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Mason425
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Joined Apr 06, 2020
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Re: Discussion - Updating our interface with Fluent touches
I would really like to see the transparency in the new Edge. I think the best way to do this is have a switch that turns the transparency on or off, or have a slider to turn it off or make is really transparent or anything in between. It really should be optional so if people don't like it, then they aren't forced to use it, but I personally would love to see transparency. I think that the transparency would just make Edge look really good, especially with dark theme.12KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Wyatt C Jackson Okay, that is a fair argument. But couldn't you download Chrome at home for those certain cases? That is a reasonable argument, and you make a good point. But Chrome is built entirely around compatibility with a Google account so passwords, favorites, and history are saved. You may just need a different browser for work. I fully understand what you are saying, it that case Edge would need the option to sign in with a Google account. In that situation, Edge would need to have that ability, but think about what would happen if they did put in that ability. You have an honest legitimate reason, but when that option is added, the number of people who use a Microsoft account in Edge would decrease. Most people have a google account for YouTube, Gmail, etc. So people would just take the easy way and use their Google account instead of creating a Microsoft account. I'm not saying that not that many people have a Microsoft account because many people do, for Office, their Windows computer, Xbox, and Edge. But it could become a majority of Google account users than Microsoft account users in Edge. There's just a lot that goes into it before such a big feature like that is added. When you mentioned Microsoft Mail and the option to use any email address, I thought that maybe they should just put it in Edge, but Edge is really Microsoft's only browser, and giving people the option to use a Google account compromises too much. Edge was initially built for Windows computers and Windows users, and was all for the best possible browsing experience for Windows users, and for use with a Microsoft account. Edge was a Windows exclusive that offered the safest browsing, handy features that no other browsers offered (web inking, set tabs aside, reading list), and more with a Microsoft account. Edge could become just another Chrome. Then that would also take away the only really good feature about Chrome. The only thing that makes Chrome special is its clean Google account optimization. Edge is now more feature rich, and has better an more transparent settings than Chrome. The extensions and compatibility give Chrome no superiority over Edge anymore because they both run on Chromium. (Edge has always been a better, more feature rich browser anyway).4KViews0likes5CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
CharlieMan CharlieMan wrote: Elliot Kirk There's been a lot of feedback on both sides here, but at the very least it's clear that this is extremely controversial and you should think hard if and how you do it. Honestly nobody knows the full makeup or views of the majority Edge users more than Microsoft. The people here are a self selecting group. That said, a few things stand out to me: Microsoft spent a substantial amount of time REMOVING Google services from Chromium. Adding it back in a way that reintroduces ANY possibility of unwanted Google data collection would be counter to this effort. The people who know about the effort to remove Google services from Edge are clearly very excited that Microsoft did this, and many people likely use Edge specifically because of this. I am one of those people. Let's be honest though - most people probably use Edge for the same reason they used IE - it was the default of their computer. These people probably don't know its even possible to sign into Chrome, how to synchronize bookmarks to a phone, or what Chrome even is. It is just not clear to me what the benefit of signing into Google sync is. You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge? Maybe the reason is to use Edge on the desktop but to get it to sync to your Android phone? Or for people who can't install Chrome at work but want Edge to stay in sync with their personal computer? These sound like edge cases (pun intended) and should be addressed with an extension. Perhaps it should be an extension for Chrome or Android to update with Microsoft services data, not an extension in Edge to add Google data. Perhaps the same should exist for iCloud/Safari (if that's even possible). I just don't understand why someone would be adamant about using Edge while also only syncing via a Google account. You have an import process on first run. Who are you trying to woo over that would require exclusively Google sync? Don't make any changes until you fully understand the answer to this question. If the concern is people want their bookmarks or tabs on their phone, the solution isn't to add Google sync, its to make Edge on mobile (and Edge sync) attractive enough to get people to use it on other devices. If you do integrate Google sync, I would integrate MANY sync services. Google, iCloud, Mozilla, etc. Make it standardized on how it handles the problem, as well as sandboxed in what it can do. Don't just add Google services back to Chrome. Add a bridge for syncing data over a contained and limited process so Google can't retroactively get their tentacles into Edge users, and so privacy supporters don't feel deterred by the addition. This strikes me as the perfect scenario for an extension or a sandboxed "generic sync