same lead as FireFox I went with chrome and tried it out stuck to it because at a time before Android phones, it was the safest browser apart from Firefox. now we are going Speed browsing Chrome out does Firefox even still today. however Chrome Enterprise, in turn, is Chrome standard there is a lot of differences, I preferred Chrome Standard over Enterprise version, in turn, is what you see far as the icon goes in the pic above, Enterprise or business as they call it was designed for IT you can install it and develop it from one location. still has that concern through its open connection for Microsoft I will not use it. I can make any windows program run on a Linux when it comes a time you start to see changes to Microsoft because as a Linux user and partner we will be busy this year and more so next year Microsoft figured out LINUX creators are better than their own and the data breaches and concerns of security will change. preventing virus creators to damage your system and security will be tighter preventing hackers to damage your system. Microsoft will not be able to let people hack into the programming it will use, because now they called in the pros to teach these people how they will be caught in the act. Signatures and footprints will follow the user now.
Edge? To oblivion as far as I am concerned. I have a computer... not a freaking game machine or a shopping mall. Which is why I don't use Win10 default but have installed classic shell. I don't want to buy all the crap that Win10 tries to foist on me.
I tried Edge, to see what it was like. Bleeeuch! Just another portal to shops, shops and more shops. And just plain (?) megafugly.
So I have installed the following browsers on my machine, Google Chrome, Brave, Opera and Waterfox. I've tried a few others but they didn't cut the mustard, including Firefox.
Chrome is used as a last resort... Opera is my preferred browser, but Waterfox works amazinly well and fast. Firefox was... well a dog to be kind. Also have Brave for anything I want, or need, private.
I just miss the Opera of old, when they had the blink engine. The bookmarking app was brilliant. Streets ahead of what we get now with the Chromium engine.
@SirPatrick Sorry, but total rubbish. Windows was built on top of the MS-DOS operating system. Unfortunately. IE and Mediaplayer are totally separate apps that were added to Windows somewhere in the Windows 3.1+ era.
@Bryan Leech... if you dislike Microsoft so much why haven't you switched to a version of Linux, or to a Chromium device? And I most certainly wouldn't try organising my life on one of them.
@Interguys .... if you uninstall IE you effectively kill Windows. IE was, deliberately, coded right into the core of the OS.
@The Visitor.... Sorry sunshine, you are wrong Opera gives you the option(s) of any search engine you want to use. I have DuckDuckGo as my default. Do a quick (cough, cough) google search to find out how...
I have been using Chrome for several years. After I felt it was time to try something different I gave Edge a shot. after two weeks of doing my best to like Edge it is put away as best I can. Microsoft is doing their best to hold us hostage. I am ready for a safe user friendly browser I haven't found it yet.
Hi Sven,
At last we will not have to tolerated the shambles of internet communications from Microsoft.
Now is a good time for Ashampoo with other Software developers including the open source developers to build a new operating system totally independent of MS. One which we the Users would be confident to use for all our day to day computing needs.
Microsoft has held us to ransom for far too long. (For me since 2.11)
Best wishes to all my un-met friends at Ashampoo for the New Year
Warm regards from Australia.
Yo hace tiempo que deje el edge nos engañaron con que windows diez iva a ser gratis y luego nos hicieron insiders para sacarlos del pozo yo lo deje por que encima son unos desagradecidos con lo bien que estaba yo con el W.7sp1 y nos vendieron aire por que estaban al borde del abismo , una pena
Microsoft doesn't get that most people are waking up to all their data mining. Loving Firefox and the day Microsoft tries to force me to use their inbreed software married to their OS...I'm gone! I'll head to Linux.
I'll stay with Firefox. It works well & almost no hackers.
no comment
I use both Edge and Firefox keeping both up to date.
If a temporary problem occurs with one, I use the other.
I have no particular preference although I suspect that Firefox will maintain standards of confidentiality and not be susceptible to Chromiums weaknesses, which are likely to attract hackers in future.
Hi Sven;
At this stage i would be inclined to stick to
my present browser , i have never used Edge and
don't intend to.
Keith S
I have used Edge since I started using Windows 10 (when that was first released).
It has had problems, and can be awfully slow on occasions. I have persevered with it as I ty and stay within the Microsoft boundaries (becoming harder).
On my Android devices I used Internet Explorer by default, but now am using Chrome far more often, because IE will not connect securely to many sites, so to avoid continued frustration, Chrome is used.
I must confuse everybody, I use from time to time, Edge at present, then Google Chrome, sometimes Fox. rare occasion Explorer.
They all have their downs. The time was, when there was only explorer or Netscape. since windows 3.1 there have been leaps in the technology field, so long has you achieve your goal and remain secure doing it . Does it really matter. Their speaks a retiree with too much time. Really getting too old to worry!
Brian Australia
Having worked in government it has been necessary for many years now to have at least three different browsers installed in order to access different systems. Even then they did not all work well even at the best of times. Forcing a convergence may or may not be a good thing as it has become all too confusing.
