Forum Discussion
Dev channel update to 92.0.873.1 is live
So, 92 and there's still no restoration of a good usable UI for left and right clicking on extension buttons when one has many more than will fit on the toolbar. (Again, the 'extensions button' may have uses as an extension manager but it is hopeless as a UI for using many more extension buttons than will fit on the toolbar.)
Given a development with google Chrome, this is now how it is for me:
Edge 90, with the new download UI but the old area for extensions not on the tollbar, was ahead of Google Chrome for me on two principle grounds: 1 Edge left bookmark menus open when middle-clicking on a bookmark, which Chrome didn't, and 2 Edge maintained a good UI for using many more extensions than will fit n the extension bar after Chrome had dropped that. This not only put Edge ahead of Chrome for me, but also on a par with Firefox and a contender for use instead of Firefox.
However, in Edge 91 you have completely wrecked the UI for using many more extensions than will fit on the toolbar, as with Chrome. And in Chrome 91 (current Beta) they have FINALLY introduced middle-clicking leaving bookmark menus open in Chrome (which Chrome users have been repeatedly requesting since at least 2011). This now puts Edge BEHIND Chrome for me - same issue over the use of more extensions than will fit in the toolbar, but has slightly less impact in Chrome simply down to Chrome using smaller toolbar buttons so I can fit more of the extensions on the toolbar.
Bottom line now for me therefore is that neither Edge nor Chrome are suitable contenders for use instead of Firefox simply on the grounds that Firefox has a properly well thought out UI that takes into consideration people who use many more extensions than will fit on the toolbar (a 'toolbar overflow' dropdown menu - NOT the same as the More menu - where the user has the choice for each extension whether its button appears in the toolbar or the toolbar overflow menu or neither, and can also re-order the toolbar overflow menu items just as with the toolbar itself). And Edge has now even fallen behind Google Chrome as backup browser to use on the odd website so made for Chromium that Firefox has a problem.
I am forced to presume there is actually no one on the Edge development team who both browses widely and uses a lot of extensions, having wide experience of the extensions ecosystem. Because if there was such a person they would have immediately seen the problem the first time the putting-the-open/save-dialog-on-the-download-shelf debacle was suggested and saved months of wasted coding. And they would also have immediately seen the problem the first time someone suggested removing the old UI for extensions not fitting on the toolbar and dimly thought this current extensions button was in any way an acceptable replacement for that usability. You need to hire a new member of the team specifically as someone who browses widely and uses a lot of extensions. And then listen to them.
I now feel like I've wasted a year and a half on this browser. I just can't believe that you could actually get it, with 90, not only ahead of Google Chrome but suitable to move to from Firefox, but then in one fell swoop RUIN the extensions UI for people who use 25+ extensions and send Edge crashing back to the bottom of the heap. I just feel sick at the whole business.