Dev channel update to 81.0.381.0 is live

[josh_bodner]

Welcome to the new year!  Today we’re releasing build 81.0.381.0 to the Dev Channel, which as you can see is the first new build from major version 81.  We haven’t been completely asleep during the holidays though; we’ve been slowing turning favorites sync back on for most Canary and Dev users, with the last of them coming back online a couple of days ago.  As sync is re-enabled, some machines may experience duplication-like behavior as the machines get back into a clean state, but that behavior shouldn’t persist, and any changes you make to your favorites should now sync properly (but please let us know if that’s not the case!) 

We also have a couple of informational updates.  First, we’ve proposed our security baseline configuration for when organizations install the Stable channel of Edge:  https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2019/12/18/security-baseline-draft-edge-79/.  There’s an accompanying discussion over on the Security Baselines forum.  Second, we started a discussion around the value proposition of Reading List and how users would like to see us evolve it moving forward:  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/reading-list-discussion/m-p/1070553.  As for the most noteworthy product changes: 

Added features:

• Added a feature to suggest URLs to visit that are similar to typed URLs that result in a failed navigation due to the fact that no webpage at the typed URL exists.
• Added a keyboard shortcut for starting Read Aloud (ctrl + shift + U).
• Added the ability to paste multiple items into a Collection at the same time.
• Added a dialog to tell users when a new data type is available to sync.
• Added support for Guided Switch to suggest going back to a personal profile when visiting links to certain non-work or school resources in a work or school profile.
• Added support for the Chromium management policy to disable web payment APIs in webpages.
• Added a management policy for disabling Microsoft Search for Business.

Improved reliability:

• Fixed a crash when syncing favorites.
• Fixed an issue where favorites that are synced between multiple machines sometimes get deleted from one machine when they’re edited on another.
• Fixed a crash when syncing Collections.
• Fixed a crash when sync is enabled.
• Fixed a crash when syncing with Edge mobile.
• Fixed a crash when clearing browsing data.
• Fixed an issue where Collections don’t sync properly.
• Fixed a crash when importing certain data from other browsers.
• Fixed an issue where Edge fails to install due to a crash in the installer.
• Fixed an issue where uninstalling Edge and re-installing the same channel with a lower version number causes Edge to no longer launch.
• Fixed an issue where enabling Tracking Prevention prevents some pages from ever loading, regardless of the level Tracking Prevention is set at.
• Fixed an issue where certain videos don’t load when Tracking Prevention is enabled.
• Fixed an issue where Tracking Prevention prevented users from logging into certain websites.
• Fixed an issue where navigation in new tabs sometimes fails, either showing an error that the connection is closed or crashing the tab, but subsequent navigations are sometimes okay. 
• Fixed an issue where typing in the address bar sometimes causes a crash.
• Fixed an issue where Edge is no longer able to launch after uninstalling and reinstalling it.
• Fixed a crash for users who have certain anti-virus programs installed.
• Fixed an issue where Amazon Music fails to play.
• Fixed an issue where sharing a local file (for example, a PDF that’s been downloaded onto the machine) fails.
• Fixed a crash during shutdown.
• Fixed an issue where the policy to enable/disable printing headers and footers doesn’t work.
• Improved the reliability of installation.

Changed behavior:

• Fixed an issue where downloading files in IE mode tabs sometimes prevents the browser from being closed even after the downloads are completed.
• Fixed an issue where the user can’t remove pages from the list of pages to open when the browser first starts.
• Fixed an issue where removing a search provider in Settings sometimes results in the inability to add that same search provider again.
• Fixed an issue where the second page of the print preview dialog doesn’t render properly.
• Fixed an issue where unselecting categories to be synced during the First Run Experience sometimes results in those data types still being synced.
• Fixed an issue where the Office New Tab Page is broken.
• Fixed an issue where creating a new Collection sometimes fails.
• Fixed an issue where some images can’t be dragged and dropped into a Collection.
• Fixed an issue where using Collections sometimes causes error reporting dialogs to appear.
• Fixed an issue where certain suggested sites in the Pinning Wizard don’t get pinned to the taskbar.
• Fixed an issue where the toggle to sync open tabs isn’t functional.
• Fixed an issue where login details appear as autocomplete candidates for text fields that aren’t used for logging in.
• Fixed an issue where signing into the browser sometimes fails to properly set the profile picture.
• Fixed an issue on Mac where websites installed as apps don’t open and instead show an error if Edge isn’t already running.
• Fixed an issue on Mac where the update page spins forever or eventually shows an error after a successful update.
• Improved how much content is blocked by SmartScreen’s dangerous content blocker.
• Fixed an issue where highlighting text in the address bar then clicking on webpages sometimes causes black-on-dark text when the browser is in Dark Theme.
• Fixed some graphical flickering when switching between IE mode tabs and non-IE mode tabs.
• Fixed a white flash when entering Reading View.
• Improved the PDF reader’s background area color in Dark Theme.
• Fixed an issue where Application Guard windows sometimes don’t use the proper theme.
• Improved performance when opening Application Guard windows for the first time.
• Changed the name of the window that appears when you hover over a running instance of Edge on the Task Bar to only be the name of the active tab in that window instead of also containing the name of the profile and browser.
• Changed the behavior of “deprecated” management policies to still apply properly, which differs from Chrome’s definition of “not supported” policies. Both “not supported” in Chrome and “obsolete” in Edge are policies which are no longer supported and just show an error instead of being applied. 

