Microsoft disabled or replaced these Google features in the new Edge
The new Microsoft Edge browser that is based on Chromium has just been released officially; the previews of the browser are available for Windows 10 only and some channels are missing at the time of writing but releases for other supported platforms and the first final build are not too far away at this point.
One of the core questions that users may have is about the differences between the Chromium-based Google Chrome browser and the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser: how different are the two browsers?
It is clear that the browsers use the same core, Chromium, and that they look similar on first glance.
Microsoft published a list of services that it replaces or disabled in the Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge recently (it may have leaked only, but it is publicly available).
The list is huge at this point; it includes Google specific services for the most part. Here is a screenshot that lists disabled or replaced services.
Here is the list of services:
Safe browsing, Speech input, Nearby messages, Google Pay, Link Doctor, Drive API, Ad blocking, Chrome OS hardware id, User data sync, Device registration, Spellcheck, Google Maps Time zone, Suggest, Google Cloud Storage, Translate, Cloud Print, SmartLock, Google DNS, Form Fill, Supervised Profiles, Push Notifications, Address Format, WebStore, Network Location, Extension Store, Network Time, Maps Geolocation, Favicon service, Google Now, Google Cloud Messaging, Single sign-on (Gaia), Content Hash Fetcher, Flighting Service, Component Updater Service, RAPPORT service, Chrome OS monitor calibration, Chrome OS device management, Android app password sync, Offline Page Service Feedback, Domain Reliability Monitoring, Data Reduction Proxy, Chrome Cleanup, Developer Tools Remote, Debugging, iOS Promotion Service, One Google Bar Download, Brand Code Configuration Fetcher, WebRTC Logging, Captive Portal Service.
Microsoft does not distinguish between turned off and replaced services. Some are clear, e.g. Safe Browsing was replaced with Windows Defender SmartScreen, and User data sync with Microsoft's own synchronization technology.
Some Google-specific services can also be identified, e.g. Google Play, Chrome Cleanup, Google Now, Data Reduction Proxy, or One Google Bar Download.
Microsoft plans to introduce some features like Spellcheck in future versions of Edge. I'd like to see a translation feature added to the browser; the classic Microsoft Edge does not support this either, but it would be a welcome addition in my opinion.
Services that communicate with Google or are powered by Google are affected for the most part; this is a distinguishing factor of Microsoft Edge when you compare it to other Chromium-based browsers.
It would be interesting to see lists of removed or replaced Chromium features of other Chromium-based browsers such as Vivaldi or Opera.
Now You: What would you like to see in the new Edge? (via Deskmodder / Walking Cat)
It’s great that Microsoft Services are all supported in this browser, with login kept after history removal or exit.
Cloud Print is deal breaker for me
why is there no link to the microsoft article you quote?
Actually a very smart move from Microsoft I think. Initially, I was a little annoyed that yet another browser had fallen to the Chromium juggernaut, but after reading both the comments and the article, I had a moment where I thought “Ooh I might give Edge a go again”. It was really quite a shock to hear myself thinking such thoughts ; ) I believe this move may finally give Edge some traction. Whether I myself will end up using it on a day to day basis I guess depends on what MS replace and what they don’t. I’d probably like the option of adding back some of the features that they’ve removed as extensions/plugins (i.e. cloud print), but I like the idea of a ‘refreshed’, ‘lighter’ Chrome/Edge – especially given some of the recent design and configuration changes of Google’s fork. Options are good, and I’m glad that Edge seems to be finally becoming one. On a sillier note, I want to see the following as the title of an article – but only because of the initials from Chrome onward lol “Finally despite the previous dominance of Chrome or Vivaldi, Firefox, Edge Finally Emerges”.
LOL. looks like the perfect browser lol. Chromium without all the google crap
I think this is really a remarkable opportunity for Edge to deliver a Chrome competitor.
For those who use Windows, it will be a no brainer to browse with the future Edge as well.
If Edge also delivers on privacy and security (which I doubt at this point, it’s hard to beat Safe Browsing for example), it can definitely get a big fan base.
If I install this and uninstall it, is it going to get rid of Edge once and for all? Powershell doesn’t work for Edge, if this is working then I will install it. I will never use a Microsoft browser and their junk, they get enough data from me with Windows, so it’s Firefox for me. I would like to finally get rid of Edge, is this going to work?
I myself would just like to turn Edge completely off and never have it running in the background.
There is an app called “edge-block ” by Sordum that seems to work. Executables for Edge are kind of buried in App Data, wasn’t able to figure out how to firewall that.
Otherwise it’s Chrome Canary FTW. (sandboxed)
Its a fast browser without all the Google junk that has been added over the years. Brings back memories to what Chrome used to be before Google began to muck it all up. Even after just a couple days of use, the Edge Chromium combination seems to be a good fit. Maybe a case for what Edge should have been all along.
I think the Web needs to be rewritten. There’s just stacks upon stacks of things. Non standard video players and more.
Wow, all that stuff! My stripped Chromium has maybe five of those things.
Interesting webRTC was replaced. Some of the more private chromiums lost a big chunk of their privacy when they determined webRTC could no longer be disabled. I’m sure MS wedged their version into Chromedegium but if it can be extracted maybe some decent chromiums will appear again.
I doubt I’ll ever use this browser but it’s interesting to follow; doesn’t seem to be a rebranded chrome so far.
Holy molly that is a lot of points for data harvesting services included with Chrome, but it’s not spyware if it offers a useful service to the “nothing to to hide” crowd.
