Microsoft Clarifies How It Will Update Edge With The Windows Store
When Microsoft released Edge, they stated that it was a universal app and that it could be serviced through the Windows store. Up until now, the company has not used this mechanism to update the browser and has instead opted to update it via Windows update.
With each major release of Windows 10, the company has added new features to the browser like extensions but these releases are, at best, occurring twice a year and more recently, only once per year. The problem is that browsers like Chrome and Firefox are updated frequently but Edge has been stuck, with only a couple of small exceptions, to major Windows releases to get new features.
Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox
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
At a session at Ignite lead by Fred Pullen, responsible for marketing Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer to commercial customers, he clarified how Edge will be updated in the near future.
At about the 13-minute mark, Pullen states that Edge app, which includes navigation controls, reading view and other similar features will eventually get updated through the store but the engine of Edge will always be updated with Windows Update. The reason for the engine being updated through Windows Update is because that feature powers other universal apps and will require additionally testing to make sure the changes do not impact other parts of the operating system.
https://youtu.be/JCWY0aONy0k?t=780
What this means is that, when Microsoft does finally enable the ability to update via the Windows Store, it allows the company to deliver features to the browser at a much faster cadence. This should help Edge iterate faster and be able to maintain an update cadence that is similar to Chrome and Firefox for end-user features.
Of course, the question remains about when this functionality will be enabled. Pullen does not give a date but makes it clear that the Edge team is working towards this goal and with the next Windows 10 update targeted for next spring, that’s the best guess at when this functionality will be delivered. Considering that Edge has only 5% of the market, according to Net Applications, while Windows 10 has over 20% of the desktop market, Microsoft needs to iterate faster with its new browser to keep users from switching to Chrome (or other browsers).
Thanks for the tip Win10fan
Tagged with
Conversation 24 comments
-
186
<p>Yes, they need to update Edge much much faster. It is sitll very buggy. On multiple computers, Edge will, when started will start with previous tabs. I don’t have this set to do this. It’s very very aggrevating!</p>