MS is porting EdgeChrome to OS X

[mikeymikec]

I call it 'EdgeChrome' because MS is planning on sticking a new UI on Chrome and calling it Edge, and I very much doubt that they're going to spend time continuing development on non-EdgeChrome on a platform secondary to their own.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/6/18528881/microsoft-edge-macos-mac-browser-teaser-build-2019

I'm a bit puzzled by this move though. Chrome has the vast majority of the market share, so logically its users have no privacy qualms about it, so what exactly is EdgeChrome going to bring to the table? One possibility is that they intend to chip away at Safari's share of that market, but surely they'd have to make a more compelling alternative than Chrome is to a group of users who aren't all that bothered about which browser they use?

I'm a bit puzzled by EdgeChrome's relevance even on Windows though... a better basic browser that they don't have to fight with Google to keep in good working order?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm a bit puzzled by EdgeChrome's relevance even on Windows though... a better basic browser that they don't have to fight with Google to keep in good working order?

It provides a platform for MORE "Windows / Microsoft DRM", they want to get a cut of the Streaming-video biz that's growing online, if they can provide a "DRM platform" for Windows, without having to spend the R&D expense for the basic browser underpinnings... well, you get the picture. Expect to see "deals" in the future, like "Netflix requires 'EdgeChrome' on Windows to stream video", etc.

 

[PingSpike]

One of the features being rolled for the Browser formerly known as Edge is the ability to run IE11 inside itself to use IE11 features. So using old corporate junk that only works in IE is one of its features I guess, although I'm not sure if that extends to the OSX version.

I find that feature pretty funny since everyone said IE sucked and that Microsoft totally rewrote their browser with Edge and to give it a shot. Then the combined IE/Edge marketshare quickly started leaving for Chrome and now the answer is to bolt IE11 onto Chrome. Weird times.

 

[UsandThem]

I find that feature pretty funny since everyone said IE sucked and that Microsoft totally rewrote their browser with Edge and to give it a shot. Then the combined IE/Edge marketshare quickly started leaving for Chrome and now the answer is to bolt IE11 onto Chrome. Weird times.

When Edge first arrived, Microsoft in their infinite wisdom decided to not allow add-ons or extensions, so it was pretty much DOA. By the time they allowed extensions, their was little incentive for companies to make them for Edge because the amount of people who used it was too low.

Pretty much a repeat of the mistakes they made with Windows phone, Zune, their music store, etc. Too little, too late.

 

[KeithP]

I call it 'EdgeChrome' because MS is planning on sticking a new UI on Chrome and calling it Edge...

From what I understand they are using the Chromium open source project to develop the next version of Edge. That seems like something far different just wrapping Chrome in a new UI.

-KeithP

 

[mikeymikec]

From what I understand they are using the Chromium open source project to develop the next version of Edge. That seems like something far different just wrapping Chrome in a new UI.

I'm not sure I see a distinction.