Sure, there’s a new iPhone rumored to be hitting the market soon. And Windows 10 is making noise in the PC world. But flying just under the radar is the decision by Microsoft to replace the ubiquitous Internet Explorer (IE) browser with it’s new product called Microsoft Edge, which comes with the Windows 10 download.

While many consumers abandoned IE long ago to competitors like Chrome and Firefox, the browser still maintains a sizable market share. Edge is much more current, sporting many features that Chrome and Firefox users have come to expect.

Perhaps the biggest impact Edge will have, however, is its value to designers. Here are a few:

  1. Web Notes — Edge has incorporated the value of touch screen technology to allow users to write directly on a screenshot of a web page. Designers can now make comments or add edits to a page in development by just using a finger. Greater efficiency will theoretically speed up development time.
  2. Mobile Focus — Edge was designed to capitalize on the growing mobile market. Designers creating new sites will have to seriously consider the impact of users who access those sites using Edge, which is the default browser on all Windows phones.
  3. Flexible Code — In the past designers created sites specifically for the strengths of Chrome and Firefox, while limiting the impact from Internet Explorer. Edge is considered a Webkit of Chrome browser, which basically means it should work for most URLs and their inclusion of responsive design principles.

Many designers are still going to need convincing that Edge isn’t just a rebranded version of IE, but early indications are that Microsoft has made a bold effort to re-establish relevance with this browser. Only time will tell.

Contact us today to learn more about how design choices — and the browser you use — can affect the success of your website.