Thanks Jeff, I’ve been using Sandboxie on windows for over a decade and it’s nice to see an equivalent for Linux.
I’m trying this now for the last couple of days and really liking it. Not particularly a Chrome fanboy myself. but this feels very responsive and the ability to use add-ons from the chrome web store is definitely a plus.
If they could only now add the ability to have a bookmarks sidebar like the one if Firefox, something that g00gle doesn’t allow, they just could have “THE EDGE” over Google Chrome
1 scanner under virus total day it contains a virus.
That is likely a false positive
The list of “removed” features by M$ is pretty misleading. These are not Chromium features, these are Chrome features that are added by Google to Chromium. It’s more of a list which invasive parts were replaced by M$-equivalents.
As for Chromium browsers, I’m still on Iron, it gets more frequent updates than Iridium… But Firefox is certainly preferred.
> https://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php
Hola, yo lo estoy utilizando Edge Dev, y funciona realmente bien, es totalmente compatible con las extensiones de Crome, pero es más rápido en cargas de web y su aspecto si me gusta mucho, seguiremos esperando que mejore.
Chrome has ad block integrated? Did anyone know anything about this?
Yes, https://www.ghacks.net/2018/02/02/details-about-googles-ad-blocking-integration-in-chrome/
It just blocks ads on sites that don’t adhere to certain standards.
Choose:
1) Google Data-Mining
2) Microsoft Data-Mining
3) Neither
I selected this privacy based Chromium browser:
https://iridiumbrowser.de/
Improving YOUR security with Firejail Sandboxing
I’ve upgraded my Debian based operational security by running untrusted browsers/apps using Firejail:
Firejail is an easy to use SUID sandbox program that reduces the risk of security breaches by restricting the running environment of untrusted applications using Linux namespaces, seccomp-bpf and Linux capabilities.
Most users will not require any custom configuration -simply install Firejail form the repository.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Firejail
Palemoon and Waterfox browser use all of Linux sandboxing security features.
Unfortunately Chromium is more system intrusive and is limited to using only one of the three feature
Chromium has its own sandboxing application but it too uses Google binaries.
Debian licensing won’t allow these secret phone-home security breaches. To me data-mining (without GDPR explicit consent) is malware.
In use Chromium limits bookmarks as Google wants you to always search through them.
They also plan to disable the use of ad-blockers.
The best extensions run only in developer mode which have to be manually reinstalled when the browser is updated.
With its design emphasis on data-mining and serving ads, the Chromium browser is on a terminal trajectory.
I used Iridium for some time, it as a great browser but alas, it is very lagging in updating. Too much delay for me.
I am used to start my browser with 2 tab: the official openings-page with the search window and a tab with all my favorites. If I go to the Favorites-tab and click a favorite, this favorite is opened in a new tab (so the 3-th tab). If I close this tab I go automatically back to my Favorites-tab, to choose another favorite.
In MS Chromium-Edge the opened site overwrites the Favorites-tab. So at closing the favorite there is no Favorites-tab available anymore. I see this as very unconvenient.
Also if you enlarge the font-size, in the Favorites-tab the text is not enlarged.
Further CCleaner (and Glary and WiseCare) and SpywareBlaster do not recognize MS-Chromium-Edge. So for paranoid people a negative point.
Could be a competitor for Brave. Latest version offers Social Buttons and Logins on/off. Yes MS will spy on you, but is Brave spying too? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19129309
On Edge you can use Nano blocker beta, so maybe these essential extensions ( for me) will be allowed.
Really thinking of switching to it. But not sure what I gain/lose apart from a slightly different design
If Ad Block+ and/or UBlock Origin isn’t to be allowed in the new MS Browser… it’s a NO-GO from the very start.
Am using the Dev version with AdBlock Plus right now.
it depends only on chromium API
uBlock Origin runs great in the new Edge. You can download it from the Chrome Web Store by toggling a setting on in settings. I believe a version of uBlock Origin is also available in the Windows store for Edge, but that version is out of date and hasn’t been updated in quite some time.
Does it also allow NoScript Add-on?. This is one of may favorites and I have it on FF where I am enjoying every single bit of it. I know for a fact that Edge doesn’t allow it. What a pity!
It does
Probably in the upcoming chromium-based Edge, but not in the current Edge up to 1809. Regardless, I need this extension so bad that I am willing to give the new upcoming Edge a try, even though still in Beta or development phase.
Thanks, anyhow, because I know by “It does”, you meant the upcoming Edge 19H1 aka 1903.
It is allowed, you can install uBlock Origin and any other blocker, plus everything that is available on the Chrome Web Store.
I’m using it for the second day now, and It’s really solid. I like it so far (sitting on Dev version). At least for my workflow, it works better than Chrome (less RAM consumption across the board).
Thing it needs BADLY – Dark Theme (or Theme support)
the dark theme is in edge://flags
it’s exactly as bad as any other chromium clone, what about it is solid?
It’s exactly as good as most of other chromium based clones. What about it isn’t solid?
Like how I structure my question? Clearly, I’m dealing with a fanboy here.
Chromium based browsers have issues with text rendering, improperly handle click events and in most cases are extremely limited when it comes to customization: extensions API is crippled by artificial limitations and lacks many important interfaces (unfortunately most of issues got copied to WE too) and user is unable to finetune interface, in most cases at all
Chrome is the worst thing that happened to Web since IE6
These issue aren’t exactly in Edge Chromium. Try it before you start whining