10 Awesome Things about Microsoft Edge

Have you ever had trouble making your website look good on different versions of Internet Explorer? It was such a hassle, right? Well, I have some great news for you! With Windows 10, Microsoft has finally given us a new browser to replace the old one.

Introducing Microsoft Edge! It might look a lot like the old browser, but let me tell you, it’s a whole lot better. Our tests have shown that Edge is modern, sleek, and super fast.

In this article, I’m going to show you some of the cool features that make Microsoft Edge stand out from the crowd.

1. Search the Web with Ease Using Cortana

Meet your new best friend, Cortana! Cortana is a helpful assistant that comes with Windows 10. You can find her in the Start menu. And guess what? She’s now built right into Microsoft Edge, so she can help you with quick online searches too!

To get started with this, you need to enable Cortana in your system settings. Also, make sure the “Let Cortana assist me in Microsoft Edge” option is turned on in Advanced Settings.

Cortana relies on the Bing search engine. You’ll see her presence indicated by two circles on the left side of your screen. The color of these circles will match the theme you’ve chosen in Windows 10.

Now, let me show you how to use Cortana. She understands everyday language. At the moment, she can respond to specific search words, but she’ll continue to learn and improve over time.

For instance, if you type in “weather,” Cortana will provide you with the current weather for your location, along with a clear weather icon.

Did you know Cortana is a helpful tool for checking the value of foreign currency in your own currency? It’s true! Just ask Cortana, and she’ll provide you with the current exchange rate. In addition to currency conversion, Cortana can also function as a dictionary. If there’s a word you’re unsure about, simply type “define” followed by the word, and Cortana will give you a clear explanation. But that’s not all! Cortana can also assist you in converting time zones or checking the status of a flight. With Cortana by your side, you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips!

2. Get Creative and Personalize Your Web Page

Calling all designers and creatives! Microsoft Edge has just unveiled an amazing feature that allows you to bring your ideas to life on a web page. Say hello to the “Make a Web Note” button, located at the top of your browser (it looks like a paper and pen). When you spot the purple toolbar, you know it’s time to unleash your creativity.

With a pen, highlighter, eraser, text note, and clipping tool at your disposal, the possibilities are endless. Choose your favorite colors and brush sizes, and watch your vision come to life. And don’t forget about the text notes – they’re perfect for adding little comments and reminders to your page.

Finished with your notes? You can easily store them for later. Save your notes in your own OneNote account, which is a part of Microsoft Office. Don’t have Office? No problem! You can use Office Online instead. Or, if you prefer, you can simply save your notes to your “Favorites” or “Reading List” folder.

Want to share your notes with others? Just click on the Share icon to send them via email or post them on your favorite social media sites.

3. Read Without Distractions

Ever find yourself annoyed by flashing ads or pesky comment sections when you’re trying to read online? Well, Microsoft Edge’s “Reading View” feature can come to the rescue.

This handy feature works best when you’re reading individual articles, rather than home or category pages.

If you’re looking for a clean and easy-to-read layout, similar to RSS readers, you’ll love using this feature. Just keep in mind that the simplicity of this layout may hide images as well. So, it’s important to consider whether or not images are essential to the website you’re using it on, like usamerica.com.

If your goal is to read without distractions, then this feature is perfect for you. Once you’re done reading, simply click the link at the top to return to the regular view.

4. Create a Simple Reading List

Microsoft Edge offers a built-in “Reading List” feature that serves as a basic reading list manager right within the browser. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of apps like Pocket, it’s convenient to have it integrated into the browser, eliminating the need for a separate app.

To add a page to your Reading List, click on the star icon at the top, then select the “Reading List” tab.

To access your Reading List, simply click on the Hub icon located at the top. Your saved articles will be displayed, with the most recent one appearing larger at the top. If you’d like, you can pin the Reading List so that it remains visible while you browse.

Now, let’s talk about themes. Microsoft now allows you to customize the look of your browser by choosing a theme. Currently, there are two themes available for Edge: light and dark. This small change demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to catering to user preferences.

