We all know by now that Windows 10 will ship with a new default browser that Microsoft calls Edge.
While it won't be the only browser the system will have, as Internet Explorer will still be available, it looks like it will be at the heart of Windows 10.
If we compare what Microsoft Edge offers versus Internet Explorer, we will notice that Edge has removed several features. This is not necessarily a bad thing, of course.
Microsoft today revealed what features Edge will not support that Internet Explorer used to support.
- ActiveX
- Browser Helper Objects (BHO)
- Document modes
- Vector Markup Language (VML)
- VBScript
- attachEvent/removeEvent
- currentStyle
- conditional comments
- IE8 layout quirks
- DirectX Filters and transitions
The company's publication explains why these features are no longer needed.
For example, Microsoft says that the use of HMTL5 has reduced the need for ActiveX controls in the browser and that Edge will support both Flash and a native PDF reader.
Many of these features are used by attackers to attack the browser and the existing system, and removing them will significantly improve the situation.
Microsoft notes that there are other features that Edge, and will be replaced with a unified extension model.
These include download managers, MIME filters, Explorer Bars, Accelerators, Webslices or custom print and preview managers.
The company also notes that “hundreds of other non-interoperable APIs” have been removed from Edge.
Removing all classic Internet Explorer features and replacing them with modern features and new technologies used by all new browsers should significantly improve the security and compatibility of Microsoft's Edge browser.
Let's see..
