Microsoft Brings Official Windows Timeline Support to Chrome

Microsoft is releasing a new Google Chrome extension today that brings support for Windows Timeline to Google Chrome. The company announced a new Web Activities extension for Chrome that adds the new functionality, allowing users to keep track of their Chrome activity through Timeline across all their devices.

The feature is supposed to work just like Microsoft Edge works with Timeline — it will keep track of all the websites you visit on Chrome through Timeline so you can pick up where you left off on other devices, or from the same device. The feature works flawlessly with Edge since it’s natively integrated, so it will be interesting to see if the experience is any different with Chrome.

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A third-party Chrome extension previously allowed users to add Timeline support to Chrome, and it’s actually way more advanced than Microsoft’s own extension, even allowing users to send webpages to their other Microsoft devices remotely. That extension is still available, by the way.

Microsoft’s said in a blog post that a top Insider request is to bring Timeline support to more apps, and browser support was apparently widely requested. This extension could end up really useful for Microsoft too, by the way. When the company eventually starts testing its new Chromium-based browser that’s expected to replace Edge, it could theoretically just use this extension for the Timeline integration instead of natively implementing it into Chromium. Pretty smart.

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Conversation 6 comments

  • jumpingjackflash5

    19 February, 2019 - 5:07 am

    <p>Well, in near future Microsoft can release Linux Microsoft edition with compatibility mode for legacy Windows apps …. </p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      19 February, 2019 - 5:40 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#405840">In reply to jumpingjackflash5:</a></em></blockquote><p>It being the new Microsoft, they could use WINE for the compatibility layer.</p>

      • jumpingjackflash5

        19 February, 2019 - 7:40 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#405841">In reply to maethorechannen:</a></em></blockquote><p>Maybe they want to be cloud and business services provider, not a software company. They should be clear about their strategy, so that their customers know what to expect. I keep my fingers crossed for Windows, but making them compatibility layer and sync service for Linux devices makes no sense. Interoperability is good, but resignation on main platform development and expansion is bad. Microsoft services should be best on Windows. If they be not, there is a bunch of alternatives to choose from ….. :-(</p>

  • IanYates82

    Premium Member
    19 February, 2019 - 7:17 am

    <p>Neat. I had installed that other extension anyway but it's nice to know that</p><p>a) Microsoft is investing more in to timeline rather than possibly letting it wither and ditching it (my people!?); and</p><p>b) They're actually trying to make it useful with third parties, with or without that party's assistance</p><p><br></p><p>It's nice when things play together.</p>

    • Paul Avvento

      Premium Member
      19 February, 2019 - 1:41 pm

      <blockquote>I think they see Time line as eventually being an integral feature that supports their "many devices" mantra. If my apps and devices truly sync perfectly I'll be more likely to switch between devices depending on the task instead of compromising efficiency just because I started on my phone.</blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><a href="#405844"><em>In reply to IanYates82:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • CaedenV

    19 February, 2019 - 1:47 pm

    <p>So… is this a neat new feature for Chrome and win10 to work together better? Or a way for MS to snoop on browsing data of Chrome users to figure out why nobody is using Edge?</p>

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