Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge (or simply Edge) is a proprietary cross-platform web browser created by Microsoft. It was released on April 29, 2015 as part of Windows 10 and Xbox One, it was initially built with Microsoft's own proprietary browser engine, EdgeHTML, and their Chakra JavaScript engine. Later on, it was ported to Android and iOS as a fork of Google's Chromium open-source project. Edge is also available on older Windows versions until early 2023, as well as Linux, a Unix-like operating system kernel.https://web.archive.org/web/20200922232203/https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/22/21449062/microsoft-edge-linux-preview-october-release The web browser is written in C++ and C#.
In late 2018, Microsoft announced it would completely rebuild Edge as a Chromium-based browser with Blink and V8 engines, which allowed the browser to be ported to macOS. The new Edge was publicly released in January 2020,https://web.archive.org/web/20210110012836/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-chromium-based-edge-browser-to-be-generally-available-january-15-2020/https://web.archive.org/web/20200612010922/https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-microsoft-begins-automatically-pushing-chromium-edge-to-users/ and on Xbox platforms in 2021.https://web.archive.org/web/20210331120811/https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/7/22318050/microsoft-edge-xbox-chromium-browser-testing Microsoft has since terminated security support for the original browser (now referred to as Microsoft Edge Legacy).https://web.archive.org/web/20210311213652/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/new-microsoft-edge-to-replace-microsoft-edge-legacy-with-april-s/ba-p/2114224
==Features==
Microsoft Edge is the default web browser, replacing Internet Explorer 11 and Internet Explorer Mobile.https://web.archive.org/web/20150325061911/http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/24/8284781/internet-explorer-is-slowly-dying As its development and release is dependent on the model of Windows as a service, it is not included in Windows Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) builds.https://web.archive.org/web/20170616120310/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-overview
For more details, here is the list of notable features of Microsoft Edge web browser:
*Legacy MSHTML (Trident) browser engine for backward compatibility: But later said that, due to "strong feedback", Edge would use a new engine, while Internet Explorer would continue to provide the legacy engine.https://web.archive.org/web/20150527195435/http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-ie-11-will-remain-unchanged-from-windows-81-spartan-is-the-future
*Favorites, reading list, browsing history and downloads viewed at the Hub.Get To Know Microsoft Edge - support.microsoft.com
*A sidebar providing functionality similar to Internet Explorer's Downloads manager and Favorites Center."Favorites Center - IEBlog" - blogs.msdn.microsoft.com. February 6, 2006.
*Microsoft Edge's built-in PDF reader.https://web.archive.org/web/20150906012453/http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/windows-10s-new-browser-microsoft-edge-improved-but-also-new-risks/
*WebAssembly features.
*Adobe Flash Player (until January 2021): Since January 2021, the feature was deprecated.[https://web.archive.org/web/20201214152529/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-edge-lets-facebook-run-flash-code-behind-users-backs/ "Microsoft Edge lets Facebook run Flash code behind users' backs". -ZDNet.
*Browser extensions: Preliminary support for browser extensions was added in March 2016, with build 14291, three extensions were initially supported. Microsoft indicated that the delay in allowing extensions and the small number was due to security concerns.https://web.archive.org/web/20160322013957/http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/everything-need-know-microsoft-edge-browser-extensions/ As of December 2022, there are more than 9,000 extensions—called add-ons—available for Edge.https://web.archive.org/web/20221228184921/https://edge-stats.com/
Edge does not support legacy technologies such as ActiveX and Browser Helper Objects, instead it uses an extension system based on the cross-browser WebExtension API."Living on the Edge – our next step in helping the web just work" - IEBlog
Microsoft also added compatibility for split screen i.e. 2 tabs can be viewed at the same time. A new feature "Workspaces" was introduced, which basically lets the user create different spaces for various things. These workspaces are also collaborative, users can invite friends or colleagues and seamlessly have completely separate workspace for collaboration.
===Release strategy===
Microsoft Edge Legacy's release cadence was tied to the Windows release cycle and used the Windows Insider Program to preview new versions of the browser. These pre-release builds were known as "Edge Preview". Every major release of Windows included an updated version of Edge and its render engine.
On April 8, 2019, Microsoft announced the introduction of four preview channels: Canary, Dev, Beta, and Stable and launched the Canary and Dev channels that same day with the first preview builds, for those channels, of the new Edge. Microsoft collectively calls the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels the "Microsoft Edge insider channels".
===Surf (video game)===
In May 2020, an update to Microsoft Edge added Surf, a browser game where players control a surfer attempting to evade obstacles and collect powerups. Similar to Google Chrome's Dinosaur Game, Surf is accessible from the browser's offline error page and can also be accessed by entering edge://surf into the address bar. The game features three game modes (classic, time trial, and slalom), has character customization, and supports keyboard, mouse, touch, and gamepad controls.
In 2021, Surf was updated with limited-time seasonal theming resembling SkiFree. Instead of surfing, the player skis down a mountain while being chased by a yeti.
==History==
===Early development===
In December 2014, writing for ZDNet, technology writer Mary Jo Foley reported that Microsoft was developing a new web browser codenamed "Spartan". She said that "Spartan" would be treated as a new product separate from Internet Explorer, with Internet Explorer 11 retained alongside it for compatibility.
"Spartan" was first made publicly available as the default browser of Windows 10 Technical Preview build 10049, released on March 30, 2015. The new engine used by "Spartan" was available in Windows builds as part of Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft later announced that Internet Explorer would be deprecated on Windows and would not use the "Spartan" engine.
On April 29, 2015, during the Build Conference keynote, it was announced that "Spartan" would officially be known as Microsoft Edge. The browser's logo and branding were designed to maintain continuity with the branding of Internet Explorer.https://web.archive.org/web/20150501002407/http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-reveals-edges-new-logo The Project "Spartan" branding was used in versions released after Build 2015. On June 25, 2015, Microsoft released version 19.10149 for Windows 10 Mobile which included the new brand. On June 28, 2015, version 20.10158 followed for the desktop versions, also including the updated branding. On July 15, 2015, Microsoft released version 20.10240 as the final release to Insiders. The same version was rolled out to consumers on July 29, 2015.
On August 12, 2015, Microsoft started the preview program for the next version of Microsoft Edge. They released version 20.10512 to Mobile users. 6 days later followed by version 20.10525 for desktop users. The preview received multiple updates. On November 5, 2015, Microsoft released version 25.10586 as the final release for Edge's second public release for desktop users. On November 12, 2015, the update was rolled out to both desktop users and Xbox One users as part of the New Xbox Experience Update. On November 18, 2015, the update was to Mobile. Finally, on November 19, 2015, the update was also made available as part of the Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4.
In November 2017, Microsoft released ports of Edge for Android and iOS. The apps feature integration and synchronization with the desktop version on Windows PCs. Due to platform restrictions and other factors, these ports do not use the same layout engine as the desktop version and instead use OS-native WebKit-based engines."Microsoft is bringing new Edge apps to iOS, Android" - ZDNet (October 5, 2007)
Microsoft stopped supporting Microsoft Edge Legacy on March 9, 2021. On April 13, 2021, Microsoft released a cumulative monthly security update which replaced Edge Legacy with the new Chromium-based Edge.
===New Edge===
Codenamed "Anaheim", on December 6, 2018, Microsoft announced its intent to base Edge on the Chromium source code, using the same browser engine as Google Chrome but with enhancements developed by Microsoft. It was also announced that there will be versions of Edge available for older Windows versions, and macOS, plus that all versions will be updated on a more frequent basis.
On April 8, 2019, the first builds of the new Edge for Windows were released to the public. On May 20, 2019, the first preview builds of Edge for macOS were released to the public, marking the first time in 13 years that a Microsoft browser was available on the Mac platform. The last time a Microsoft browser was available on the Mac platform was Internet Explorer for Mac, which was withdrawn in January 2006.
==References==
==External Links==
*Microsoft Edge in Wikipedia.
Category:Web browsers