When people use a web browser to browse the internet, the content inside the browser is the most important thing to them. The browser is just the vehicle.
But Microsoft having one of the most capable browser after upgrading to Chromium, wants to have that vehicle painted, literally.
In an update, Microsoft is introducing its browser some colorful themes, alongside updated icons and a sleeping tabs feature that improves the browser and overall PC performance.
First of, the themes range from a bunch of simple colors, but go all the way to the more complex, like Halo, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and even Forza Horizon themes.
These themes introduce their own colors to the tab pages, tabs, the address bar, and other parts of the Edge browser, allowing users to have a more personalized experience while using the browser.
Then for the updated icons, Edge is introducing them throughout the browser to better match the company’s Fluent Design system.
“In our latest release you’ll notice subtle updates to icons in Microsoft Edge that are rounder and softer in appearance,” explains Liat Ben-Zur, a Microsoft executive working on the company’s “Modern Life” initiative. “This is just the beginning of our design journey and we’re already imagining how to bring Fluent design throughout our products. We can’t wait to share more of our vision in the near future.”
While the overall look-and-feel of Microsoft Edge is changing, Microsoft is not forgetting the things that work behind the scene.
For example, Microsoft Edge introduces sleeping tabs feature, which aims to improve the browser's overall performance.
With the feature, Edge can automatically release system resources for inactive tabs whenever users have a number of tabs open. With more resources freed as time goes by stopping the hogging memory and CPU resources in the background, opening new tabs should be easier, even when too many tabs are already opened.
Microsoft is also taking steps to roll out its new password manager features.
In the update, Edge can automatically suggest a secure and complex password when its users are signing up to a new website, or attempt tp change an existing password.
Edge is also getting a new password monitor feature that can alert users if their password has leaked online.
The tool, called Password Monitor, can automatically check users’ passwords against a data repository of known, breached credentials. If the passwords saved on the browser matches those on a list of leaked credentials, Password Monitor will send users alerts and prompt them to update their password.
Among the features Edge is getting, it should be noted that Edge that is powered by Chromium, shares the same codebase with Chrome.
What this means, many of Edge's feature is also available in Chrome, and vice versa.
The passwords security feature for example, is introduced by Google through Chrome 88.
And just like Chrome 88, Edge 88 stable is also deprecating support for FTP protocol and Adobe Flash.
But beyond some Chromium-based features, Edge has added its own customization to the browser to make its browser unique.
The most notable in this version, besides the Themes addition, is the tab syncing feature that is rolling out to all users.
Further reading: Google Disables Microsoft's RAM-Saving Feature For Chrome On Windows 10