Known issues:

• After an initial fix for it recently, some users are still experiencing Edge windows becoming all black. UI popups like menus are not affected and opening the Browser Task Manager (keyboard shortcut is shift + esc) and killing the GPU process fixes it. 
• Some users are still not seeing Collections being enabled by default on Canary and Dev. For users who want to try Collections, enabling the flag at edge://flags/#edge-collections should still work to turn on the feature. 
• There are some issues where users with multiple audio output devices sometimes don’t get any sound from Edge. In one case, Edge becomes muted in the Windows Volume Mixer and unmuting it fixes it.  In another, restarting the browser fixes it. 
• At certain zoom levels, there is a noticeable line between the browser UI and the web contents.

We’re looking forward to the release of the Stable channel soon, and thank you for all the help you’ve given us in getting to that point! 

[#2]

The former. After installing the latest Dev update, I was signed out and now the sign in doesn't work anymore. It's not that it doesn't accept a login. The button is literally doing nothing. On all my computers.

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@eshudnowpersonal we've got a known issue right now where that button doesn't work, but it looks like we've got a fix for it in recent Canaries.  You should try Canary and see if you can sign in properly, and if so, that means the fix should also make it to the next Dev update.  

[#3]

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All of the installs with a bunch of folks that I have using it around here are receiving the fun white screen that sits for a good 10-seconds or more then eventually your see 

This is on the Dev Channel, Beta and Canary are the only ones that work for us. I can't even go to "About Microsoft Edge".

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@Hexxus adding @MissyQ and @Deleted for awareness since they're seeing users in other threads (and platforms) reporting this.  The good news is that, if Canary is working for you, it's likely that this is fixed and the fix will make it into the next Dev update.  Regardless, we're also keeping an eye on it and checking to see if there are any workarounds.  The behavior sounds similar to the behavior described here:  https://textslashplain.com/2019/09/27/aw-snap-every-tab-crashes/ (written by one of our engineers), although the particular cause(s) in that article seem different enough that I would be surprised if any of the workarounds mentioned there fix this for you.  

[#4]

@josh_bodner

Josh, I had asked you about this somewhere.  Sure glad to read this!  Beats trying to figure out why I seemed blind when it came to this one 

BTW, be nice if these 'faces' had a WINK.  A highlighter would be cool, too.  As if you don't have enough on your plate, already, eh? 

Cheers,
Drew

[#5]

@josh_bodner @Ssh78 

Josh, the flag is no longer needed.  It's just that not all sites offer RV & when it is not offered its icon is not there.  (Only) If & when offered its icon WILL show @ the right end of the URL.

Cheers,
Drew

[#6]

@josh_bodner 

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@josh_bodner wrote:

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can you please add this shortcut to the ellipsis menu?

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@HotCakeX aha, good catch!  Do you want to do the honors of filing the feedback we'll use to fix this bug?  

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Sure, done :)

[#7]

Spoiler

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@Drew1903 wrote:

 It's just that not all sites offer RV & when it is not offered its icon is not there.  (Only) If & when offered its icon WILL show @ the right end of the URL.

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The button should be there as a fixed button. currently Immersive reader button only shows on 1% of websites, if it be a fixed button, user can use it on any website to get a clean text version to read.

[#8]

Enable Text Highlights for PDF
Enables creation and modification of Text Highlights for PDF. – Mac, Windows

#edge-pdf-highlight

[#9]

It's still not enabled by default on Beta/Stable channel, that's why it requires a flag

[#10]

@josh_bodner 

Spoiler

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@josh_bodner wrote:

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so it begs the question, what this exactly means

"Added the ability to paste multiple items into a Collection at the same time."

