Microsoft Edge - Possible Chrome and FF killer

MR.B · 29 May 2015 at 20:56

Anyone tried Edge? The artist formally known as Project Spartan.
Particularly the latest version on Windows 10 build 10130, or atleast 10122. And preferably not in a VM which cripples performance.

I've been benching it: It's faster than Chrome on Octane (Googles own benchmark) JetStream, SunSpider and most other benchmarks :eek:

Other stuff worth mentioning:

It supports the latest 2015 version of ECMAScript (basically the official name for JavaScript) better than any other browser. Scoring 82% in the latest build.

It doesn't have any weird IE rendering quirks.

ActiveX, VBScript, and Browser Helper Objects have all been removed. All IE legacy code has gone (over 200k lines of code) while over 300k lines of code have been added for new features/performance enhancements.

It will have proper extension support + support both Chrome and FF extensions. The problem is that extension support wont be finished in time for Win 10's release in July, but will arrive later this year.

It will be regularly updated through the Windows Store. Not just security patches like with IE, but with new features/performance improvements. Updates are automatic, like all Store apps.

It finally has basic features like an audio icon on tabs with sound playing, and 'Reopen closed tab' when right clicking on a tab.

It syncs everything across devices.

GPU acceleration is far better than any other browser, being as Edge don't support older Windows OS's there's no need for ancient legacy rendering support from the days of XP (Chrome and FF), so it only uses the latest Win 10 text/graphics/UI rendering frameworks.

Being a WinRT/Modern app - all the UI/content scales perfectly with high DPI displays.

Cortana is built in too, which is more useful than it first seems. You can even ask her questions in the address bar.

So has anyone tried the latest version? It's lacking a few small things (like paste and go, or dragging a tab outside to create a new window) but it's shaping up really nicely. They're actually listening to user feedback and constantly adding new stuff (i like to take credit for 'Reopen closed tab'

- Kept bothering them with that and got a lot of votes on it).

Think i'll switch once extension support arrives.

Edit, video:

paradigm · 29 May 2015 at 21:09

MR.B said:
It also finally has basic features like... 'Reopen closed tab'.

Whilst I agree with almost everything you are saying, IE does have the ability to re-open a closed tab, it's just not as obvious as FF/Chrome/Opera/etc.

Glaucus · 29 May 2015 at 21:31

Haven't really used it as I have one major issue, I can't see a way to enable a favourites bar. Which is essential IMO.
Although if there is a way, let me know.

Edit - oh wait new build has it. Although no icons and can't seem to remove names, hopefully that'll come in latter versions.

MR.B · 29 May 2015 at 21:37

Glaucus said:
Haven't really used it as I have one major issue, I can't see a way to enable a favourites bar. Which is essential IMO.
Although if there is a way, let me know.

Settings > 'Show the favourites bar'

Woden · 29 May 2015 at 21:37

Been using spartan on my phone with the win10 preview.
Have to say i am pretty impressed. Better rendering, and faster than IE

Glaucus · 29 May 2015 at 21:38

MR.B said:
Settings > 'Show the favourites bar'

Beaten you marginally.

Orcvader · 29 May 2015 at 22:50

Support for Chrome extensions and Firefox add-ons in the future? May give this a go then.

andshrew · 29 May 2015 at 23:57

When you say it syncs across devices does that imply Edge is coming to other platforms? Because if that only works within the Windows ecosystem it won't be replacing either of those cross platform browsers any time soon for me.

Glaucus · 30 May 2015 at 00:04

andshrew said:
When you say it syncs across devices does that imply Edge is coming to other platforms? Because if that only works within the Windows ecosystem it won't be replacing either of those cross platform browsers any time soon for me.

More than likely, everything else by MS is cross platform, even Cortana is coming to ios and android.
Although I don't think they've said anything yet.

Vinno · 30 May 2015 at 01:25

Interesting. I hadn't considered this before now, but I think I'll probably give it a go. It sounds pretty good.

MR.B · 30 May 2015 at 06:30

There was a new Win 10 build released last night, 10130. They've not released the ISO yet so you'll have to download 10074 and then update (Settings > Windows Update > Advanced > select 'Fast' for getting preview builds).

Edge has some new UI functionality, and file explorer has shiny new icons..

