Competitor
Internet Explorer’s speed – or the lack thereof – is one of the oldest jokes on the internet. Microsoft Edge, which replaced Explorer as the default browser in Microsoft computers helped somewhat, but never quite managed to gain the same reputation that Google Chrome has. It looks like the scales are evening out, however, as Microsoft has now teamed up with Google to offer their users an even more smoother experience. The collaboration is not skewed completely in Microsoft Edge’s favour, as Google will benefit from the update as well. The update is actually an expansion in Windows 11’s Application Launch Prefetch range (APLF).
When you launch a webpage, most of the time you spend waiting for it to ‘load’ is spent waiting for your HTTP requests to bring the content you want to you. What prefetching does is make it possible for browsers like Edge and Chrome to store elements of webpage data in your local cache. This means that this data has ‘already been fetched’ for you should you want to revisit it. This is a massive boost in speed in loading up a webpage. One review published on Microsoft’s own official blog found that enabling prefetching resulted in a webpage loading 1.17 seconds faster than it would without. The extra second does not sound like much of course, yet marks the tipping point from impatience to frustration when it comes to browsing the internet.
Among other things, widening the prefetching range helps a system prioritise certain programs over others, helping it dedicate more memory – or processing power – to the app that is in use. This helps Edge load faster and display webpages smoother, contributing to an overall quicker experience. There are many other upsides to widening the prefetching range, which contributes to this overall smoother experience. One is the improvement in process separation, allowing the system to handle utility processes in the background and rendering web pages. The broader range in prefetching allows browsers to optimize how they prefetch and access files in cache. One other benefit that may not be so directly related is its adaptability to more modern operating systems. The change is relevant to Windows 11 and its versions to follow, which means that the update integrates seamlessly with future versions of the browser as well.
Microsoft added the ability to prefetch content on Edge with Windows 8.1. This ability has also improved over time, until the present expansion. The new update widening Edge’s APLF ‘/prefetch’ parameter is highlighted in a code submission to the Chromium project. The submission details: “the /prefetch parameter is used to differentiate different file access patterns for the same process name. The range was 1..8, it is now 1..16 for Windows 11 and later allowing for better process separation, especially for renderers, and utility processes.” As of now, improved Prefetch compatibility is included in the latest version of the Edge Canary build. This is an early version that developers alone use to test out the new features that they are working on. Should the new version of the APLF prove to be a viable improvement to the system, everyday users can expect to find it on their personal update notifications to download and use.
The Chromium project is headed primarily by Google and is an attempt to create a free and open-source web browser. It’s important to remember that Chromium is not actually Google Chrome, although it is the basis of most of Chrome’s source code. Chrome has its own proprietary software that it does not share with the public. Obtaining the necessary licensing permissions allows any developer or group to build the codebase and share the browser executable their build under the Chromium name and logo. There are many web browsers that make use of the Chromium project: Samsung Internet, Opera, and of course, Microsoft Edge. APLF is also due to be made available for other applications that run in Windows 11, which means that its benefits will not be limited solely to Chromium-based browsers. Open-source projects such as these benefit from the involvement of different companies, which comprise different teams of various expertise.
Microsoft switched to Chromium in late 2018. Since then, Microsoft too has contributed actively to the project. It has also made other improvements in relation to its overall integration into the Windows ecosystem. It appears as if Microsoft Edge is committed to emerging from the shadows that Google has confined most other web browsers to, given the numerous improvements it has been making lately to its overall performance and experience. Presently, Google Chrome leads the pack with a global share of 62.85% in the internet browser market. Microsoft Edge only holds 4.97% of the global market. However, it’s slowly improving its position, especially given its compatibility with Microsoft Windows. Windows is the world’s most prominent desktop OS, with a market share of close to 70%. Microsoft’s clear campaign to align Edge with the latest developments in operating system technology, as evidenced by the APLF expansion makes this all too clear.
As with most products keeping up with the times, Microsoft Edge has an AI element integrated into its web browser. This takes the form of various AI-powered features and tools that browsing and working on the internet an easier and more fun experience. One of the more advanced features is the Copilot tool, which helps you navigate web pages and even ask questions and provide answers related to the content you are viewing. Copilot can also summarize the answers you get to your questions, compare the products you are shopping for, complete certain tasks on your behalf, and improve the images that you create using AI. As far as Android and iOS are concerned, Copilot can also be accessed on the Edge mobile app. And that’s only one function – Edge’s AI features read texts aloud, translate, and provide AI-powered writing assistance ranging from offering synonym suggestions, spellings, and grammar assistance. If the early 2000s meme drove you away from ever using Microsoft’s default internet browser, it may be time to give it a chance now.
(Theruni M. Liyanage)