services" option. Not for reGoogling Edge. I fully agree with everything you said here, especially: "You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge?". You can do all of that just fine without signing into a Google account in the browser, you can even save your passwords to those websites. Signing into Edge with a Google account wouldn't even automatically sign you into Google websites. But if people want that, why don't they use Chrome? Chrome runs on the same browser engine and is made to be centered around Google services, workspaces, account, etc. But you can sign into Google websites in Edge just as easily. All I'm saying is that people who want this shouldn't ruin Edge for everyone else. I am not insisting that they not use Edge. Edge has the same ability to access Google services and workspaces.3.8KViews2likes15CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Wyatt C Jackson Correction, Edge was built on the Chromium open source code that powers Chrome. Chromium is just the browser engine sitting underneath Chrome, it's just the browser engine. Edge just switched over to the browser engine built by Google that powers Chrome, and Edge wasn't the first by any means. There are many more browsers that run on Chromium. Microsoft has no obligation to associate with Google in Edge (nor does any other Chromium browser). Edge is not Chrome, it is still its own browser, just built on the code that powers Chrome. Just because two cars use the same engine doesn't mean that they are the same car.3.9KViews1like0CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Graham-STMC You don't have to sign into a Google account in the browser to access Google services. You can still sign into Google services (if you wanted) while signed into a Microsoft account in the browser. The in-browser sign in is just so that while in the browser all the devices signed into that same account (in the same browser) can have the same synced history and favorites and whatever else. So if you signed into Edge with an account on one computer, and signed into Edge on a different computer with that same account, you would have all the same favorites, search history, saved passwords, etc. The account that you signed into the browser with has zero affect on the websites you visit.3.9KViews1like5CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Edge doesn't need the ability for people to use a Google account in the browser. You can still go to Google services and workspaces and sign in on there and even save your password. Also consider this: Does Chrome allow you to sign in with a Microsoft account? No. People can just make a Microsoft account to use Edge or just not even sign in but still have a user. You can still create a profile where you can save passwords and do whatever else without signing in if you don't want to have to create a Microsoft account. **Also please not that I am not directly speaking to cjc2112, I just replied to him because the topic was related to what I wanted to talk about. It just so happened that I clicked on his post to comment.3.9KViews0likes2CommentsRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
Elliot Kirk When I am doing multiple tasks it is annoying to have so many tabs open cluttering the tab bar. It's nice to be able to set aside tabs so they aren't in the way when I am working on one task, but then I can return to them later. Collections doesn't really work as a set aside tabs alternative (but it is very useful for online shopping, researching, and many other uses that people can find), so really the only substitute for set aside tabs is moving them to a separate window so they aren't in the way, but that is too much work to just move tabs out of the way.2.6KViews1like3CommentsRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
Elliot Kirk Set aside tabs should stay where it was in the original Edge (for windows at least, maybe not for Mac), and it should give you the option to just set aside one tab at a time instead of all or nothing. It should have an option to right click on a tab and in the menu have an option that says "Set this tab aside". Before if I only wanted to set aside one tab, I had to drag it into a new window and set it aside from there.2.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
Elliot Kirk These two features are a must have after using the original Edge for so long. Warn on close is important to make sure you are wanting to close all tabs so you don't exit accidentally when you actually only want to close a few of the open tabs. The warn on close is important to many people, but is also annoying to many others, so it should have the ability to be turned off. Set aside tabs was one of the best features of Edge originally. Set aside tabs helped keep you organized and it was perfect for school or work purposes. Edge will be the perfect browser for research or working in any way with both set aside tabs and collections. Set aside tabs needs to return especially since it was in the original Edge. It would be a let down when people have come to expect it and when it was a distinguishing feature of the original Edge (no other browser has it). I think that the two major features of the old Edge were inking web pages and set aside tabs. Inking web pages is important but it doesn't really work without a pen or touch screen, so set aside tabs is the most important and most widely used feature, so it needs to return.3.1KViews0likes0CommentsMicrosoft Edge and Windows Defender