In order below: Vista/7/8.x icons > Early Win 10 preview > latest Win 10 build

this_is_gav · 30 May 2015 at 08:35

I wonder how many Windows 10 PCs will have a floppy drive. Heck the vast majority won't have a DVD drive!

Personally, if it's better than Chrome and cross platform I'll consider it. I like the Chrome and Chrome for Android syncing, so I'll stick with that otherwise.

I've not tried W10 yet so can't check it out, but IE was missing some basic things, such as highlighting text and running a search based off it, or copying a URL and simply using "paste and go" in the address bar. It's the little things.

Still, Google don't give a damn about users when it comes to Chrome, introducing this or changing that, which I can imagine will be their downfall at some point (I assume it will be force-stopping adblocking eventually).

MR.B · 30 May 2015 at 09:05

this_is_gav said:
I've not tried W10 yet so can't check it out, but IE was missing some basic things, such as highlighting text and running a search based off it, or copying a URL and simply using "paste and go" in the address bar. It's the little things.

I agree, but one of those things is there now - You can highlight text and it'll have "Ask Cortana" which is basically a more advanced search + all the added stuff Cortana is capable of. The results also open in a panel to the side so you don't leave the page you're on. IMO it's better.

It don't yet have paste and go but loads of people are asking for it on the feedback app so i doubt it'll be long...

m4cc45 · 30 May 2015 at 09:09

Looks interesting - I have to use IE due to the site compatibility but I have no problems using it - it is my preferred browser to be honest and if they're making it faster hen that's even better.

As to the above - I'm not sure why I'd copy a URL then want a paste and go - I'd just click the URL or middle mouse button it to open in a new tab.

Chrome has caused me all kinds of pain when it changed the way Java interacts with it - took me ages to find some weird control page to change it.

M.

this_is_gav · 30 May 2015 at 09:29

m4cc45 said:
As to the above - I'm not sure why I'd copy a URL then want a paste and go - I'd just click the URL or middle mouse button it to open in a new tab.

You don't always get URLs from the browser or same browser, especially if you're testing or developing.

Still, Microsoft were renowned for not coding for other browsers or keeping to standards, were they.

Both Chrome and Firefox have it (and I assume Opera and others too). Like I say, it's just the little things - there'll be many others I and others will likely miss at least initially.

Search by image will be another (that should be solved by plugins - it's not something I'd expect in a browser by default even if Google did), but it's infinitely useful.

mortals · 30 May 2015 at 11:41

I think it might be ok but if it has no support for android or linux I'm not going to be using it as a main browser.

Could be a nice step forward for windows in terms of security tho.

MR.B said:
ActiveX, VBScript, and Browser Helper Objects have all been removed.

http://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/...ying-goodbye-to-activex-vbscript-attachevent/
Microsoft Edge provides no support for VML, VB Script, Toolbars, BHOs, or ActiveX.

Also supposedly uses Visual Studio 2015 Control Flow Guard

The flat interface on windows 10 actually looks quite pretty

That microsoft video seems to showcase the ability to draw on websites well :rolleyes:

Will be interested to use it tho just to see if all the hype is true.

MR.B · 31 May 2015 at 03:35

mortals said:
That microsoft video seems to showcase the ability to draw on websites well

It's called Web Notes. They're messing around in the vid but it's meant for taking notes, either by pen/touch input or typing, then you can share or save them. You can also crop + copy a part of the page (which kinda acts like the Windows Snipping Tool). I think it's good for working in groups, especially web designers, but most people probably wont use it.

mrk · 31 May 2015 at 10:08

support both Chrome and FF extensions

This is good news but I'm not getting excited about it because I can't believe it will work bug free with other browser extensions.

Skeeter · 31 May 2015 at 13:14

Ive been trying to use this as my main browser on W10 but the fact its currently locked to Bing keeps driving me to Chrome. I think thats a mistake by MS as I imagine I'm not the only one not using it because of this.

MR.B · 31 May 2015 at 17:30

Skeeter said:
Ive been trying to use this as my main browser on W10 but the fact its currently locked to Bing keeps driving me to Chrome. I think thats a mistake by MS as I imagine I'm not the only one not using it because of this.

It's a unfinished preview... They've said they will add this. You can even see the option to change search engine in Settings, but it's greyed out because it's not finished yet.