Microsoft Edge 75 (Chromium-based) First Impressions

[Space Lynx]

The changing of the extension platform from XUL to WebExtensions, the idea of paying some amount of money per month to have an ad-free web experience, etc. Now I understand the reasoning behind changing to WebExtensions but some believe that was a bad move since they killed crap tons of extensions in one shot.

If there is no competition though, then you can say goodbye to addons like ublock origin. My argument wasn't really for Firefox, it was more for if Google becomes too large aka a monopoly and no other web browser exists that isn't based on their coding... they basically will be able to control the world moving forward, they can play Mr. nice Guy for the time being, but when they become a monopoly... things will change... but that is fine, I will stop using the web when that day does come.

 

[lexluthermiester]

The changing of the extension platform from XUL to WebExtensions

Ah, I see. You're right, that was and is a pain. However...

Now I understand the reasoning behind changing to WebExtensions but some believe that was a bad move since they killed crap tons of extensions in one shot.

Most of the really good plugins have either been replaced with equivalent plugins or have been updated/rebuilt to accommodate the changes.

the idea of paying some amount of money per month to have an ad-free web experience, etc.

It's working for the "Brave" browser. I think they're just playing around with it.

but when they become a monopoly... things will change... but that is fine, I will stop using the web when that day does come.

Never gonna happen. Chrome is based on Chromium which is open source. There are plenty of compatible forks that can be used such as Opera, Iron, Brave... Plus, they can't close the source code once opened. Google can't do it and neither can Mozilla.

 

[trparky]

Most of the really good plugins have either been replaced with equivalent plugins or have been updated/rebuilt to accommodate the changes.

True, this I understand.

Chrome is based on Chromium which is open source. There are plenty of compatible forks that can be used such as Opera, Iron, Brave... Plus

And this is the point that I can't seem to get most people to understand. So what if Google becomes a monopoly with Chromium, anyone can fork it and do what they please. Proof of that is the very Microsoft Edge that is using Chromium code. I'd have to say that if there's anybody who can make Chromium, and by extension Google Chrome better, it would be Microsoft. Microsoft has already admitted that they've submitted multiple improvements and code additions to the Chromium project to make it better. That's the power of open source playing right out in front of our eyes with Microsoft Edge Dev.

 

[Space Lynx]

Ah, I see. You're right, that was and is a pain. However...

Most of the really good plugins have either been replaced with equivalent plugins or have been updated/rebuilt to accommodate the changes.

It's working for the "Brave" browser. I think they're just playing around with it.


Never gonna happen. Chrome is based on Chromium which is open source. There are plenty of compatible forks that can be used such as Opera, Iron, Brave... Plus, they can't close the source code once opened. Google can't do it and neither can Mozilla.

What about when security updates require a major overhaul to the source code, because Google says so? and all open source Chrome branches are vulnerable? I don't know just playing devils advocate, where there is a will there is a way imo. i am talking like 20 years out btw, not near future.

 

[trparky]

What about when security updates require a major overhaul to the source code, because Google says so? and all open source Chrome branches are vulnerable?

And you have the open source community there to, if need be, stand in the way and say "That's a crock of bullshit and you know it Google!". The open source community would never stand for that, those in that community would put an end to it pretty quickly.

 

[R-T-B]

Like any browser can be trusted?

Yeah, some can. Most of the dirt simple OSS ones have been well aduited. They are boring though.

 

[Space Lynx]

its possible my fears are not logical, I don't know much about all that stuff to be honest. so I will concede, what you say does make sense

 

[trparky]

The whole point is that it's open source, people can read the source code. Google released the Chrome code as the Chromium Project and a lot of people are involved in making Chromium better including individuals and even large companies like Microsoft. If Google tries something nefarious all that needs to be done is to fork the project which essentially creates two code bases; Google can go on their merry way doing whatever nefarious things that they want but the fork can keep on going with business as usual since the two projects are now completely separate with absolutely nothing in common.

 

[windwhirl]

Maybe, but the thing is a lot of people are using Chrome, not Chromium.

By user base, Google wins, hands down.

 

[trparky]

By user base, Google wins, hands down.

I get it, but a lot of that can be blamed on Microsoft and Internet Explorer being such a steaming pile of hot garbage. If they didn't let Internet Explorer go so badly maybe the browser wars would still be going but no, Microsoft essentially threw in the towel and let Google win.

 

[GoldenX]

Never gonna happen. Chrome is based on Chromium which is open source. There are plenty of compatible forks that can be used such as Opera, Iron, Brave... Plus, they can't close the source code once opened. Google can't do it and neither can Mozilla.

The times Chromium was audited, it was found to have hardcoded Google's "toys" inside, like speech recognition that only sends the info to Google servers.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Maybe, but the thing is a lot of people are using Chrome, not Chromium.

By user base, Google wins, hands down.

Yes, that can change. IE used to be the number one used browser and for longer than a decade.

I get it, but a lot of that can be blamed on Microsoft and Internet Explorer being such a steaming pile of hot garbage. If they didn't let Internet Explorer go so badly maybe the browser wars would still be going but no, Microsoft essentially threw in the towel and let Google win.

And now things are better.

The times Chromium was audited, it was found to have hardcoded Google's "toys" inside, like speech recognition that only sends the info to Google servers.

That was the Android version and such functionality was linked through Google Services. IIRC, the desktop version of Chromium did not have such, because how would it work?

 

[Bill_Bright]

I get it, but a lot of that can be blamed on Microsoft and Internet Explorer being such a steaming pile of hot garbage.

