It's fair to say Microsoft's old 'Edge' browser wasn't the most popular piece of software in the world. While it was a decent-enough browser alternative in its own right due to a few unique features, it failed to make a dent in the user bases that Firefox or Google Chrome have amassed over the years.
Support For Microsoft Edge Chromium
Feb 05, 2020 The new Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. Downloading the browser will replace the legacy version of Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 PCs. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy.
Though Microsoft spent quite some time trying to make Edge work, leadership eventually decided it wasn't worth the effort. Instead of continuing to fight an uphill battle, the company elected to rebuild Edge from the ground up using the power of Chromium. Windows 10 users finally got their hands on this revamped version of Edge in April, when the first official preview version went live.
- Jan 15, 2020 Microsoft today announced the first stable launch of its Edge browser built on the Google Chromium open source project. Microsoft Edge can be downloaded on both Windows machines and Macs.
- Apr 25, 2020 Hello, After using the new Chromium based Edge on my windows PC for a while, I wanted to try it out on my mac as well. But since it is an older model (Late 2011), it cannot be upgraded to macOS Mojave (currently running High Sierra), which has support for in-built dark mode system-wide.
For Microsoft, a Windows 10 user base isn't enough, though. The company today announced that the first preview builds for the new Edge are now available for macOS users. According to Microsoft, Edge for macOS offers the same overall browsing experience as its Windows 10 counterpart, but its 'look and feel' has been tweaked to better suit the needs of Mac fans.
Edge for macOS offers the same overall browsing experience as its Windows 10 counterpart, but its 'look and feel' has been tweaked to better suit the needs of Mac fans.
Though most of these changes are small -- affecting things like menu layouts, font styles, and keyboard shortcuts -- one larger change is Microsoft's decision to integrate MacBook Touch Bars into the Edge experience. By swiping left and right on the Touch Bar with the browser in focus, you can switch between tabs. Alternatively, you can use the Touch Bar to control video playback.
As time goes on, more adjustments will undoubtedly be made to Edge's Mac port based on feedback from users. If you decide to try it for yourself but feel something is missing, you can let Microsoft know by using the 'Send Feedback' tool.
You can download Edge for macOS right now by visiting our download section.
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Download Chromium For Mac
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Anyone interested in trying Microsoft's redesigned Edge Chromium browser can now download and use the first release version.
Edge Chromium is rebuilt with Google's Chromium, the open-source browser engine that powers main rival Google Chrome. The change will, in theory, make it easier for developers to produce extensions for the browser, as well as making for a more standardized web experience for users and web developers, with websites loading with a similar appearance to Google's own browser.
Under the new version of Edge, Microsoft will include a new tracking prevention default where it is turned on from the start. The SmartScreen and Tracking Prevention mechanisms aim to protect against phishing schemes, malware, and other malicious software, while an InPrivate mode will stop web searches from being attributable to the user, somewhat similar to Chrome's Incognito mode.
At launch, history sync and extension sync won't be available, which could be a deal breaker for some users. These features are a large reason why many users choose Google's Chrome in the first place. Microsoft has stated that both history and extension sync will be available later in 2020.
A Collections feature, which is listed as 'coming soon,' can be used to collect web content for research purposes, which can then be exported into Word or Excel for further analysis.
While many established users are likely to continue using their browser of choice, Microsoft Edge Chromium does serve a purpose. Enterprise users will be able to utilize Chromium's built in 'Internet Explorer' mode, which will allow businesses and agencies to load legacy Internet Explorer content.
While it targets enterprise users, the newly released browser is available for anyone download now from Microsoft directly, on both macOS and Windows. Chromium's enhanced privacy features and support for 4K Ultra HD Netflix with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, currently for Windows 10 only, has not been replicated on Google Chrome yet.
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