Microsoft Edge based on Chromium to release Jan 15, 2020

[AdvancedSetup]

Microsoft is shipping the final stable release of the new Microsoft Edge, based on Chromium, on January 15th, 2020.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
The new Microsoft Edge is a dramatic leap forward in browser technology for both enterprise & consumer users.

1. CHROME PLUGIN SUPPORT
   Nearly all Chrome plugins work in the new Edge straight from the Chrome store.  You literally visit the store from Edge, select a Chrome plugin, click install, and you’re done.
2. CHROME COMPATIBILITY
   Edge is compatible with virtually every web site that is Chrome compatible by leveraging the Chromium HTML engine.  If Chrome can access it, so can Edge.
3. LEGACY IE COMPATIBILITY
   For Enterprise customers, the new Edge is 100% compatible with sites that require Internet Explorer. Edge can switch seamlessly to the Internet Explorer HTML engine for compatibility.
4. LIGHTER & LESS TRACKING
   180 services, including all the tracking services from Chromium, has been removed from the new Edge.
5. ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT
   New Edge has all the Enterprise manageability, group policies, & security controls IT is familiar with in IE/legacy Edge
6. SPEED & POWER OPTIMIZATION
   New Edge inherits the speed/performance of predecessors & now has Edge’s power optimization, so it won’t kill your laptop’s battery.
7. SECURITY THROUGH HARDWARE ISOLATION
   New Edge security supports Hardware-based isolation of browsing sessions of unknown sites to protect users from malware. (bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft…)
8. NO MORE NOTIFICATION REQUESTS
   New Edge has a feature to BLOCK all website requests to "send notifications". (kurtsh.com/2019/10/28/how…)
9. PRIVACY & TRACKING PREVENTION
   New Edge actively shields user’s privacy with "Edge Tracking Prevention" – blocking even Google. (bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft…)
10. BLOCK MALWARE SITES
    New Edge inherits SmartScreen technology to proactively prevent users from visiting known bad/malware web sites.
11. STYLUS & DIGITAL INKING
    New Edge inherits all of the digital ink support from past Edge releases, providing tablet & stylus users the best experience available.
12. ACCESSIBILITY BUILT-IN
    New Edge maintains all the Accessibility focus from previous releases and is contributing accessibility improvements to the open-source community by submitting them as additions to Chromium’s codebase.

…so download the new Edge & give it a try! Releasing this January 15, 2020.

 

Get the beta here:

• DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Edge Insider/Beta Channel
  http://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com

 

Or wait a few more weeks for the released version.

 

The Malwarebytes Browser Guard for Chromium will support this browser as well

 

[sman]

but does it support WebRTC ??

Microsoft disabled or replaced these Google features in the new Edge

"https://www.ghacks.net/2019/04/09/microsoft-edge-google-features-disabled/'

Services that communicate with Google or are powered by Google are affected for the most part; this is a distinguishing factor of Microsoft Edge when you compare it to other Chromium-based browsers.

It would be interesting to see lists of removed or replaced Chromium features of other Chromium-based browsers such as Vivaldi or Opera.

[exile360]

I wonder how much of Microsoft's telemetry/tracking is built into the new browser?  I'm sure someone will do thorough traffic captures of the browser's activity to find out.

With regards to WebRTC, there are extensions to block that for Chromium to protect privacy (I use Easy WebRTC Block).

It is interesting that they are maintaining some level of IE compatibility and I wonder how much of IE's extensive security capabilities will make it into the new browser.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[sman]

Since MS is for it's own ORTC it's notion of WebRTC, the support for WebRTC as in Chrome, FF etc. in Edge Chromium is not clear..

Is there a clear picture of it, going by these following articles. -

WebRTC the Microsoft Way – Support for ORTC in Edge

"https://thenewdialtone.com/ortc-in-edge/'

ORTC Support in Edge Chromium

"https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Discussions/ORTC-Support-in-Edge-Chromium/m-p/411631"