IT LOOKS AS if Microsoft’s Edge web browser could gain support for
extensions in the very near future. Twitter user Walking Cat spotted –
and grabbed – images of a Microsoft page detailing extensions available
for Edge before the company took it down
According to the leaked web page, Edge extensions will be available
in a new build of the Windows 10 Technical Preview, allowing users on
the Windows Insider Program to get an early glimpse of how they work
before they’re rolled out to the general public in a future update.
It seems that Edge extensions will be almost identical to those for
Google Chrome, as only a few changes to the code are needed to make
Chrome extensions run on Edge. A link to download API documentation
was also included on the page, suggesting that users will be able to
write their own extensions, too.
The page mentioned some of the heavyweights of the extension
world, including Pinterest’s Pin It Button and Reddit’s Enhancement
Suite. To access these, it looks as if users will click Edge’s More Actions
button in the top-right corner to reveal the extensions as a row of icons
above the main menu options.
Of course, not everyone will want to pile a dozen extensions on their
copy of Edge, as they can sometimes make the browser slower and
cause security problems. However, it’s a step in the right direction for
Edge and, depending on the support it attracts from developers, may
help bring it into line with Google’s Chrome browser.
It should also help tempt users away from Internet Explorer, old
versions of which will stop receiving security updates and support this
month, according to Microsoft. “Beginning January 12, 2016, only the
most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported
operating system will receive technical supports [sic] and security
updates,” Microsoft said on its website. “Internet Explorer 11 is the last
version of Internet Explorer, and will continue to receive security
updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support on Windows 7,
Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.
“After January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer provide security
updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer.
Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by
malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security
updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading
and staying current is important,” the company warned
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