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Microsoft Releases its New Browser, ChrEdge!

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What does Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser mean?

Microsoft recently released its new Chromium based version of Edge, which many, like us, have taken to calling ChrEdge!  The stable release was made available early January 15th for direct download, but have indicated it will be released in stages and will continue over the next few months.

Why did Microsoft make this switch?

There are a number of reasons for Microsoft to make the switch.  A big one is that Edge only ran Windows 10 and not on older versions of the OS or on Macs.  Microsoft’s browser marketshare was fragmented by these incompatibilities.  The new version of Edge is built on the Chromium open-source engine which of course means they’ve abandoned their proprietary EdgeHTML rendering engine in favor of one that has extensively more market share.  So, they are the same as Chrome now, right?   Not so fast…

While the browser is built on Chromium, Microsoft has made a lot of changes from that base code.  Earlier this year, they posted a list of over 50 services that were either disabled or replaced from the Chromium base.  Some, like Safe Browsing were replaced with Microsoft equivalents like Windows Defender SmartScreen, so user experiences will be different between the two browsers.

What are the biggest differences between Edge vs ChrEdge?

  • The proprietary EdgeHTML rendering engine was replaced with the market leader base engine.
  • Chrome-based extensions compatibility making it easier for users to switch from Chrome to Edge and keep their tools and data.
  • New tracking prevention enabled by default.
  • Progressive Web App support
  • Collections support

Why Should you Care?

It would be tempting to think that since the new Edge is based on Chromium, if it works on Chrome, it will work on Edge.  For a large part, that is definitely true.  But we don’t do cross browser testing because things are close or should work, we do it to ensure it works 100% as expected.  Given the amount of services changed by Microsoft, there will almost certainly be situations where the two browsers behave differently.  Add that to the aggregation of the Edge user base growing to include older Windows OS users as well as Mac users and the market share starts to be significantly larger.  Only time will tell, but we believe that both of these justify adding the new Edge to your cross browser testing program. 

Start testing your website on ChrEdge with CrossBrowserTesting. One click away!

The Developer Community’s Response to Microsoft Acquiring GitHub

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microsoft acquires github
On Monday, Microsoft announced its acquisition of GitHub in a $7.5 billion deal.

Since GitHub’s platform serves over 28 million developers and hosts around 85 million projects in an effort to create a community of collaboration and learning, this news is near and dear to our hearts at SmartBear.

Where SmartBear serves a hefty 6.5 million software professional in over 22,000 companies, many of our users are familiar with GitHub and regularly use it as a code repository. As the heart of the open source community, freelance developers and tech giants alike (Amazon, Google, and Apple come to mind) use GitHub for projects small and large.

So why Microsoft’s interest in GitHub in the first place? Microsoft is the top contributor to GitHub with roughly 1,300 employees pushing code. After recently shutting down its own version of GitHub, CodePlex, Microsoft mentioned that they had already moved most of their projects to GitHub, noting “GitHub is the de facto place for open source sharing and most open source projects have migrated there.”

For this reason, the acquisition isn’t totally surprising, and to many speculators, seemed like the logical next-step with Monday confirming rumors.

Upon hearing of Microsoft’s acquisition, we’ve noticed mixed reactions. Looking quickly at the poll on SmartBear’s Twitter, you can see the vote is split.

The majority of respondents at 38 percent take a neutral stance and don’t think much will change. Meanwhile, people are weighing in on each end of the spectrum with 34 percent foreseeing positive change and 28 percent feeling uncertain towards GitHub’s future.

Those that are faithful in Microsoft are hoping that it could provide the stability GitHub has been needing in recently turbulent times. Additionally, there is excitement around the ways that Microsoft will be able to elevate GitHub’s current capabilities by making it easier to develop in the Azure cloud, expanding the GitHub Marketplace, and integrating VS Code with GitHub support, for example.

Where does the skepticism come in? Some are afraid that GitHub could go the ways of Skype after Microsoft’s acquisition of it in 2011. After Microsoft made software updates to the popular video calling platform and refocused it for enterprise consumers and corporate markets, loyal Skype users began taking to the internet to complain, saying bugs in the UI had made Skype too difficult to use and it did not resemble the software they once loved.

Additionally, not all developers trust Microsoft to be the open source ally it claims to be. Some fear that keeping their projects on GitLab could take a turn for the worse if Microsoft were to use their powers for evil and dig into competitors’ private repositories or take advantage of data mining.

A percentage of users have taken on such a strong stance against the acquisition that they are already flocking to rivals such as GitLab, possibly influenced by the #movingtogitlab hashtag and discounted packages.

One thing’s for certain, Microsoft has done a lot for the open source community, which is something devs can get behind. Supporters of the acquisition point out that Microsoft isn’t the same company it was a few years ago since CEO Satya Nadella came on in 2014.

Pursuing open source technologies such as PowerShell and Visual Studio Code, Microsoft has made notable contributions to the open source community in recent years thanks to Nadella. Additionally, by making the move to support more open source ventures such as embracing Linux, Microsoft has separated itself from its anti-OSS reputation in order to offer products and services that work on a variety of platforms developers are using.

It’s apparent with the acquisition of GitHub that Microsoft hopes to continue making a name for themselves in this space, and the company has promised to keep GitHub independent and open.

