Reports these past few days say that Microsoft is giving up on its browser, Microsoft Edge, and is building a new one currently under the codename “Anaheim”. As for its engine, it will now use Chromium as a codebase instead of EdgeHTML.
This change will help solve the three-year-old Edge’s longtime performance issues. However, there is no word yet whether the new browser would retain the Edge brand or if it will be christened with a new one. Microsoft will add their own UI Automation interface (UIA) to the Chromium codebase to support Narrator and other assistive technologies. They will also work closely with Chromium’s Security Team to build a much more secure software for the masses.
Microsoft assures users that the existing Universal Windows Platform apps will continue to use the EdgeHTML/Chakra without interruption, at least until the user decides to switch. PWAs are also being rallied to be installed directly from the browser (aside from the using the Store). Lastly, the new browser support the existing Chrome Extensions.
Edge replaced Internet Explorer as the default Microsoft 10 web browser in 2015. It bore a new interface and a lot of performance promises, but it had a hard time delivering. Nowadays, Chrome leads the browser market because of its stability and impressive performance.
