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.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Up to now I've considered "Edge" just an edgy rebranding of same old Internet Exploder. But if they're doing a new one based on Chromium and not (well, so far) even coming up with ways to take it closed, that is certainly something new. And having it be on Linux is probably good, I guess. I mean, I'm not likely to use it, but still, the stuff Liam said.
Really, hard to find fault with this particular move, and I say this as someone with a long memory who has not forgotten why Microsoft is loathsome. I'm sure they will do plenty of other things I hate in the future, but I must admit this doesn't seem to be one of them.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 5 November 2019 at 5:44 pm UTC
Really, hard to find fault with this particular move, and I say this as someone with a long memory who has not forgotten why Microsoft is loathsome. I'm sure they will do plenty of other things I hate in the future, but I must admit this doesn't seem to be one of them.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 5 November 2019 at 5:44 pm UTC
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Kimyrielle Nov 5, 2019
Quickly, somebody take some snow shovels to hell. It must be bloody cold there right now!
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Quoting: poke86Next step : Windows becomes an Ubuntu flavour.
Welcome to The Twilight Zone.
I'd rather use windows
Spoiler, click me
*hides *
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Quoting: Mountain ManI'll stick with Firefox, partly because I don't trust Microsoft, but mainly because it's the only browser for Android that supports extensions, and I consider at least uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and HTTPS Everywhere to be indispensable for privacy and security.
Pretty much exactly this - uBlock Origin, regardless of Chrome or Firefox or whatever, is the first thing anyone should be installing into their browser, these days.
The related uMatrix or something like NoScript if you're OK with manually whitelisting JS for your favourite sites.
But yeah, on Android, get F-Droid, get Fennec (Firefox) from it, put uBlock Origin in, and don't ever use the built-in Chromium-based stuff ever again. When Google lets you install extensions on Chrome for Android, then maybe that'll at least get a pass, but despite their corporate flaws, Mozilla's still the way to go, IMO. Even if you'd rather a spinoff/de-branded/sanitized version.
But hey, if you can install Chrome versions of extensions in Edge, even on Android? Then maybe it's even a better option than stock Chrome. ;)
Last edited by Kithop on 5 November 2019 at 6:11 pm UTC
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wvstolzing Nov 5, 2019
Looking forward (?!) to the debates over the packaging of this in various distros. (Though maybe they'll put out an official AppImage.)
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Quoting: KithopBut yeah, on Android, get F-Droid, get Fennec (Firefox) from it, put uBlock Origin in, and don't ever use the built-in Chromium-based stuff ever again. When Google lets you install extensions on Chrome for Android, then maybe that'll at least get a pass, but despite their corporate flaws, Mozilla's still the way to go, IMO. Even if you'd rather a spinoff/de-branded/sanitized version
To be fair, there's system-wide applications that'd take care of ads in browser, and other applications.
Last edited by Interknet on 5 November 2019 at 6:19 pm UTC
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Schattenspiegel Nov 5, 2019
Finally the right tool to download Firefox with!
I have been missing this feature since I abandoned that other OS and I am tired of having to put up with that version that my distribution dares to ship out of the box.
I want to go to their Website and download it myself instead of relying on some repository nonsense! My PC, my rules!
So THANK YOU Microsoft! You guys rock!
I have been missing this feature since I abandoned that other OS and I am tired of having to put up with that version that my distribution dares to ship out of the box.
I want to go to their Website and download it myself instead of relying on some repository nonsense! My PC, my rules!
So THANK YOU Microsoft! You guys rock!
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officernice Nov 5, 2019
So... Microsoft adding to filthy Google code? No thanks. Firefox it is, even though they have had their missteps along way. As little Google filth on my machine as possible.
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I personally wouldn't use either a chromium derivative or a Microsoft browser instead of Firefox, but still... better than the alternative.
If they were rebuilding Edge based on chromium, and they removed the Linux compatibility that was already there, it would be bad. And it is what Apple would do, or what Microsoft did several times in the past. So, yay, they didn't ruin things even more this time. (Ironically, Google is the one that is adopting the traditional Microsoft strategy of incorrectly implementing standards because as market leader this punishes small competitors that do things right).
Now, if they ported Microsoft Office to Linux, that I would be interested in. Not that I want to use it (for my limited use, Libre Office is more than good enough), but it might be necessary for collaboration, and it would make transitioning to Linux a lot smoother.
If they were rebuilding Edge based on chromium, and they removed the Linux compatibility that was already there, it would be bad. And it is what Apple would do, or what Microsoft did several times in the past. So, yay, they didn't ruin things even more this time. (Ironically, Google is the one that is adopting the traditional Microsoft strategy of incorrectly implementing standards because as market leader this punishes small competitors that do things right).
Now, if they ported Microsoft Office to Linux, that I would be interested in. Not that I want to use it (for my limited use, Libre Office is more than good enough), but it might be necessary for collaboration, and it would make transitioning to Linux a lot smoother.
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Interesting,
They should start Linux stuff from the basics.
What about support Ext4 partitions on Windows?
They should start Linux stuff from the basics.
What about support Ext4 partitions on Windows?
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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.
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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
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I'm sorry Microsoft, but I can not see anything that will make me move from Firefox
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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?
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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
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That is... a bold and audacious logo there. I guess at Microsoft have gone in full man mode this time.
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MS incentive here is to get more web developers using their stuff, thus they won't bring DirectX (or something like it) to Linux.
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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.
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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.
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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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