Microsoft's Chromium Edge Browser for Mac Officially Launches

[MacRumors]

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.

A beta version of the Microsoft Edge browser has been available for several months ahead of the official, stable launch.

Microsoft's aim with the Edge browser is to provide better web compatibility with improved performance for customers while also making sure there's less fragmentation of the web for developers.

Edge for Mac has been designed to be similar to the Edge experience on Windows, but Microsoft has added optimizations to make it feel more Mac-like. Extensions can be added from the Microsoft Addons store or other Chromium-based web stores like the Chrome Web Store.

The browser includes tracking prevention (enabled by default), customization options, built-in search capabilities with Bing, an Internet Explorer mode for viewing older web pages, and a new wave-style logo that replaces the traditional "e" that past Microsoft browsers have used.

For Mac users who plan to use Edge, the browser is available cross platform and can be downloaded on Mac, Windows, and iOS devices with the Edge iOS app.

Microsoft is planning regular updates for the Edge browser, with Canary, Dev, and Beta updates on a daily, weekly, and multi-week basis. The next stable version of Edge will see an update sometime in February.

Article Link: Microsoft's Chromium Edge Browser for Mac Officially Launches

 

[busuan]

Microsoft is now unapologetically google.

 

[kyjaotkb]

This browser literally breathed a second life into my 2011 Macbook Air with 4GB RAM. Can't believe I'm saying that but go Microsoft!

 

[Akrapovic]

Everyone is going to jump on this and say it's terrible because it's Microsoft and because Edge (and IE) are terrible. But this is actually good - really good. It's all the benefits of Chrome, but without the Google having your data worries.

If you want to go further down the 'Chrome but privacy' route, then Brave browser takes it a step further. That's Chromium but with a big privacy focus. I've been using it recently (coupled with DuckDuckGo) and it's really good.

When I moved to macOS from Windows about 3 months ago, Safari was my biggest disappointment. Edge and Brave are really good replacements.

 

[StuBeck]

Microsoft is now unapologetically google.

Not really. Just because they are using an open source engine made by Google, their consumer privacy is on a very different level than Googles.

 

[PeterKG]

The icon looks like a Tide fabric pod.

 

[urbanmacUser]

Just blocked it for my users.

 

[bpeeps]

I will test it out, competition is a good thing.

 

[ruka.snow]

So now only Firefox are not some form of WebKit.

 

[NickName99]

If it’s got the performance of Chrome without the tracking of Google, that’s actually kind of appealing. My default is obviously going to be Safari, but it’s nice to have reserve options.

 

[CreatorCode]

Finally, I can upgrade from Internet Explorer Macintosh Edition 5.2.3

 

[Akrapovic]

If it’s got the performance of Chrome without the tracking of Google, that’s actually kind of appealing. My default is obviously going to be Safari, but it’s nice to have reserve options.

If you want Chrome performance and features with no tracking then get Brave. From ex-Firefox people. Webkit engine, good browser - privacy focus. Gives you reports of all the privacy things it's doing for you (cookies blocked, HTTPS upgrades, etc).

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[canesalato]

I have been using the betas and I have been positively impressed. It works very well.

 

[jbachandouris]

I was not a fan of Edge on PC, so not sure how this is an improvement.

 

[fenderbass146]

Fantastic, The new Edge has completely replaced Chrome on my PC's and I put it on my Mac for the few websites or addons I needed that weren't available or working in Safari.
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I was not a fan of Edge on PC, so not sure how this is an improvement.

This is just getting bashed becauyse it's a MS product. It's imo the best pc browser now. Build on Chromium, but doesn't have to be linked into Googles echo system. Also works with all Chrome extensions which is nice.

 

[alphaswift]

It’s a nice browser. On my Windows desktop, I switched from Chrome in the fall without issue. That said, I don’t think I’d leave Safari on Mac or any Apple platform.

 

[palmerc2]

Everyone is going to jump on this and say it's terrible because it's Microsoft and because Edge (and IE) are terrible. But this is actually good - really good. It's all the benefits of Chrome, but without the Google having your data worries.

If you want to go further down the 'Chrome but privacy' route, then Brave browser takes it a step further. That's Chromium but with a big privacy focus. I've been using it recently (coupled with DuckDuckGo) and it's really good.