This is something that we’re passionate about at SmartBear as we strive to support the open source community, and many of our tools are either open source or integrate with open source projects.

While Microsoft makes a valiant effort to play a critical role in the open source community, it seems that our best option is to get behind them until they give us a reason not to.

The Most Exciting Features in Windows 10 April Update and EdgeHTML 17

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Windows 10 April Update

Microsoft has begun the rollout of Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) and with it comes a slew of new features, upgrades, and functionality improvements.

Devices are supposed to start automatically updating on May 8, but it also might take a few months for some. If you want to update, you can follow the instructions on Windows Central. You can also use CrossBrowserTesting, which already has the Windows 10 April Update and Edge 17 available for testing.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the newest features in Microsoft’s latest release.

The Best New Features in Windows 10 April Update and Microsoft Edge 17

Find which tab is blasting music – If you’re one of those people who has more than a few tabs open while you do work, you know the struggle of trying to find the one tab that’s playing audio. With autoplay being common on popular websites, there’s nothing more annoying than having your favorite song interrupted by a blaring video advertisement. Microsoft knows your struggles and wants to give you back control over your online experience, which is why they created an icon that shows you which tab is playing media that you can click to turn on or off.

Faster checkout – Nobody likes to enter their credit card, address, contact details, and all the other time-consuming information required every time they want to check out. That’s why Microsoft Edge has been upgraded to remember it all for you when you’re signed into your Microsoft account. Skip the hassle of manually entering your personal details and save it instead — just be warned it may fuel your online shopping addiction.

Check your grammar – Microsoft is revamping the way you interact with your documents. The new Grammar Tools button makes writing and editing a breeze in Reading View, while the Books tab allows you to save EPUB books, add bookmarks, and manage them in one place with reading suggestions. Additionally, using Fluent Design System elements, you get a cleaner experience and a UI that’s easy on the eyes.

Go back in Timeline – Replacing the Task View button comes Timeline, which shows you what apps are currently running as well as which ones you’ve used within the past month and includes a scrollbar to see past activity. Timeline syncs across devices that you’re signed into or that have Microsoft Edge so you can access your browser history and pick up where you left off whether you’re at work or on the go, on your laptop or mobile device.

Sharing is caring – Windows 10 now uses Bluetooth and WiFi to identify compatible devices for sharing, similar to AirDrop. This makes it simple to send documents, files, photos, and web pages to others without having to physically connect or send over messaging. This new feature is called Nearby Share, and we can imagine that it will be widely used among friends, co-workers, and pretty much anyone close by for easier sharing.

Other updates – While there are many shiny new features to the latest Microsoft OS, there are also many minor improvements to make your life easier. Some of these include a clutter-free printing option, upgraded Focus Assist, improved support for touchpad gestures, advanced scaling options to improve blurriness, privacy improvements, Cortana tweaks, support for progressive web apps, offline browsing, and new extensions — because sometimes it’s the little things.

Staying on Top of Testing

Alongside the browser wars, it’s also important to pay attention to major operating system updates. This is the fifth major Windows 10 release, and with the update, we also get an update to Edge’s rendering engine, which means the browser experience will differ from the last version.

As users have their operating systems and browsers automatically updated, it’s important to test on new configurations to ensure your application still works as intended. If your device is late to the rollout or you don’t have a Windows OS on hand, having a cloud testing tool like CrossBrowserTesting ensures you’re always prepared when the newest operating system and browser updates are announced.

If you have updated for the most recent update, make sure to also keep older OS versions as part of your cross-browser testing strategy and enjoy Microsoft’s enhanced browsing.

What’s New in Microsoft Windows Edge 15 Browser

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Microsoft Windows Edge 15

In the preview of the Windows 10 Creators Update, EdgeHTML 15 was introduced as the most recent browser updates. Among the most notable features were new tab management options and general improvements in performance and UI.

The updates include:

  • Tab Preview – This bar allows you to look at a preview of each of your open tabs on Edge without having to leave your current page.
  • Tab Set-Aside – Another tab management tool for when you have too many tabs open, these buttons help you set the tabs aside without closing out completely and losing your place.
  • Optimized Entertainment – There’s now 4K Ultra HD resolution for Netflix binges and the ability to download e-books from the Windows Store and view them on Edge in any Windows 10 device. Edge will also support 3D content, an industry which is estimated to grow by over 62 percent by 2020.
  • Better Than Chrome – Windows Edge 15 will block 9 percent more phishing sites and 13 percent more malware making it more secure than Google Chrome. The browser will also have a better battery life than Chrome, supporting up to 1.5 more hours of video, as well as boasting faster performance
  • Flash Click-to-Run – Adobe Flash content will not be loaded until the user clicks to play it, further enabling improved security and battery life
  • Web Payments – Preview support for Payment Request API will make checkout faster and easier by using the saved payment and shipping preferences from Microsoft Wallet
  • Component UI – A new UWP architecture for Microsoft Edge’s multi-process model will. improve stability, input responsiveness, and make the UI better for slow content.
  • Support for CSS Custom Properties – Fully cascaded, JavaScript interactive CSS Custom Properties challenges prior pre-processors that offer variables in CSS.

You can read the full report for what’s new, fixed, and broken in Windows 10 Build 15002 for additional information on the release. The free update of Windows Edge 15 will begin roll out April 11th 2017.