In an era where internet browsing is akin to a digital race, Microsoft Edge is gearing up for a much-needed speed boost. This promise comes as the company announces a complete overhaul of Edge’s settings page scheduled for December 2024. As it stands, Microsoft Edge is still trailing behind Google Chrome in the popularity stakes, and these updates may just be what it needs to improve its standing.
Notably, Microsoft has already employed these changes in some aspects of the browser. Edge’s Browser Essentials UI—designed to deliver security insights and memory usage stats—has transitioned to the new system, leading to a reported 40% improvement in response time. These upgrades have also been claimed to make web pages load up to 76% faster on low-end devices, breathing new life into older machines equipped with less than 8 GB of RAM and no SSDs.
Meanwhile, with enhancements like these, users might find themselves reconsidering their default browser choice—after all, who doesn’t want a faster internet experience? Whether Microsoft's renewed focus on speed and usability will convert die-hard Chrome users remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a wait-and-see game.
So, in this digital tug-of-war between browsers, who are you rooting for? Edge's upcoming changes may just make it worth your while to give it another shot!
Source: TechRadar https://www.techradar.com/computing/edge/microsoft-promises-windows-11s-edge-browser-will-become-very-fast-but-will-it-be-enough-to-beat-chrome
Why the Urgency for Speed?
Microsoft's latest push comes on the heels of ongoing efforts to enhance Edge's overall performance. With Chrome being the reigning champion of browser usage, Microsoft has been striving to chip away at its competitor's market share by making its browser more responsive and efficient. Edge is currently baked into Windows 11, flaunting its status as the default browser, yet user adoption has not hit the high notes Microsoft had hoped for.The Shift to WebUI 2.0
At the core of the performance improvements lies Microsoft's new WebUI 2.0 toolkit. Unlike traditional resources that depend heavily on JavaScript, this toolkit emphasizes a "markup-first" approach, prioritizing HTML and CSS. The distinction here is crucial: while JavaScript can create dynamic and feature-rich interfaces, it requires downloading before any action occurs—essentially creating bottlenecks, especially on devices with limited processing power.A Simplified Experience
By minimizing the size of code bundles and decreasing JavaScript utilization during the user interface's initialization process, Microsoft is targeting a more seamless browsing experience. This means users should notice that interacting with Edge—whether it’s clicking buttons or navigating menus—feels swifter than ever before.Notably, Microsoft has already employed these changes in some aspects of the browser. Edge’s Browser Essentials UI—designed to deliver security insights and memory usage stats—has transitioned to the new system, leading to a reported 40% improvement in response time. These upgrades have also been claimed to make web pages load up to 76% faster on low-end devices, breathing new life into older machines equipped with less than 8 GB of RAM and no SSDs.
Visual and Usability Enhancements
Beyond performance, Microsoft isn’t ignoring the visual aspect of Edge. The update will simplify settings and create a more cohesive user interface. This overhaul includes condensing wording and reorganizing content to bolster usability, addressing critiques that Edge’s settings have been cumbersome and fragmented.The Wider Context: Competing with Chrome
While Microsoft’s enhancements to Edge are promising, the question remains: is it enough to dethrone Chrome? Despite Microsoft’s aggressive tactics—pre-installing Edge with Windows and notifying users about its benefits—Chrome maintains a dominant market position. According to some estimates, Chrome captures about 65% of the browser market, compared to Edge's less than 10%.The User Experience Perspective
As users, we often opt for the browser that best caters to our needs, a balance of performance, extensions, and user-friendliness. Most importantly, people generally favor a seamless browsing experience over aggressive marketing strategies. Microsoft seems to be acknowledging this reality; rather than pushing users towards Edge using default settings or ads, the current strategy focuses on genuinely improving the user experience.Conclusion
As Microsoft gears up to release these vital updates to Edge this December, we can only hope that they will yield significant speed and usability improvements. Nevertheless, the ongoing rivalry with Chrome presents a challenge that cannot be overlooked. While Edge's enhancements are a step in the right direction, only time will reveal if they are enough to win over users and regain market share in the highly competitive browser landscape.Meanwhile, with enhancements like these, users might find themselves reconsidering their default browser choice—after all, who doesn’t want a faster internet experience? Whether Microsoft's renewed focus on speed and usability will convert die-hard Chrome users remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a wait-and-see game.
So, in this digital tug-of-war between browsers, who are you rooting for? Edge's upcoming changes may just make it worth your while to give it another shot!
Source: TechRadar https://www.techradar.com/computing/edge/microsoft-promises-windows-11s-edge-browser-will-become-very-fast-but-will-it-be-enough-to-beat-chrome