When I moved to macOS from Windows about 3 months ago, Safari was my biggest disappointment. Edge and Brave are really good replacements.

I too use Brave, except with Startpage instead of DuckDuckGo on both MacOS and iOS.

I'd use Dissenter as I've read its more secure, and private than Brave, but Apple rejected the iOS app (even though Apple admits it doesn't violate any terms). So in the interest of syncing browsers between platforms, it's Brave for me.

 

[BobHyatt]

Who in their RIGHT mind would ever install a Micro$oft product on their Apple product? Crashes. Hacking vulnerabilities. You name it. To quote Linus Torvalds many years ago, windows is NOT the answer. Windows is the question. NO is the answer. I would not give it a femtosecond of thought.

 

[NickName99]

Everyone is going to jump on this and say it's terrible because it's Microsoft and because Edge (and IE) are terrible. But this is actually good - really good. It's all the benefits of Chrome, but without the Google having your data worries.

If you want to go further down the 'Chrome but privacy' route, then Brave browser takes it a step further. That's Chromium but with a big privacy focus. I've been using it recently (coupled with DuckDuckGo) and it's really good.

When I moved to macOS from Windows about 3 months ago, Safari was my biggest disappointment. Edge and Brave are really good replacements.

I totally agree with your point about the benefit of Chrome without the sketchiness of Google, I made pretty much the same point.

What was disappointing about Safari for you though? In my experience Safari has the best performance and the best efficiency (higher on benchmarks + easier on battery life). Even just scrolling on sites is visibly smoother on Safari.

Safari also integrates perfectly with iCloud KeyChain and bookmark sync, and I can hand off web pages between my iPhone and my MacBook Pro pretty effortlessly too. 3rd party browsers miss out on that nice iOS integration.

 

[Argyboy]

Not bashing Microsoft here but why someone would use this instead of something like Brave is beyond me at this point. I'll likely try it but I won't be moving from Brave and Firefox any time soon.

 

[BobHyatt]

If it’s got the performance of Chrome without the tracking of Google, that’s actually kind of appealing. My default is obviously going to be Safari, but it’s nice to have reserve options.

You seriously don't think Microsoft tracks anything? just see the reports on Windows 10. This will be no different.

 

[Akrapovic]

Who in their RIGHT mind would ever install a Micro$oft product on their Apple product? Crashes. Hacking vulnerabilities. You name it. To quote Linus Torvalds many years ago, windows is NOT the answer. Windows is the question. NO is the answer. I would not give it a femtosecond of thought.

Just FYI, this uses Webkit. Same rendering engine as Safari. And it's based on Chromium, which is what Chrome and Brave are built on. It's also open source. So if you're worried about hacking and security issues then you're in for a surprise with the products you currently use.

The Linus quote is so long ago it pre-dates a few CEO changes. Steve Jobs also said that if you see a stylus they blew it. But we don't whip that one out on Apple forums. Almost like circumstances change.

 

[decisions]

I believe that as a consumer I have a duty to vote for what I think is important by the things that I choose to use/purchase. So I won't be using this browser unless MS somehow shows that they care about privacy as much as, or more than, Mozilla and Apple do.

The Linus quote is so long ago it pre-dates a few CEO changes. Steve Jobs also said that if you see a stylus they blew it. But we don't whip that one out on Apple forums. Almost like circumstances change.

I never understand why people keep bringing up this quote. Steve's point was that you shouldn't need a stylus for a phone. He was right. Having one for a tablet, for all we know, made perfect sense to him and was something he envisioned down the line as the accuracy of iPad touchscreens improved down the line.

 

[Akrapovic]

Not bashing Microsoft here but why someone would use this instead of something like Brave is beyond me at this point. I'll likely try it but I won't be moving from Brave and Firefox any time soon.

It sync functions are better than Braves. I use Brave over this (but also have it installed). But if I wanted to sync settings, bookmarks and extensions then this would be better than Brave. Also useful for people using the Microsoft suite for the workplace and users who have a MS account for other things - such as Xbox Live. Bookmarks sync to the Xbox too.

I agree Brave is better, but Edge does win on some edge cases (ha).