Except much of IE's problem was caused by the intense bashings from FF fanboys, XP's security woes, and MS haters on forums, blogs and in the IT media.

I never fell for all the hype the FF fanboys were spewing who claimed IE was insecure and we will get infected if we used. I never got infected and I used IE as my primary browser on all our systems here up until W10 and Edge came out and MS started to let IE slide. I then switched to Pale Moon - a forked version of FF.

The facts are, if you kept Windows and IE updated, used a decent security solution, avoided risky behavior (all the things needed regardless your browser of choice) it did not matter which browser you used.

I was always amused to see how simple it was to silence the IE haters. I just asked, "Did you stop getting infected just by switching to FF"?

Of course the answer was almost always they were not getting infected before! And for those who were previously infected, it was quickly revealed in addition to switching to FF, they also started using a A/V solution and an anti-spyware program (consolidated anti-malware programs weren't commonplace back then), they upgraded to XP SP3, stopped being "click-happy", got behind a router, and in general, started "practicing safe computing". Again, these are all the things necessary regardless your browser of choice.

I would probably still be using IE today - with confidence - if it didn't become so unstable. But it appears (to me anyway) MS is neglecting IE in order to entice users towards Edge.

Microsoft essentially threw in the towel and let Google win.

Not sure about "win" but for sure, assume a substantial lead. The biggest problem with Edge was (IMO) it clearly was an unfinished product when it first came out with W10. It is only now, 4 years later, becoming a refined product worth considering again.

Oh BTW. I was a long time fan of Netscape and the only reason I migrated to IE back in the day was because I was threatened with disciplinary action and having my admin privileges revoked if I did not switch to the company mandated standard, IE. Fortunately once I got used to it, I liked it (as is often the case).

 

[rtwjunkie]

Some would say that Firefox/Mozilla is killing themselves. They don't need to have anyone do it, they're doing it to themselves.

Why? It works perfectly fine for me. I haven’t been this happy with a browser in years!

 

[Splinterdog]

I'm on Version 77.0.211.3 (Official build) dev (64-bit) of Edge and it's lightning fast, although it will take a lot to tear me away from Opera and all its lovely and almost infinite speed dials.
The only time I use Chrome nowadays is for writing tech articles at DCT, where the spell checker is really very good and the automatic translations for Spanish and German.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It works perfectly fine for me.

It may work, but FF sure has had more than its share of security issues. Again, nothing that "practicing safe computing" can't mitigate, but disconcerting just the same, given the stated reasons for switching to FF back in the day was over security.

I do wonder if one of FF's greatest assets is also its greatest liabilities; support for so many add-ons.

 

[Splinterdog]

We all have our own little quirks and preferences for browsers and my main one is being able to populate the new tab page with all my favourite sites, so that I can see them all at a glance.
Opera is the best for me in this respect, with Firefox and Vivaldi providing good customisation for speed dials as well. Chrome still only allows ten and unfortunately, Edge only allows eight sites. If you try to populate more, it just deletes sites to stay at eight.
Neither do I want stuff thrust at me like suggested sites, news sites etc. I want a clean start up page that I have 100% control over, with as many speed dials as I wish.
Edge has fallen down for me in that respect and you can't edit the speed dials either.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I was always amused to see how simple it was to silence the IE haters. I just asked, "Did you stop getting infected just by switching to FF"?

Actually, yes. ActiveX was a real PITN back in the day and was ridiculusly easy to exploit through IE. I regularly explained to people how unsafe IE was because of how integrated into the OS it had become, showed them the beautiful nature of Netscape. Those system's getting infections literally disappeared when IE was deleted from the PC's in question. This continued with FF.

I find it frustrating to see people defending IE when it is and always has been inherently insecure and laughably easy to exploit over the years. While in resent years it's become less easy, the danger of not knowing what could be lurking in the code to screw people over is just an unacceptable risk. Edge, in any form, is no different. Microsoft has a proven track record of lying to the public, hiding critical knowledge and going behind the backs of both the public and governments in it's self-serving efforts. Yes, Microsoft is a business and has the right to make a profit, but not at the expense of the privacy/security of the public.

Again, nothing that "practicing safe computing" can't mitigate

While this is true and helps a lot, the software being used must also be secure to be trusted.

I do wonder if one of FF's greatest assets is also its greatest liabilities; support for so many add-ons.

For me at least, this is not true. I use only plugins that have a focus on security and/or have been vetted, generally.

 

[GoldenX]

Oh BTW. I was a long time fan of Netscape and the only reason I migrated to IE back in the day was because I was threatened with disciplinary action and having my admin privileges revoked if I did not switch to the company mandated standard, IE. Fortunately once I got used to it, I liked it (as is often the case).

Stockholm Syndrome.

 

[Strange Times]

Really love it. Better than chrome

 

[delshay]

We all have our own little quirks and preferences for browsers and my main one is being able to populate the new tab page with all my favourite sites, so that I can see them all at a glance.
Opera is the best for me in this respect, with Firefox and Vivaldi providing good customisation for speed dials as well. Chrome still only allows ten and unfortunately, Edge only allows eight sites. If you try to populate more, it just deletes sites to stay at eight.
Neither do I want stuff thrust at me like suggested sites, news sites etc. I want a clean start up page that I have 100% control over, with as many speed dials as I wish.
Edge has fallen down for me in that respect and you can't edit the speed dials either.
View attachment 127047

Edge speed dial works here. Right click on the speed dial box to delete or enter/modify.