Microsoft Building New Browser Based on Chromium ⇥ petri.com

Brad Sams, Petri:

With the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft tried to build a new browser that was based on their Trident rendering engine that we now know as Edge. But the browser has failed at its objective, to create a Microsoft-built browser that could compete with the likes of Chrome and Firefox.

Because of their lack of momentum since the release of Windows 10, the company is announcing a significant change today, they are building a new browser that is based on Chromium. And the company is bringing the new browser to every platform: Windows 7, 8, 10 and even MacOS.

While the company is not commenting on any timeline for availability aside from a preview build in early 2019, the basics are this: it’s building a new version of Edge, based on Chromium, that will be updated at a cadence that is not tied to Windows updates. Further, this app will not be in the Microsoft Store and will be serviced outside of that platform.

Chromium is already the most popular rendering engine in terms of worldwide browser share on any platform. This decision only builds upon that dominance, and it could lead to more websites built just for Chromium.

It’s funny, though, that the new Internet Explorer really is going to be the new Internet Explorer.