Microsoft has announced that they will finally be bringing extensions to the Edge browser. Closing the door on the one thing that has separated from any other browser still more popular than it and giving it a fighting chance. The ability to work with extensions has been a popular and top request since the browser was released.
The Edge browser has been able to claim faster loading speeds both launching it and in continued use, but only because it has been a stripped down browser. Nothing more than a basic window to the web, with all of the required engines and plugins to display today’s websites with. That may be fine for some, but most users crave extended functionality and customization over their browser and that’s where extensions save the day.
Microsoft has leaned towards wanting to support applications from other platforms such as Android with the new Windows 10 operating system, so hopefully they will aim towards the same direction when it comes to flexibility with extensions. Either allow a way to integrate Chrome or Firefox extensions into the Edge browser or at least allow it to be just as easy for developers to port these extensions into an Edge format with little sweat.
Currently Microsoft is testing the support for extensions internally via the RedStone 1 release builds, and you can be sure will likely see it hit the preview builds shortly for those participating. It is assumed members of the preview program will see this by the end of the month. The general public will eventually see the update in June when the official Redstone update rolls out.
Hopefully Microsoft will be able to continue the success that Edge has shown in speed while still sporting it’s new features.
