Microsoft Edge is taking a page off Google Chrome's browser playbook: regular updates.
Starting in September, when the new Redstone 3 update for Windows 10 rolls out, Microsoft Edge will get its refresh from the Windows Store. Unlike Windows 10, which will be updated twice a year, Microsoft Edge will get more frequent updates direct from the Windows Store.
Frequent Updates For Microsoft Edge
According to an insider report, Microsoft Edge will get its updates from the Windows Store once Redstone 3 rolls out in September. Redstone 3 is the next major release for Windows 10 after the most recent Creators Update.
Microsoft Edge aims to compete against top competitor Google Chrome, which gets refreshed almost monthly. By separating itself from Windows 10, which Microsoft said will get major updates twice a year, Microsoft Edge can get security tweaks, extensions, bug fixes, and other features more frequently.
Google Chrome remains the top browser today, cornering a market share of 58.53 percent. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge only has 5.55 percent, which is a dismal performance considering it comes bundled with Windows 10. In contrast, Windows 10 is enjoying a dominant 26.28 percent slice of the operating system pie.
Microsoft is very determined to encourage people to use Microsoft Edge. It claims to be more battery-efficient than other browsers. Back in 2016, it even resorted to a more hard-sell approach, offering freebies via a pop-up message.
Microsoft Edge And Creators Update
The Creators Update rolled out on April 11 and it came packed with features, including updates to Microsoft Edge, which refreshed its web platform to EdgeHTML 15.
One major change is tab organization. This enables the user to save tabs for later use, filing them in an organized bunch which can be accessed anytime. Users can simply click "Set these tabs aside" button to hide them. To bring them back, just click the "Tabs you've set aside" icon. The tabs can be restored one at a time, or all at once. The tabs come with a preview for easier identification and navigation; this can be done by clicking "Show tab previews."
Another feature is the ability to read ebooks on the browser itself. Microsoft Edge Hub has a "Books" section, where ebooks bought from the Microsoft Store can be saved.
And the last major update, which probably is the most significant, is energy efficiency. Microsoft Edge claims to use 31 percent less power than Chrome 57, and 44 percent less than Mozilla Firefox 52.
Other updates include the usual security updates, bug fixes, responsiveness, and stability tweaks.