I have one question about Edge now being built on the Chromium open source code. I don't know if Edge is still protected by Windows Defender. In the original Edge, Windows Defender worked with Microsoft Edge to protect while browsing. I know the new Edge has "Microsoft Defender" Smart Screen built into the browser, but does Edge still work with Windows Defender? Is there a new better way that it helps protect your computer? I don't know if it is as safe, or safer, or what the deal is. I just want to know if it is going to be as safe as the original Edge was. If it is updated with the same security intelligence as Windows Defender, and Edge can effectively block malware from the internet, I'm okay. I just am unsure about how safe it is compared to the old Edge. I just hope that a Microsoft worker will respond to this with a legitimate answer. I just hope that someone will respond period. Thanks for reading.1.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Original Edge Features
martinnn Yeah, good point about it needing to be more simple for cross platform experiences. I guess that it doesn't really matter as long as the Smart Screen in the new Edge is as effective and will receive all the security intelligence updates on what files are dangerous (to keep up with modern malware).1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
sickaaltaar Collections is very useful for research or online shopping, but I agree, it is a terrible set aside tabs alternative. With collections, it's more like saving a link to an in-browser folder to access later, it doesn't actually move the tab. And then like you said, it is annoying to have to go manually delete the pages in the collection.3.3KViews6likes1CommentRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
CharlieMan Good point about that. Sometimes I forget about Mac users having those buttons on the other side. So there is a bunch of needs that have to be met for different cases. This must be interesting for the Edge team to have to make a browser to accommodate not only for Windows users, but for Mac too.3.3KViews1like0CommentsRe: Original Edge Features
martinnn Thanks for telling me about some of those features that are under way. I have experimented with collections a little bit, but it's not really like set-aside tabs, it's more of just putting a link in a folder to access later. I will admit, it is very useful for research projects or shopping, but it really doesn't function well as a set-aside tabs alternative. And what I was asking about the Windows Defender thing, I know that they have implemented "Microsoft Defender" Smart Screen into the new Edge, but I don't really know if it works with the actual Windows Defender security app on Windows computers. The original Edge worked with Windows Defender to provide security. But now Edge is built on Chromium and not Microsoft software, so I don't know if that still works. I don't think it does because the "Microsoft Defender" Smart Screen exists on any version of the browser which can now be downloaded onto any device (like Mac), and Edge isn't a Windows only browser anymore. To me it seems like the Smart Screen in the new Edge is just something that Microsoft made to replace the Windows Defender compatibility from before. Essentially I am saying that Edge now runs and uses security measures entirely independent of Windows. But I suppose that it is possible that they can continue to update the security intelligence in Edge to match Windows Defender.1.3KViews0likes2CommentsRe: Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Elliot Kirk Edge doesn't need the ability to have people sign in with a Google account. Those people are just being lazy and don't want to go through the effort of making a Microsoft account. There are many Windows users and many people that use Xboxes, all of them require a Microsoft account so enough people have a Microsoft account. I don't mind having to have three accounts to keep track of (Google for my android phone, Microsoft for my computer and Xbox, and Yahoo for my Fitbit account), it may be a challenge but not enough people actually face big challenges anymore. There are worse things that you can have to deal with than creating a new account for a service. Google services shouldn't have to be put back into Edge and forced upon all the Edge users out there because of a minority.3.7KViews1like2CommentsRe: Inking on Web Pages - Discussion
Elliot Kirk Web annotations are just useful. I can't really say a scenario that I will use it but there are many occasions where I do use it when the time presents itself. Also Microsoft has made a computer with a touch screen (most of the time) and a pen (sometimes) called a Surface. Many people use Surfaces and the web inking feature is a very commonly used feature for them, it may even be absolutely necessary. The world is getting even more devices with pens and marking capabilities (like the Microsoft Surface, Samsung Galaxy Note smart phones, and many more devices). Tablet users with Edge installed will probably really appreciate this feature. With a world with increasingly more touch screen devices as time passes, it will be very important for a feature like marking up a web page.3.8KViews1like0CommentsRe: Discussion - Set Aside Tabs and Warn on Close
Elliot Kirk I really want set-aside tabs to be returned in the new Edge. I liked having it to clear some tabs temporarily so they didn't clutter the tab bar when I was doing a certain task. Sometimes I am doing a task where I have to have multiple tabs open, but there are some tabs that I need to keep open because I will need to return to them later and sign out and whatever else, but those tabs that need to stay open are just cluttering the tab bar where I have tabs that I need to be able to easily access. It just helps keep you organized. I would also like for the ability to just set aside one tab at a time instead of all or nothing. You can just drag a tab into a new window and set them aside from there, but I would rather not have to do that. And like HotCakeX said, it should be in the top left corner, just like the original/current Edge.3.4KViews3likes3Comments
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