Microsoft is reportedly killing Windows 10’s default browser, Microsoft Edge. The browser, first launched in 2015 along with Windows 10, struggled to get much traction, and continues to scramble with stability issues to date.
Killing Edge and its rendering engine, EdgeHTML, will mean Microsoft will need to build something new for Windows 10. And it’s apparently building a new Chromium-based browser to replace Edge, according to Windows Central.
Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!
"*" indicates required fields
The product, currently codenamed Anaheim, will be based on Google’s Chromium browser. The new browser will practically be the same as Google Chrome, and likely include heavy Microsoft-flavoured customization and integration for Microsoft’s services and Microsoft Accounts.
Moving away from EdgeHTML, for Microsoft and Windows 10, is kind of a big deal. For one, EdgeHTML is used by Universal Windows Platform apps for web wrappers and similar features, so it would be interesting to see if Microsoft continues using EdgeHTML or replaces the browser engine in UWP with Chromium as well. And secondly, moving to Chromium means Microsoft will practically lose all the unique selling points of Edge — mainly, performance.
Microsoft has continued to boast about Edge’s performance features over Chrome and other browsers for years, and I don’t think Anaheim will be able to be as fast as Edge, meaning there won’t be much to differentiate between Chrome and Anaheim if Microsoft does end up using Chromium.
And that could still, theoretically, be a good thing. Considering the fact that many users don’t use Edge because of the stability issues, moving to a Chromium-based browser could remove the need for even having to use Chrome in the first place. And for users that really care about their privacy and security, that could be a solid alternative. Plus, you will get to use all the solid Chrome extensions that are available on the Chrome Web Store over the subpar Edge extensions.
Plus, Microsoft already uses Chromium for Edge on Android, so the experience likely won’t differ much on Anaheim. My guess here is that Microsoft will stick with the design of Edge (which I am a big fan of), but change things up behind the scenes.
It’s also possible everything, including the branding, could go through a major overhaul — and that’d make a lot of sense considering Edge’s negative image.
dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#377815">In reply to warren:</a></em></blockquote><p>people just stuck in 90s stereotypes, pretend to know and be cool bashing on ms</p>
dontbe evil
<p>chromium is the new ie, the end of web standards … funny that people complained about ie because is MS, but now it's the same situation, but it's totally fine because is google</p>
dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#377673">In reply to MikeCerm:</a></em></blockquote><p>it's already the end of the world seeing so many websites and features chrome only</p>
My Hell baby speaking
<p>Next get rid of the kernel, all the substrata not defining the gui and exchange it for a Linux kernel, Microsoft. Let the users benefit from better scalability, performance and security of Linux. You can do it!</p>
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#377666">In reply to My Hell baby speaking:</a></em></blockquote><p>There's no business case for doing this, not to mention that it's a lot harder to accomplish than armchair Linux fans imagine.</p>
My Hell baby speaking
<blockquote><br></blockquote><p>Well, with an platform abstraction layer (PAL) and Drawbridge working a foundation is already put into place, I guess.</p><p><br></p><p>Would it make sense from Microsoft's view? An odd question, regarding MS starting to fully go the cloud company route. Not having to care for a client platform would be exactly it. In the new (not so new anymore) Microsoft where services is what they want to focus on, Windows has become a legacy thing to better get rid of. </p>
Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#377751">In reply to bzakharin:</a></em></blockquote><p>I hate the fact that I need to use Chrome because of Google. Chrome is simply the most compatible and supported browser out there. I have tried a lot and eventually come back to Chrome.</p><p><br></p><p>I would switch to Microsoft's version of Chromium, provided I can sync my book marks/logins and use the handful of plugins (ad blockers) with the Microsoft version.</p>
Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#377898">In reply to bluvg:</a></em></blockquote><p>Chrome works fine with Office 365. There is even a Office Online plugin from Microsoft.</p>
skane2600
<p>IMO MS would be better off just making a deal to bundle Chrome than trying to make a "Chrome Jr".</p>