Tag: #Edge

Posted on

What is Copilot Mode in Edge?

After being in preview for a while, Copilot Mode has now officially arrived in Microsoft Edge (just as Google have announced their AI mode).

Copilot Mode Toggle

This shows the shift away from the traditional ways we use search engines in browsers where we are juggling tabs and search bars to the future of search where instead we interact with a single, context-aware AI assistant…like Copilot.

A Single Input for Chat, Search, and Navigation

For years, browsers have followed the same routine: open tabs, search, scroll, repeat. But with AI reshaping how we live and work online, it’s time to ask our browsers can now finally do much much more.

Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge is a new experimental experience that turns your browser into an intelligent collaborator. It’s been in testing for a while and is designed to help you stay focused, cut through clutter, and anticipates what you might need or want to do next.

In Copilot Mode, you get a new clean input field at the top of each new tab which works in three ways:

  • Allows for free-form queries such as “What’s the best time to visit the Isle of Wight for festivals?”
  • Assists in direct navigation, for example “Open my Blog Site”
  • Enables conversational prompts such as “Summarise the devices across these open tabs and list main advantages of each product I’ve been looking at”.

Unifying these experiences makes edge feels less like a collection of different l UI elements and more like a well thought out, integrated experience powered by AI!

Context Travels Across Your Tabs

One of my favourite things about the EdgeCopilot Mode’s is its ability to “see” and reason over your open tabs (when you opt in). This is an opt in experience with the  permission toggle living front and center. Once enebwled though, Copilot to see your all your tables which means you can upgrade your search experience buy, for example:

  • Comparing prices and features across multiple shopping sites
  • Compile research snippets and information from different articles or resources into a single summary or document.
  • Highlight contradictions or gaps in the information you’ve gathered across multiple pages/tabs


In my initial playing around, I let Copilot Mode review a dozen tabs on different beaches that were dog friendly. Within seconds, I had a side-by-side comparison of locations, and time and date restrictions.

Delegating Repetitive Tasks

Beyond analysis, Copilot Mode performs actions on your behalf. With simple text or voice commands, you can ask it to:

  • Open, close, or pin tabs 
  • Extract key data points from a page (dates, figures, contact info)
  • Cross-reference details between sites (“Which of these three hotels has better guest reviews?”) 

You can also of course “talk” to Copilot. As an example, I said aloud, “Pull the top three quotes for API integration services and email them to my team.” Copilot Mode located the relevant pages, skimmed out the quotes, and drafted an email in Outlook—all without leaving Edge.

Control Over Privacy and Security

Privacy controls and choice are at the moment of Copilot Mode. You choose when to share itab context, voice access, or browsing history. In short:

  • All data stays local unless you explicitly share it.
  • You can disable Copilot Mode entirely at any time and revert back to the classic experience at any time.
  • The feature adheres to the same security standards as the rest of Edge .

Initial impressions

After a couple of weeks of using Copilot Mode as my primary browser interface on Edge I found that incertaibly saw efficiency gains when collecting and comparing information across different sites, though it’s different to how you traditionally use a browser so takes a bit of time to be part of your browser “muscle memory”.

I also found the handoff from traditonal browsing to active task completion  with Copilot pretty seemlessly and easy. You are not stuck in one mode.

There is more coming as Microsoft have talked opening in their blog about deeper integrations such as auto page summarisation without context switching, AI-powered tab grouping, and browser themes that adapt to your workflow. I expect these to come to Insider and beta users soon.

How to try Copilot Mode in Edge

Cpilot Mode is now generally availble for anyone to try in latest Edge release for both Windows and Apple Mac. To enable and test it out follow these simple instructions:

1. Update Edge to the current build 
2. Enable Copilot Mode: Settings > New Tab Page 
3. Grant permissions for multi-tab context or voice commands to suite preference.
4. Type or speak your first command in the unified Copilot/Search input box.

Copilot Mode toggle

You can also head over to aka.ms/copilot-mode

Would love to know how you find it? How does it compare to other browsers or the new AI mode Google have just released?

Posted on

What are Edge Workspaces?

Originally announced at Ignite in October 2022, Edge Workspaces provides a new way for people to separate browsing tasks into dedicated windows so you can stay focused and better organised across research and search related tasks.

