Earlier this week, Microsoft started the roll-out of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update to Windows 10 PCs and Microsoft Edge is definitely one of the highlights of the new release. The new Windows browser has become more efficient, versatile and accessible, as the Windows Experience Blog has just posted.
First, Microsoft Edge now officially supports extensions, and popular services such as Amazon, Evernote, LastPass, Pinterest, Adblock and more have already brought their extensions to the Windows Store. You can try them right now by going on the Windows Store if you have already installed the Anniversary Update, and Microsoft is saying that more extensions are on the way.
Microsoft has also worked to improve Edge’s overall user experience thanks to easier management of browser tabs (including pinned tabs), windows and favorites. Cortana can also help you get more information on pictures by doing a right click on any picture on the web and select “Ask Cortana”
More importantly, the company is also commited to make its new browser the most accessible browser ever: thanks to its new web rendering engine Edge HTML 14, Edge is currently the only browser to earn a perfect score on HTML5 Accessibility’s browser benchmark.
Edge also features improved support for assistive technologies including screen readers, narrator support for address bar suggestions and more, and the browser’s new rendering engine includes an all-new accessibility architecture which will allow developers to build more accessible experiences user experiences based on HTML5.
If you like the Windows 10 Action Center and how the operating system also handles notifications, you’ll be also pleased to see that Edge now supports notifications from open websites such as Skype for Web, Slack or Whatsapp. The notifications are opt-in, and you will be able to manage them from the browser settings or by simply doing a right click on a notification.
The new Microsoft Edge also brings new security features to Windows 10 users: web pages are now isolated from the rest of the operating system, and Flash content will now run in a separate AppContainer, protecting you from any Flash vulnerabilities. If your PC supports Windows Hello, you will also be able to log in to online services by using your face of fingerprint, and we’ll see if many web developers will embrace that new feature that leverages web standards in the coming months.
Lastly, Microsoft Edge has been optimized to be the most power-efficient browser on Windows 10 PCs. According to Microsoft, the new browser can be up to 90% more power efficient than its competitors in some cases. If you have already installed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, did you give the new Microsoft Edge a try? Let us know in the comments if you think Microsoft’s new browser may become your favorite browser on your Windows 10 PC!
