The most awaited new features with more new tab page customization options have been brought by Microsoft to Edge dev with version 79.0.287.2 and is available via update and for manual download from Microsoft Edge insider homepage.
Chromium-based Edge in dev version has got the most requested media autoplay blocking and brings a more customizable New Tab Page. Do note, these features already available in Edge Canary, we’ve covered them before here.
Tracking Prevention improvements:
Much improved Tracking Prevention page at the edge://settings/privacy, now lists trackers it has blocked so far at the edge://settings/privacy/blocked trackers (Firefox in development versions, also provides blocked trackers stats at protection report page) and you can able to see them and clear their data.
In case you don’t know, Tracking Prevention with Balanced mode, blocks harmful trackers and ensures sites works without issues, this is the recommended setting Edge sets to protect users from being tracked online without breaking the websites.
Media Autoplay Blocking
Media Autoplay blocking is finally available in Edge Dev at Site permissions page with Allow, Limit and Block options.
Visit the “edge://settings/content/mediaAutoplay” page or click on the ellipsis menu > Settings > Site permissions > Media Autoplay, click the down arrow and select “Block”.
By doing so Edge prevents sites from autoplaying the video with Sound, Firefox also provides this control in Settings for Autoplay Media.
The New Tab Page is more customizable now
The New Tab Page has gained dark theme support and Microsoft Edge Chromium now allows us to see previous images featured on Bing homepage by scrolling back, this is a good addition. Google Chrome also lets you auto change new tab Page wallpaper daily.
Finally, annoying news feed shown by Microsoft on NTP can be disabled with a new “Content off” option provided for custom option in New Tab Page Settings. The step by step instructions on how that can be done is available here.
Checkout other new features this Edge features below.
1. Re-added a prompt to enable Windows location Settings if site requests location permissions but os-level location settings are
disabled
2. Offers changing font option in Reading View.
3. Using Collections to organize gathered pages or images, Collections items now supports middle-click,
4. Added a tooltip to long collection titles.
5. Added an error messaging for when another program is preventing Edge from installing the update
6. Added a policy to control the Renderer code integrity feature
You can check out this version changelog with improvements, issues fixed here.
