Microsoft Edge Chromium is already a viable alternative to Chrome and Firefox
Microsoft doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to web browsers. For the past five years, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge have played a secondary role behind Google Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox, often for the sole purpose of installing these competing browsers. In an effort to reclaim some of the browser market, Microsoft is redesigning Edge based on Chromium.
Chromium is an open source browser project, or if you prefer, a web rendering engine launched by Google that developers can use to build better browsers. Google Chrome, Opera, and Amazon Silk are just a few examples of Chromium-based browsers. Since Microsoft also moved to the popular open source project, Firefox now stands out as the last major option not based on Google's vision for the web.
Microsoft Edge Chromium is still in beta, but I've been
using it as my primary PC browser for a couple of weeks now. The Android
version of Microsoft Edge is also based on Chromium and can sync bookmarks and
other information across both platforms. As a longtime Google Chrome user and
frequent Firefox fan, I was pleasantly surprised to spend time with Microsoft
Edge running Chromium. In fact, it's very likely that Edge will become my
default browser in the final version.
Microsoft Edge Chromium contains great features
I wouldn't immediately put Microsoft, Edge, and useful
features in one sentence, but the company's latest browser is full of tricks.
For starters, you'll find the usual set of bookmarks,
bookmark import, and link exchange options. Edge also offers a built-in dark
mode, although it doesn't overwrite web page color schemes. What's even more
interesting is Microsoft's built-in Read Aloud feature that can read web pages
to you. Useful for reviewing this article and digesting the news over your morning
coffee. There's also an immersive reading mode if you want to read a website
without custom formatting.
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A big plus for me is native Chromecast support. I often
stream video from my tablet or PC to the TV in my living room. This is one of
the reasons why I couldn't get rid of Chrome for Firefox, but Edge finally lets
me switch and continue streaming.
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Edge also has a "Collections" feature. It allows
you to select collections of web pages, images, and text snippets by simply
dragging and dropping them. Think of it like improved markers. This is useful
for saving things for later without cluttering up your favorites, and you can
also open collections in Excel and Word.
Microsoft finally feels at the forefront of the Internet.
The last major feature is called Applications. Essentially,
apps allow you to download and install web pages and web apps for use without
the Edge browser. You used to have to find these dedicated web apps in the
Microsoft Store, but now Edge handles downloading and managing web apps in the
browser.
For example, you can download the Twitter web app through
Edge by simply visiting the Twitter website and clicking "install this
site as an app" from the settings menu. Once installed, you can launch the
web page as an application right from your desktop, taskbar, or start menu,
just like any other software. It's similar to saving links, only better, as
some web apps can also work offline. Alternatively, you can install the Android
Authority website and run it as an app to keep up to date with the latest news
without launching Edge every time. It's pretty neat and what I intend to use
more often.
Overall, Edge offers everything you need in a web browser
and more. Microsoft finally feels at the forefront of the Internet.
Microsoft Edge Chrome Surface Pro X
Not as much RAM as Chrome
Google Chrome is a notorious performance eater. It will need
as much RAM as you can give it and this is one of the main reasons why people
switch to Firefox which is much lighter. The good news is that Microsoft Edge
Chromium is even lighter than Firefox. It definitely looks like the most
popular browser