I only use IE if forced to do so. I have never knowingly used Edge. My browser of choice is Firefox, although occasionally when I find a particular website misbehaves with Firefox, I resort to Chrome for that specific job. Then back to Firefox.
Hi Sven,
A very interesting insight as I only read a basic comment last week re Microsoft Edge.
I am a Google/Opera/Firefox user, I have tried other browsers and I don't have a reason to change.
I believe that in the near future we will have a choice of Microsoft Windows or a Google O/S which will possibly force Microsoft to clear out the bugs before sprinkling them all over their Windows and updates.
The Google people are definitely not sitting down, relaxing and drinking champagne to what they have already achieved.
Hi Sven, my previous thoughts developed a few problems regarding dropped letter here and there...in the beginning 'T want' and in the end 'Ashampoo customer'. Sorry about that. Regards.
nt to make it clear that I am not an 'expert' by any means...lets just call me 'knowledgeable'. I have used computers for years and it has been Microsoft computers from the time they came on the market. I have always used I.E to start with and lately Edge. However I have used the Google search engine for quite a few years because let's face it: it is the best!! I love all the local news that appears on Edge at start up a feature you don't get with the Google product. Therefore I use both platforms in accordance with what I intend to use them for at the time. I do have noticed that MS are saying that Edge is faster than google or any of the others....would you agree with that? I am not looking forward to a possible monopoly where one product becomes dominant in the market. Would prefer Microsoft to re-organize Edge to make it more manageable and allow customers to use the search function in it to be Google's product under license. Hope I have not confused you too much. Regards and keep up the good work. PS I am also a Ashampoo .
Firefox is my weapon of choice. I must confess that I am totally underwhelmed by Microsoft's products ( i suppose that this goes back to my Commodore Amiga days ) but I would not like to see Microsoft come to a position of eminence on the back of someone else's code !!! Isn't Windows enough for them ? We should have continued with CPM but ended up with MSDOS. Watch out this time they will try & nail everyone else to the wall. Support you favourite browser by upgrading whenever new versions become available.
My question is why they give up Edge ?;it is a known fact that the entire OS Patent is built on two Patents:IE and WMediaPlayer.
Regarding Browsers,one thing is to have a browser included in OS where you don't know all the"kitchen",and a different thing to choose a preferred one . Personally I am using Firefox,but today no matter what browser you use, is enough to connect once your phone to PC and you'll never know what metrics are transmitted.... and where.
Greetings to all of you!
Will stay with Firefox until or if there is good reason to change.
Hi Sven,
For various reasons I don't use MS browsers, these reasons all relating to an intense dislike of Microsoft. For me, Firefox has been a happy solution for years (particularly since its substantial revision not long ago). It has a substantial range of useful add-ons to choose from (although many are best avoided) and does all I wish without fuss (and in response to one of your replies, I have no trouble booking theatre tickets via Firefox here in Australia).
Despite the new developments you speak of, it would take a lot to convince me to desert Mozilla. (I'm not arguing it's the best browser, just that it suits me perfectly.)
Edge has been very buggy for me.
It was so bad that I had to get help from MS support.
Using remote control they had to create a new administrator account to get Edge to run properly.
The average user will not know how difficult it is to create a new user profile without tech support help.
I have not made Edge my Default Browser since then.
Hello Sven,
Has someone ever tried to uninstall IE
They will quickly find out that you can't browse anymore because IE is the main engine to browsers.
So may I suggest that Microsoft :
Should perfect IE by giving it more Speed,
Update the Download Option similar to the Download Option of Chrome or Firefox where you have a memory of all your downloads, and do away with the Edge browser, or let the consumer choose whichever Browser He wants.
Please tell me if I'm wrong.
I've been a Microsoft Insider since the beginning.
Interguys@gmail.com
I still use IE but mainly because of the vehicle it provides to organize & use Favorites. I like that I can display my Favorites in a side bar that I keep on the left of my screen. I like that I can sort them by name, drag & drop them into folders. In other browsers I find that maintenance of Favorites or Bookmarks is cumbersome & I can't keep them in view. I always have to click on the button to show them. Now, if all those other browsers would provide the same functionality for maintaining, organizing & using Favorites I would switch to one of them. I use Chrome because some sites don't function as well under IE. Recently I've had a problem with Edge & IE. I can run IE fine then switch to Chrome & back to IE. But if I start up Edge then I can't run IE until I reboot. As for search engines I use DuckDuckGo & rarely use Google or Bing. I've tried the other ones like Metager, Quant & StartPage but I prefer DuckDuckGo.
Thanks for the most informative article. For my part, I don't, and never will, use any browser put out by MS, Google or Apple. These companies track every move one makes and mine whatever personal information they can get in order to sell it to advertisers. As long as Firefox respects my privacy they will continue to be the only browser I use, no matter how slow.