In late 2018, Microsoft officially announced the demise of the previous version of Edge for Windows 10 only. This version was replaced by an improved version of the browser, based on Chromium, the same rendering engine used by the Google Chrome browser (and other efforts). Also, like Opera and Vivaldi). Edge's browser market share was woefully small (and even starting to recede), so Microsoft had to take action. In fact, it was a really radical move, but Microsoft had to act quickly to stop the rot, and Chromium was obviously the ideal way to ensure better compatibility with the new Edge websites and make it more globally reliable. Not to mention allowing its implementation on a greater number of platforms for better prospects for greater adoption; not just all versions of Windows, but macOS and other operating systems (Linux is also a major possibility). Put aside the idea of the impact of this decision on Edge at this point, though, because we want to examine what that means for Chrome here. After all, this initiative may significantly strengthen Google's web browser.
Chromium compromise
Even at the current stage of pre-release and testing of Chrome-based Edge technology, it's clear that Microsoft is fully committed to improving Chrome in many ways. And among these many improvements (some planned, some already in progress or in place), many of them are major advances, and will address all browsers that use Chromium, including Chrome. Last week, we saw Microsoft push Chromium into the future in terms of work on smoother scrolling of web pages (which can be very jerky on busier pages) and possible changes to memory management for faster startup. from Chrome on. Low spec PC. Not to mention the implementation of text suggestions for the hardware keyboard, strengthening the incognito mode in Windows 10 to improve the level of privacy, as well as the responsiveness and functionality of touch screen devices, among others. The performance potential for faster boot-up is pretty eye-opening, and it's easy to consider at a more general level an improvement in memory and performance management designed by Microsoft, which will benefit Chrome and thus increase the longevity of Chrome. Battery. browse notebooks This would be a particularly important advantage for Google because the monopoly of the resource is known to be its main weak point. It's certainly nice to see Microsoft so committed to working with Chromium here, while staying true to the Open Source push that it's been doing a lot of late, but we're getting more and more the impression that Chrome really does have a lot to gain from it all. this. So don't worry about Mozilla's (the maker of Firefox) initial cries that "by adopting Chromium, Microsoft is giving even more control to Google's online life", there may be an even more direct threat: the fact that may Microsoft's innovations with the new Edge also strengthen Chrome and strengthen its leadership position in the browser world. And it is already by far the most dominant web browser, with 66% of the market share (according to the latest statistics from analytics company Netmarketshare).
The first signs look promising for Microsoft's new browser, but there are certainly some blocking points (Image credit: TheComparison)
Edge of tomorrow
Of course, the obvious counterargument is that Chromium-based Edge will stand out, attract users, and start stealing market share from Chrome. As a result, the potential gains for Google will be more than cancelled. After all, the remodeled Edge still benefits from all these improvements and possibly the goodwill generated by Microsoft, which is investing all its energy and willingness to improve the open source project. We should also consider that the initial signs are promising for Microsoft's revamped browser, with generally positive feedback from testers, and anecdotally, we found this to be a benefit on the resource utilization front. However, the release and support of Chrome-based edge systems to attract new users is not necessarily a given, far from it. There are potential reasons why things could be a bit more difficult for Microsoft after launch. First of all, remember that this new version of your browser retains the Edge branding and that name does not have a positive connotation. What if some of this bad reputation persists, even if this new browser is a whole new proposition in terms of an engine? Not everyone will be fully aware of this, especially less tech-savvy surfers. Under these circumstances, persuading users to leave Chrome, which is well established as a trusted name, could be a stumbling block. Another thing to consider is if Chromium-based Edge encounters bugs that require Google's help to fix, as we've seen recently with glitches in Google services like Meet and Google Docs, the browser. Does Microsoft's rival give them priority? (More on that momentarily.) Mozilla has certainly complained in the past about multiple bugs caused by Google, urgently unresolved, that have significantly disrupted its Firefox browser. One of the main reasons Microsoft chose the Chromium engine was to ensure its popular compatibility and reliability for the new Edge. So if things go a bit rough on this front, it's going to be a disappointment. Also, there may be query points about extensions (plugins that introduce additional features to the browser, like a VPN for example). Microsoft has promised that Chromium-compatible extensions will work immediately with the new Edge without any additional work from developers. Let's hope this is the case, but how it will play out in the real world remains to be seen. . It's not hard to imagine that some offers could encounter unforeseen problems. So what if Microsoft has to deal with some of these potential pitfalls? If so, if Edge Mark II fails to increase Chrome's market share, or even drive users to Chrome, Chrome improvements across both browsers. Is this offer really the key to the web for Google?
How will the new collaboration between Microsoft and Google play out? (Image credit: LaComparacion)