Microsoft Edge

A preview build for the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge Stable version has been released on the Edge Insider site. This will bring users their first official look at the version of Microsoft Edge that will become generally available in January.

As part of today's Microsoft Ignite 2019 conference, Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Modern Life, Search and Devices Group, stated that Microsoft Edge will become generally available, which means fully released, on January 15th, 2020. When released, the browser will support over 90 languages.

With this preview release, Microsoft Edge Stable is currently at version 79.0.309.7. This is one version ahead of Google Chrome current stable version, which is version 78.

Edge Stable
Microsoft Edge Stable

Unlike the Beta, Dev, and Canary builds of Microsoft Edge, installing the Stable version will completely replace the original Microsoft Edge. Therefore, only install it if you are ready to try Microsoft's new browser.

If you are not able to see the option to download the Stable version, you may need to wait a bit for Microsoft to update their Edge Insider site.

Based on Chromium, but stands on its own

When Microsoft announced that they were developing a new Microsoft Edge browser based on Chromium, users were concerned that they were putting too much power into Google's hands.

While there is some merit to these arguments, by making this move, Microsoft also automatically gained the use of an optimized, stable, and highly compatible rendering engine that they can use to integrate their own features.

This is exactly what Microsoft has done and the new Edge Browser stands on its own with new features that make it stand out from Google Chrome.

Below we highlight some of the features that make the new Microsoft Edge browser stand out.

Collections

Microsoft Edge will contain a feature called Collections that allows you to collect similar web sites under a particular theme to keep the information organized and easily accessible.

For example, if you are doing a homework assignment, you can take all of the web pages that you are using for research under a collection so that it is organized and easily accessible at a later time.

Collections

Windows Defender Application Guard

The original Microsoft Edge included a feature called Windows Defender Application Guard that allows you to launch a browser into a virtualized sandbox. This sandbox prevents the web site from accessing your normal Windows environment and thus protects you from exploit kits, malicious programs, and other unwanted activity.

Microsoft has ported this feature to the chromium-based Microsoft Edge so that users can benefit from this added protection.

Application Guard

Internet Explorer Mode

For business users who still use legacy applications that require Internet Explorer, Microsoft has added an Internet Explorer Mode to the Microsoft Edge browser.

This feature allows users to open a new tab that uses the Internet Explorer 11 engine to render the web page so that legacy applications can be viewed properly.

Internet Explorer Mode
Internet Explorer Mode

Block Potentially Unwanted Programs

Microsoft is testing a new feature that will allow you to block potentially unwanted applications, otherwise known as PUAs or PUPs, using Smartscreen.

When this feature is enabled and you attempt to download a program that is classified as a PUA, Smartscreen will block the file from being downloaded as seen below.

Blocking a  PUA

Easier method to clear browsing data

When clearing your browser data in Google Chrome, you are automatically shown the options to clear your browsing history, cookies and site data, and cached images and files. For other types of data such as passwords, site permissions, hosted app data, or autofill info, you need to also click on the Advanced tab.

To make it easier, Microsoft Edge will automatically show all the types of data that you can clear in one single interface. This makes it easier to select all the data you wish to clear and remove it all at once.

Easier method to clear browsing data
Easier method to clear browsing data

New Microsoft Edge icon

Over the weekend, Microsoft unveiled a new icon for the Microsoft Edge browser through a series of challenges posted to Reddit. They also formally announced it into today's announcement.

After solving these challenges, a new wave-like E icon was revealed for the Microsoft Edge browser, which can be seen below next to the old Edge icon.

Old and new Microsoft Edge icons
Old and new Microsoft Edge icons

It is not known at this time when Microsoft will begin to use this icon as the new version of Edge released today still utilizes the old icon.

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