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@HotCakeX this is my bad; it's part of a multi-part change in order to start supporting more multi-selection functionalities in Collections, but some of the other parts aren't ready yet.  I didn't know that when I first made this list, so we'll just have to ignore this for right now (and having something to look forward to!)  

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Thanks for clarifying, looking forward to new collection features :)

[#11]

@HotCakeX 

But Chrome does not complain about it.

And can the browser allow to user to accept TLS <1.3? 

[#12]

A browser can allow it, yes, Firefox does, but not sure about Microsoft Edge. a developer with more knowledge than me should response

[#13]

@TanvirArjel  When you say 'remove the ugly scroll bar' how will those who use machines that do not have modern touch pad drivers or touch screens scroll the page without them?

I work with older people (mostly aged 60-90) and they like the scroll bars to be permanently visible - it is what they are used to - they do not have the coordination for gestures.

I am using Chromium Edge Dev Version 81.0.381.0 (Official build) Dev (64-bit) on macOS typing this and there is no scroll bar visible. Have you checked your settings?

[#14]

Would leave many pretty much down to a mouse scroll wheel.

Some places in the OS it only appears when you poke the cursor over that way.

Cheers,
Drew

Sent from Windows Mobile

[#15]

It could be thin and small by default and only get bigger when user's finger or mouse cursor approaches it.


Sent from Android Mobile

[#16]

Pinned taskbar websites are still losing their favicon and instead are reset back to the native Edge icon—which is not very useful at all. I've had this bug for a few builds & have sent a Smiley report. 

I thought this had been fixed: it's not listed in "Known issues" in this first post nor in Top Feedback. Reproduction steps:

1. Go to https://www.google.com
2. Open the 3-dot menu -> Apps -> Install this site as an app
3. In the new window, you'll see the favicon is now the taskbar icon. (GOOD)
4. Right-click the new taskbar icon and click Pin to taskbar. The icon incorrectly resets back to the Edge icon (BAD)

The only workarounds are native PWA support by the web developer (i.e., Twitter when logged in) or first pin the icon to Start (will retain the icon) and then from the Start menu icon, pin that icon to your Taskbar: then, the pinned taskbar icon retains the website's favicon.

The favicon is already set correctly as the icon upon installing the app. Edge should not reset the icon to the Edge icon just because a user has pinned the icon to the Taskbar

See a 30-second screen recording here (do watch it to ensure you understand what the bug is).

Peculiarities:

• Once a website has been set back to the Edge default icon, even uninstalling & reinstalling the website won't bring back its actual icon.
• Not 100% reproducible: some websites somehow can maintain their favicon, even without being proper PWAs (i.e,. the "+ Install" button in the address bar).
• The longer you leave an app open without pinning it, the more likely it will retain the favicon (but, again, not always)

I think the last peculiarity points to a lagging database write or some broken caching that's later fixed. The system should be fast enough, FWIW, so I imagine it's a bug in Edge: 

i5-8600K (6c/6t @ 3.6 GHz base and 4.3 GHz boost)

32 GB DDR4-3200 (dual-channel)

Samsung 960 EVO 250 GB

100 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload wired Ethernet

[#17]

@ikjadoon @josh_bodner Agreed. I am seeing exactly the same behaviour. On right-click to Pin to Taskbar the shortcut is named Microsoft Edge.

[#18]

@davequail @ikjadoon @josh_bodner 

I, too, have reported this bug behavior. But, I do want to clarify... it happens to sites that have been turned into apps. Their specific icon does morph into an Edge icon when & once Pin to taskbar is selected.  It does not happen or change if pinning a (non-apped) site via More tools.  It's after converted to an app not, as a normal (pinned) site.

Cheers,
Drew

[#19]

This problem doesn't exist on Edge insider canary Version 81.0.389.0 (Official build) canary (64-bit)

so whatever bug it was, they fixed it already, just need to wait it out until the next Dev update :)

[#20]

There is no conversion happening though. it's not like Edge turns a website written in HTML/CSS into C++ code and install it as a Win32 software.

I think "install" is a misleading word. they should change it to "Pin" instead. because technically nothing is being installed, it's just the website's icon and link is pinned to Start menu/Taskbar/Desktop

[#21]

Bing shows more ads than Google, right from the start, it's a little bother looking for something and the main results is someone trying to sell you something