Forum Discussion
Ongoing sync between Microsoft Edge and Chrome - Discussion
Thanks everyone for sharing your perspective on this topic. It is really helpful to see the sentiments and thoughts towards such a possibility. Please consider this thread closed for now. Stay assured, we are paying attention to everyone's requirements and concerns and are committed to doing the right thing for all of you.
I understand that a few users might need this syncing feature. However, I'm sure most of us would agree that the number of such users won't be many. On the contrary, many of us do not want any kind of Google's services incorporated in Microsoft Edge browser.
If users still want such features, third party extensions (like Pocket for example) can step in. Users can sign in to these extensions (available across both, Chrome and Edge) with a common account and get their sync.
This what what online accounts are meant for. This is what extensions are meant for: to add the features in a browser that only a few people want. If such features are in-built, we call them "bloatware". And Microsoft Edge browser bloated with Google's services? No thanks.
Hence, I'm convinced and strongly suggest that a Chrome extension would be the best option, and that too only if it's absolutely necessary to implement such a feature.
I agree that Microsoft must focus on improving sync with first party services. Edge is available on all major platforms. Hence, sync between Edge and Chrome will only hamper the adoption of Edge.
NamishB Most third-party chrome extensions synchronize through third-party storage.
First, third-party extensions that require third-party storage have a bad habit of disappearing. As anyone who has had to migrate their stuff off such systems when the company is failing, or simply when the company got acquired and the acquirer decides not to maintain the service, know this.
Furthermore, third party is unacceptable when some of the data that is being synchronized is sensitive. not necessarily passwords ( I don't save passwords and web browsers), but sometimes just the very bookmarks/favorites are sensitive. E.g. they might contain the names of not yet released products.
OK, that's solved by encryption. But then I need to verify that the third party extension encrypts properly when I first install the extension, does not provide the third-party the ability to decrypt. and furthermore you need to verify this every time the extension is released. That's a lot of overhead.
Yes: I work in security, and I work on things that need to be kept secret.
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But: Google Chrome and MS Edge extensions that allowed the synchronization of bookmarks through files kept in the cloud such as Google Drive or MS OneDrive would be acceptable. I already have to trust Google and/or Microsoft.