Microsoft is launching a new version of their web browser Edge, it isn’t going to change much at all, but just in case you notice some things changing here is what’s happening.
Windows 10 computers come with a built in web browser program for surfing the internet called Edge. Edge was the replacement for Internet Explorer, which was the web browser older versions of Windows came with. But even though Edge has only been around for a few years, Microsoft really can’t stop tinkering with things, and in January 2020 they released a new web browser. But instead of giving it a new name, they’re still calling it Edge, just to confuse you.
(If you’re interested in the technical gubbins, it uses something called Chromium to work, which is the same technology as Google’s web browser Chrome uses. Chrome is a very popular web browser, so Microsoft have launched this new version to try to get more people to use Edge). Mike says: ” I’m still sad it’s not called Edgium, but that is very geeky =) “
How is the new Edge different from the old Edge?
To be honest, how it looks and works is almost identical. It’s got the same back and forward buttons, the same address bar, and you get to websites in exactly the same way as you did on the older version. Here’s a picture of our website using the new Edge and using the old Edge.
(Click the image to see it full size then press the back button to come back to this page)
The biggest difference is that they’ve changed the icon for it, which is now a sort of blue swirl instead of the letter “e”. Although I think it still is supposed to look like the letter “e”.
And you’ll also notice that the default Home page has changed. The new one is much less cluttered, but it’s still got a search box to search for things on the internet, just like the old one. (If you’ve changed the Home page of Edge on your computer to a different website, like BBC news, or a weather website, it’ll stay like that in the new version.)
(Click the image to see it full size then press the back button to come back to this page)
How do I get the new Edge?
The old version of Edge on your computer will automatically be replaced with the new version as part of the automatic Windows Updates, so you don’t need to do anything. It might not happen straight away though – Microsoft are staggering the changeover over a couple of months, so don’t worry if you don’t have the new one yet. And if you’ve got things like bookmarks saved in the old Edge, you won’t lose any of them – they’ll still be there in the new one.
If you do want it before most people, drop us a note and we’ll tell you how to get it sooner!
Do I have to use the new Edge?
You can’t opt-out of getting the new version of Edge – it will automatically change at some point. But as I said before, it’s almost identical to the old one, so you really don’t need to worry. All you need to remember is that the icon has changed.
What if I use Chrome?
If you use Chrome to surf the internet instead of Edge, you can just carry on using that. The new Edge will be installed on your computer automatically, but you don’t have to use it.
If you have any questions drop us a note.
Many thanks
The Inner Circle team
May 15, 2020 at 4:56 pm
I rarely, if ever, use Edge – whether old or new. I was advised when first starting up my small on line business ten years ago, that Chrome was the go-to option for all that they did on line. Internet Explore was definitely not! Haven’t changed – life is complicated enough without doing so!
April 18, 2020 at 10:28 am
Hi,
Is it possible to add a password to my USB stick to give it protection if I lose it or its stolen.
April 20, 2020 at 11:56 am
Hi Patrick,
IMPORTANT: Before you encrypt anything test it with something unimportant, make sure you have backups (multiple copies) of the password/decryption key and that you can recover any files you put in there. Encrypting files is brilliant to keep your data secure, but if you don’t have the ability to recover the files then they are lost.
ALSO: I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you have practised and understand the risks.
Goood question! Generally, the answer is no, however, some USB sticks come with a built-in program to encrypt data on the drive so if it’s stolen it can’t be opened without the password.
The company SanDisk who make USB drives offer a piece of software called “SecureAccess” but it only works on Sandisk USB drives. https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2399/~/sandisk-secureaccess-3.02-support-information-and-download-page
If you don’t have a SanDisk USB stick there is a built-in feature in Windows called BitLocker, which you can read about here https://tech.wayne.edu/kb/security/computer-device-security/261865
STOP! Remember once something is encrypted it can’t be opened unless you know the password.
Sorry about the multiple warnings, I’m usually all in favour of encrypting everything and at work I do, but I have a process and backups and a process to recover files and I test it often to make sure it still works.
Sorry
Mike
March 15, 2020 at 3:39 pm
The new Edge has recently updated itself on my reconditioned Toshiba lap top. It was running fine both before and after the update but now an annoying notice appears in the middle of the screen and takes its time to disappear. It says Local Bridge exe Bad Image then there is a string of letters then “is either not designed to run on windows or contains an error Error status Oxc oooo 12 f Try installing the prog again or contact your system administrator or software vendor for support” As I haven’t a clue what any of that means, could you please tell me why it appears and what I can do with it. Thanks Brenda
March 16, 2020 at 10:52 am
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for getting in touch.
The string of letters that appears after Bad Image, could you please note it down and let me know what they are please?
I think it may have something to do with a program that’s installed on your laptop and we can try uninstalling it and reinstalling it and hopefully that should fix it.
Thanks
Jess