To switch themes, click on the “More actions…” dots at the top, and then select “Settings”. You’ll easily find the theme switcher at the top of the settings menu.

6. Let’s Share Together

Hey there! I have some great news for you. Guess what? Edge has this awesome thing called the Share Panel, and it’s here to make our lives easier. How, you ask? Well, it lets you share cool stuff you find online. Pretty neat, right?

So, here’s what you gotta do. See that little Share icon at the top? Yeah, it looks like three circles connected by arcs. Click on that bad boy, and boom! The Share Panel magically appears right before your eyes. It’s like the Houdini of panels. No big deal.

Now, get ready for the best part. This panel shows you all the sharing apps you’ve set up. I know, I’m excited too! All those apps, just waiting to be used. It’s like having your own little army of sharing superheroes. Incredible!

Hey there! Looking for more ways to share stuff with your friends? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. You can add new apps from the Windows Store to get more sharing options! Plus, the best part is that the color of the Share Panel will match your chosen theme. How cool is that?

7. Adding Web Pages to Your Start Menu Made Easy

Do you have some favorite websites that you want easy access to? No worries, my friend! I’ve got just the solution for you. It’s called the “Pin to Start” feature, and it’s super handy. With this feature, you can add web pages to your Start Menu in a jiffy.

All you have to do is find the “More actions” menu (look for those three dots) at the top left corner, and select the “Pin to Start” option. And just like magic, the current page will become a live tile on your Start menu. It’s as simple as that! Take a look below to see the two pages I added. You can spot them easily because they’re the blue tiles with the white Edge logo.

8. Plunge into the Speed of Your Website

Hey there! Did you know that Edge’s Developer Tools just got a fresh new look and some cool new features? Pretty neat, right? To access them, just hit F12, just like in Internet Explorer, or you can also find them in the “More actions” menu.

The super handy Unified Performance Profiler awaits you under the “Performance” tab. It’s like your personal detective, helping you unravel the mysteries of what’s causing your website to slow down. In Edge, we’ve brought together the best tools from Internet Explorer to give you a developer experience that’s smooth and seamless.

I’ve got some exciting updates for developers! We’ve made some improvements that I think you’ll find pretty useful. Let me tell you all about them.

First up, we’ve added SASS & LESS source maps. These tools will make it easier for you to track down and fix any issues in your code. No more guessing where the problem is hiding!

We’ve also introduced a new Network tool. With this tool, you can easily monitor and analyze the network activity of your website. This will help you optimize its performance and make it even faster for your users. How cool is that?

And that’s not all. The Debugger has also received some upgrades. Now, you can set XHR breakpoints, which will pause the execution of your code whenever an XHR request is made. This will allow you to inspect and debug the data being sent and received, giving you more control over your application.

9. Stay Protected from Risky Extensions

When it comes to extensions, we take safety very seriously. That’s why Microsoft Edge skips extensions that are known to be risky, like ActiveX, VML, and VB scripts. We focus on safer options, like JavaScript, to ensure that you and your users are protected.

If your website still relies on ActiveX, I highly recommend updating it to HTML5. This will make your website compatible with Microsoft Edge and ensure a smooth and secure browsing experience.

Speaking of security, Edge comes with additional security features to keep you safe online. Features like the Edge Login Process, Sandboxing, and the enhanced Microsoft SmartScreen provide an extra layer of protection. You can customize these features by exploring the Advanced Settings and looking for options like Smart Screen Filtering and cookie management.

If you want to learn more about Edge’s security tools, take a look at this in-depth article.

10. Accessing Internet Explorer from Edge

If you’re feeling nostalgic for Internet Explorer, you’re in luck – it’s hidden inside Microsoft Edge!

Need to visit a website using IE 11? Just click on “Open with Internet Explorer” in the “More actions” menu. You’ll immediately notice the difference in speed between Microsoft’s latest browser and its classic predecessor.

Find out more about Microsoft Edge:

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