Microsoft Edge on iOS, Android about to get more features faster than ever
Microsoft is unifying the codebases of Edge’s mobile apps and Edge on the desktop.
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What you need to know
Microsoft plans to unify the codebases of Microsoft Edge across multiple operating systems. Right now, Edge apps on mobile platforms are based on different codebases than the desktop version. As a result of this, you see things like Edge on Android being based on version 77 while Edge on desktop is based on Edge 89. Microsoft aims to fix this, and to improve the efficiency of Edge’s development across platforms, by unifying Edge codebases across platforms.
Not sharing a codebase creates redundancy of effort. For example, when Microsoft built the Collections feature for Edge, the feature was built for Edge desktop. Microsoft then had to recreate the feature to bring it over to mobile devices.
By unifying codebases on different versions of Edge, Microsoft can more easily share features across desktop and mobile versions of Edge. The unification also improves the engineering process.
Microsoft discusses unifying the codebases across the different versions of Edge in a video from Ignite 2021. The video was flagged up byReddit user SumitDh(viaNeowin).
Microsoft will release preview versions of Edge on iOS and Android with new codebases. Microsoft explains that it has worked on this process for the past year and that we’ll see public beta versions “in the coming months.”
A worthy browser.
The new Microsoft Edge runs on Chromium, supports popular extensions, and regularly gets new features from Microsoft.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