As example, you might (like me) be planning a family holiday – with each family member doing their own googling (sorry binging) and research around where to go, where to stay, how to get there and where to eat. Now – rather than everyone sharing links on messaging apps, Edge Workspaces aims to provide a streamlined and more synced way to research together – through the creation of “shared workspace in Edge” dedicated to what ever you need to do together. These spaces (you can have multiple) can have their own name and colour, set of tabs and individual favourites. What’s great is that these can be co-authored and updated by everyone, making it much easier to keep in sync and stay focussed by keeping this in its own workspace.

Note: you you don’t have to share them…. Just good for organising….

Create your first workspace…

The first thing you do when you start using it is to create a new workspace [you need to be enabled for the preview first – see below to enable it).

First, if enabled (you need to be running Edge Dev), you will see the workspaces icon on the top left of the Edge browser. Edge will then walk you through getting started – it’s fairly straight forward as you can see below.

Getting started with Edge Workspaces (preview)

I will create a new one.. (yes we need to book a family holiday)

Choose a name and theme colour.

Workspaces then appear at the top of the page (in the colour you chose at set-up)

Research as normal

From here, you can do a bunch of things!!! For example you can add edit the workspace, and most importantly, invite people to your space to start collaborating with you… To do this, simply click the “invite to workspace”.

Let’s share our workspace…

To start sharing, select the “invite to workspace“. Edge creates a unique sharing link and from here you can simply copy and paste the link and send it via email or other preferred method. When they click on the sharing link (assuming they are running Edge Dev too), they will be able to start collaborating.

Staying on the same (web) page

Once the other people you invite accept the invite (see below), they can start adding to your shared workspace with you with the changes happening in real time.

Security First: Each member will only see content that they have access to. You must be signed in with a personal account to use Edge Workspaces, and Microsoft will not share browser or confidential account data like logins, cookies, and passwords with anyone else who has access.

I also wish there was a OneNote or Digital scratch pad in the workspace, to allow members to add notes and comments. – have filed this as feedback.

Does it work on mobile…? Not yet. I’m running Edge Dev on my Samsung phone and currently cant see my shared workspaces… hopefully this will come soon (feedback filed).

Getting access to the public preview

If you’re ready to get on the same (web) page and try out Edge Workspaces, you can access the preview here. The pre requisites are quick short but Microsoft are limiting how many people get access in the first wave!

  • You need to be running Microsoft Edge version 111.0.1661.51 (or higher) and also need to be signed in with your Microsoft account.
  • As a previewer, you get five (5) invites to send to friends and family to allow them to also join the preview.
  • Workspaces are only available on PC and Mac to start with (hence wont be accessible on mobile yet).
Posted on

Microsoft ends support for their once-dominant web browser Internet Explorer.

Today (June 15th 2022), what was once the “king of the web browsers” has officially retired after 27 years, marking the end of an era. As of now Internet Explorer is officially “end of life”.

Bill Gates and Microsoft Internet Explorer Logo
Bill Gates – Showcases Internet Explorer (c)

Microsoft Internet Explorer was released in 1995 and quickly became the dominant browser, almost instantly wiping out the previous dominant player Netscape. Internet Explorer was the dominant web-browser for more than a decade as it was bundled with the Windows operating system (similar to how Edge is today) that came pre-installed on billions of computers.

What does “End-of-life” mean?

In short, just that – it’s dead. Officially, “End of life” refers to the point in time when an application is no longer supported by the software company that makes it. In this case, Microsoft’s end of life for Internet Explorer means continued use of the browser after today is still allowed, but Microsoft will no longer update it, patch it or support it if something goes wrong.

This is important since new computer viruses, malware, and ransomware attacks are developed daily, and the web-browser is a major window into many of the apps that employees, customers, consumers use every day. Users should therefore stop using Internet Explorer use their modern Chromium-based Edge browser (or other 3rd party choice) since no more security updates will be provided by Microsoft as of now.

It has been a while coming

This has been a while coming, ever since Internet Explorer’s market share continued to be dominated by Google Chrome and others and Microsoft announced, and launched it’s new Edge Browser which built on the open source Chromium framework which Google uses within it’s Chrome browser.

Microsoft had already ended support for Internet Explorer for their Teams web app back in 2020, shortly followed by removing support across their other key web apps and services including OneDrive, Dynamnics, PowerApps, Outlook and Office from August 2021.

“Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10,”

Microsoft

Microsoft will continue to be supported in very few situations including with customers running the Windows 10 long term services branch (ltsb).

The Future is Edge

Microsoft Edge, was released in 2015 and was upgraded in 2019 to include the Chromium open-source code which Microsoft is now a major contributor along side Google and others. The move was done to compete with more popular browsers like Google Chrome, which has (and still does in part) dominated the market.

Microsoft Edge is a modern open-source browser and offers improved compatibility, streamlined productivity, and hugely better browser security.

As new apps and software products are released onto the market by other companies, old software versions can’t keep up. Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser can now support a wider variety of platforms, which makes it more useful for the modern era. IE 11, in comparison, held limitations preventing it from updating alongside newer technologies.

What about legacy web apps and sites?

For older websites and services, Microsoft Edge provides a built-in “Internet Explorer mode”, making the use of using older web browsers like Internet Explorer unnecessary.

Microsoft recognise that many larger organisations “may have a surprisingly large set of legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and apps, built up over many years.” As such Microsoft have promised to support legacy web apps via it’s Internet Explorer mode until at least 2029, which gives web developers 8 full years to modernise their legacy apps and eventually remove the need for IE mode.

Legacy Support and Help is available

Users shifting from Internet Explorer to Edge can easily transition their passwords, favourite websites, and other browsing data from to Edge.

Microsoft recommends that any organisation that still has concerns or needs to support Internet Explorer (and therefore need legacy support) do the following.

Like what you read? Feel free to subscribe

Posted on

New Edge browser extension for Outlook aims to keep you informed while browsing.

The Outlook extension is in beta (due to be released in July) but is available to download now from the Microsoft Edge add-ons store.

New Outlook Edge add in

What does it do?

The Outlook Edge browser extension enables users to read, send, and manage emails and even receive outlook notifications without the need to open a new tab or flip to the app.

The extension is designed to keep users productive while browsing allowing them to:

  • Reading an important email
  • Checking your calendar
  • Adding a task based on what you’re reading on the web
  • Fast look up of a contact’s phone number
  • Referring to info on a webpage while writing an email.

How to get it and set it up

The Outlook extension is in beta but is available to download on the Microsoft Edge add-ons store. You can get it here.

Once downloaded and enabled, an Outlook icon will be added to the Edge address bar. Users will need to sign in with their work or personal account to see their emails, calendar, contacts, and tasks, and more in a pop-up menu while browsing the web.

To use the extension, you of course need to login within your Microsoft or a Microsoft 365 account

Posted on

What is “Chromium” Edge? Microsoft’s new modern browser built on Chrome

After what is almost a year-long journey of testing and feedback from the #edgeinsider community, Microsoft’s new Chromium Edge browser has taken off its’ beta badge and you can now download and use the final release version which is available from today!

MICROSOFT Edge

How do I get it?

  1. Browse to Microsoft’s Website from your current browser
  2. Click the blue Download for Windows 10 button and download the new Edge web browser as a .exe file
  3. Run the installer and let it install the new Chromium powered Edge… It will take few minutes to install.
  4. Once done, set up the browser to your liking and take it for a test spin..
  5. Remove your old Google Chrome!! Once your concinved of course!

If you’ve been using the old version of Edge, you will hopefully notice that it has been removed from your Windows 10 PC. New Edge replaces and “hides” the old Edge but you can still get to it should you wish too… You won’t want to!

What is new with Chromium Edge?

Errm.. EVERYTHING.

There is so much new in this version of Edge and its a total rewrite built based on the open platform that is Chromium of which Microsoft and Google are of course major contributors…. (feel like I should queue the “everything is awesome” music from Lego Movie!

What is immediately noticeable (in my view) is the speed and performance increase over old Edge and infact Google Chrome.. Support for a huge number of extensions also sets this apart…

Since Edge is jot standalone, it’s updated regularly… At least every 6 weeks. There are also beta, dev and canary builds you can try which update more frequently if you want to try and feedback on new things as part of the #edgeinsider community. I’ve been running the canary build for about a year since it was first announced..

In a way, I do wish they had changed the name as I don’t think Edge has a good rep as a name and people will immediately think its rubbish…

Fact… It isn’t.. It is really great IMO anyway!

Love to hear your feedback as would #edgeinsider if you are twitter.

Proudly powered by WordPress