Microsoft will move to Chromium-based Edge browser

Microsoft on Thursday said it intends to use the open-source Chromium browser engine in the desktop version of its Edge browser, promising the two per cent of global internet users who favor Edge an improved web experience.

Moving to the open source code base will allow Microsoft to expand Edge availability. Currently, it's limited to Windows 10, but the new version will work on the older but still very popular Windows 7 and 8. The browser should also work on macOS. Windows users won't lose all the Edge optimizations Microsoft likes to crow about, either. Microsoft plans to focus on performance and battery life while building the new browser. So, it won't just be a Chrome clone gobbling up all your RAM.

For users, this means better compliance with web standards and other Chromium-based browsers such as Google's Chrome and Opera. Microsoft also plans to deliver and update Edge more frequently to all supported versions of Windows. And, finally, Microsoft hopes that its participation in the Chromium project will make other Chromium-based browsers better on Windows devices.

At the same time, the emerging Chromium monoculture could have a downside. Vulnerabilities in the open source project may affect a broader set of browsers and innovations developed for Safari and Firefox may not be adopted elsewhere. Chromium is the foundation of Google Chrome, though the open source project is distinct from the company-owned browser.

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