Not Linux gaming related, sure but still very interesting news. During their Ignite conference, Microsoft confirmed their new Chromium-based Edge browser will release for Linux.
The new Edge will release in full on January 15 next year, although it's not currently known when the Linux version will land. It's not just going to be using Chromium behind the scenes though, Microsoft are actively contributing to the open source code. This was talked about during their recent "State of the browser: Microsoft Edge" presentation.
Image Source: Microsoft.
During the presentation when the slide above was on-screen, Microsoft's Colleen Williams simply said "[…] and Linux is coming at a later time." towards the end of the slide. Hilariously, if you turn your volume up you can hear a single "woo!" from someone in the crowd. You can watch the event yourself here. Linux is mentioned at 08:34.
Microsoft also confirmed during the presentation that the new Edge will be compatible with Chrome extensions, with most being able to work without any change. It will also include a web-based cross-platform store, so it won't be tied to Windows.
I think it's good that Microsoft is moving towards open source software, rather than sticking to their own proprietary projects. Enabling users to have their favourite applications on Linux breaks down another barrier to entry, which is a really important point. I know, I know, Edge is not exactly one of those big favourite applications (yet). My wider point here is that change can be difficult for anyone, even a small change, so if you can keep a few things the same it makes it easier. We all know someone, or we've seen it mentioned somewhere about x application not being available on Linux.
Options are good. Microsoft being more open is great. Hopefully this keeps up, could you imagine if they fully opened up something like DirectX/Direct3D in future and made it cross-platform or they slowly dropped it in favour of an open standard like they're doing here with Edge? Certainly would be interesting.
What do you think? Will you try it? Unleash your mind in the comments.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: NezchanThere's been some suggestion that Microsoft isn't finding the OS market to be as lucrative as it used to be, and has an eye toward moving to Google-like services instead. If that's the case, then they may be backing off from the idea that Linux is a competitor in that space. I don't pretend to know much about it, but this would be consistent with such a shift.
The OS market have never been "lucrative" for Microsoft (except maybe in the old MS-DOS days when they had a monopoly), their big income has always been the Office suite so the OS have just been a way to maintain the de-factor monopoly so that people would continue to purchase Microsoft Office.
Mountain Man Nov 5, 2019
Quoting: Liam DaweYes, but not on Android, and I like having the same browser across all three platforms that I use -- Linux, Android, and Windows (my job requires Windows or else I'd never touch it).Quoting: Mountain ManI give them credit for at least including an ad blocker, but without being able to install third-party extensions not controlled by Microsoft, there's no way to stop them from hoovering up your personal data and browsing habits. No thank you.From what they said, you should be able to install any Chromium extension it was even mentioned that you could get them from the Chrome store too.
Last edited by Mountain Man on 5 November 2019 at 6:47 pm UTC
Mountain Man Nov 5, 2019
Quoting: ThormackInteresting,Remember the good ol' days when the Windows installer would seek-and-destroy any non-Windows filesystems? Of course Microsoft claimed it was a "bug".
They should start Linux stuff from the basics.
What about support Ext4 partitions on Windows?
Quoting: F.UltraThe OS market have never been "lucrative" for Microsoft (except maybe in the old MS-DOS days when they had a monopoly), their big income has always been the Office suite so the OS have just been a way to maintain the de-factor monopoly so that people would continue to purchase Microsoft Office.
OS market alone no, but stranglehold and near monopoly of pre-installation of Windows is totally something they parasitically benefit from until this day due to network effects.
Last edited by Shmerl on 5 November 2019 at 7:06 pm UTC
Quoting: 14MS incentive here is to get more web developers using their stuff, thus they won't bring DirectX (or something like it) to Linux.
That's a good thing. No point to start bringing that stuff anywhere, when Vulkan already exists.
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: F.UltraThe OS market have never been "lucrative" for Microsoft (except maybe in the old MS-DOS days when they had a monopoly), their big income has always been the Office suite so the OS have just been a way to maintain the de-factor monopoly so that people would continue to purchase Microsoft Office.
OS market alone no, but stranglehold and near monopoly of pre-installation of Windows is totally something they parasitically benefit from until this day due to network effects.
Oh yes, that was what I meant. The monopoly on the OS market is what enabled them to bring in the real money on the Office suite, something that they tried to redo with the Windows Games Store but failed miserably.
Nevertheless Nov 5, 2019
Quoting: einherjarI don't need it. I can not see any advantage over using Firefox.
And hey, it is MS. They are only nice if they are forced to and I am sure, they have some strategy in mind that leeds to the next Vendor Lock In.
And do I want to give them access to my privacy? NO! If I wanted that, I would be using Win10 :P
Why do they need an own browser anyway, if not to collect data? Why would I use a proprietary Microsoft Chromium when I can have the open source variant?
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