What you need to know
- Last year, Microsoft unveiled a major UI update for Edge that would align it with Windows 11’s design language.
- The new design featured rounded tabs and a heavier use of acrylic blur effects across the interface.
- Now, the company is scrapping the UI refresh, and is removing the flag to enable it from in an upcoming version of Edge.
As someone who has been closely following Microsoft’s digital evolution over the past decade, I must admit, this latest development leaves me both intrigued and a tad perplexed. The initial unveiling of the new Edge design was a refreshing change, especially after years of it resembling Google Chrome. It felt like Microsoft was finally stepping out of the shadows and embracing its own identity.
In February 2023, Microsoft introduced “New Bing and Edge” during a significant gathering held at their Redmond headquarters. It was during this event that Microsoft first presented Bing Chat, which later evolved into Microsoft Copilot. As Microsoft entered a new AI era, Bing and Edge took center stage, prompting Microsoft to give Edge an updated look to complement the changes.
While observing the event unfold, I was thrilled to learn that Microsoft’s Yusef Mehdi unveiled an updated design for Edge on stage. In his words, “we’ve given Edge a fresh new look and feel.” He emphasized that this revamped version is more streamlined and lighter in terms of performance. Notably, the new design includes round tab buttons and a significant increase in the use of acrylic blur effects throughout the browser window.
After spending numerous years resembling Chrome, Microsoft unexpectedly expressed a strong desire to establish Edge as its unique entity, possibly due to its confidence in the success of Bing Chat and Copilot. The revamped design also effectively synced the browser with Windows 11 and Microsoft’s design philosophy. Here’s a glimpse at the transformation:
It’s been more than a year since the announcement of the fresh UI update, but there’s still no official release in sight. Earlier, it was feasible to activate the new layout using flags, but Microsoft Edge has recently declared that this feature will be discontinued soon, with the most recent version of Edge Canary being the first to eliminate it entirely.
A representative from Microsoft has told Windows Central that they are abandoning the fresh design concept introduced last year, which implies that Microsoft is no longer planning to revamp Edge’s interface with rounded tabs. While some traces of the updated design will remain, such as the border surrounding webpages and rearranged user buttons, the majority of changes from the new design will not be implemented.
It’s not clear what specific factors led to this choice, given that the revamped interface was sleek and effectively matched Windows 11’s overall design. However, it appears that the Edge browser will retain its familiar look, which is quite similar to Google Chrome. This similarity might not be accidental.
Read More
- DOP PREDICTION. DOP cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- INDEX PREDICTION. INDEX cryptocurrency
- EUR PKR PREDICTION
- CORE PREDICTION. CORE cryptocurrency
- JASMY PREDICTION. JASMY cryptocurrency
- PSP PREDICTION. PSP cryptocurrency
- DMTR PREDICTION. DMTR cryptocurrency
- FEG PREDICTION. FEG cryptocurrency
- MDT PREDICTION. MDT cryptocurrency
2024-09-16 15:10