Microsoft contends Edge is doing just fine, thank you; third-party data confirms that its uptake has been faster than Google's Chrome when the first seven months are compared Microsoft yesterday claimed that its newest browser, Edge, had increased its usage faster than did Google’s Chrome after its 2008 launch. “[Edge is] ahead right now of even the start of Google Chrome, a very successful browser, has gotten off to,” said Charles Morris, a program manager on the Edge team, during a Wednesday session at Build, Microsoft’s annual developer conference. Morris used that to illustrate Microsoft’s belief that Edge has been doing fine in attracting users, a counter to some of the commentary about the browser’s uptake. Computerworld, for example, has characterized Edge adoption as surprisingly weak, considering that it is the default browser in Windows 10 and Microsoft’s aggressive efforts to make sure customers ran it, including dropping support of many older versions of Internet Explorer (IE) and changing users’ browser preference when they upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1. But Morris was correct when he said Edge has been adopted at a faster pace than Google’s Chrome after the latter’s September 2008 debut. According to U.S.-based analytics company Net Applications, Chrome had climbed to a user share of 1.8% of all personal computers by the end of its seventh month. Meanwhile, Net Applications pegged Edge’s seven-month user share at 3.9%. Another metrics source, Ireland’s StatCounter — what Morris cited yesterday — portrayed a similar difference. Chrome’s usage share, a different measurement than Net Applications’, was 1.7% by the end of March 2009. (Chrome shipped in beta form on Sept. 2, 2008; Morris and Microsoft obviously counted September as the first full month of release.) Edge’s usage share for February 2016, its seventh month, was 2%. Morris selected Chrome as the comparison because it was the most recently released major browser prior to Edge’s launch on July 29, 2015. What Morris did not reveal was what proportion of Windows 10 users run Edge, an important assessment of the browser’s success, both because Edge is available only on 10 and it is the default in the new OS. According to Computerworld‘s latest analysis, Edge is the preferred browser of between 13% (from StatCounter) and 31% (Net Applications) of all Windows 10 users. Those numbers are significantly below IE’s penetration among Windows users overall. By Net Applications’ data, IE is the browser of choice of approximately 41% of those who ran Windows in February. Related content news analysis Apple earnings: About that iPhone 'slump' in China Based on information from Thursday's earnings report, it seems that data pointing to an iPhone slump in China were over-baked. By Jonny Evans May 03, 2024 9 mins iMac iPhone Apple news Microsoft begins to phase out ‘classic’ Teams Microsoft is encouraging Teams customers to move to the new, faster version of the collaboration app; the older version will be switched off next year. By Matthew Finnegan May 03, 2024 3 mins Microsoft Teams Collaboration Software Productivity Software news analysis Apple confirms it will open up the iPad in Europe this fall The latest efforts to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act mean developers can offer to side load apps to both iPhones and iPads in the EU. Apple has also taken steps to improve what it offers to smaller and non-commercial developers in the By Jonny Evans May 02, 2024 6 mins iPad Apple Mobile Apps news Udacity offers laid-off US workers free access to its courses for 30 days Sign-ups will be available over the next 30 days By Lucas Mearian May 02, 2024 4 mins Technology Industry IT Jobs IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe