Sources report that we can expect Microsoft to make a darker (dare I say sharper) look at its own web browser, Microsoft Edge.
Now Edge already has a dark mode, but this new theme will be even darker. At the moment, the dark mode is a combination of grays, and apparently it will be replaced by a mostly black theme. As a dark mode connoisseur, I’ve already enabled the existing dark mode, so I’m curious to see how this will turn out.
This new update is currently available to people with Edge Canary, the experimental version of Edge that Microsoft uses for consumer testing of new features. The darker theme aims to provide a browsing experience that works better in low-light environments; it’s also a step in line with many other browsers, programs, and apps that now offer multiple dark settings.
Edge is getting a serious boost
This update follows the last major update to Edge, which introduced enhanced data security features and an enhanced “Edge Secure Network” browser VPN with up to 5 GB of data, an increase from the previous 1 GB. This gives the user extra privacy and provides protection by using Cloudflare’s encryption mechanism, keeping your information safe from online threats.
Edge Canary also introduces (or rather reintroduces) specific mouse control gestures for the browser. To use it, hold down your right mouse button and move the mouse. This can be used to navigate between pages, navigate on a specific page (instead of scrolling), and manage tabs. You can try out this feature if you have access to Edge Canary by going to the settings and enabling ‘Microsoft Mouse Gestures’. I’m interested in trying this out as it might be a more intuitive way to navigate the browser.
There are more feature updates to Edge that we can expect to see in the near future, such as the integration of Bing AI in Edge’s right-click menu. Another major update comes with improved third-party extensions, allowing developers to create extensions specifically made for the Edge Sidebar. This, in turn, opens up a lot of possibilities for great sidebar functionality as a tool that enhances the user experience.
I’m intrigued by these developments, with Microsoft pushing strongly to make Edge a program that you can shape and mold into a highly personalized browser, as well as an assistant-like tool suited to each individual user. Maybe I’m finally switching from Chrome?