14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new build of its Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser in the Dev channels, bringing the app to version 77.0.211.2 on Windows and Mac.
There are several new features in this build, and the most notable is read aloud for PDFs. The original Windows 10 version, which comes pre-installed in the operating system, was specifically focused on offering an advanced PDF reading experience, and it looks like Microsoft is aiming for a similar approach in this new browser too.
This update also enables Windows Defender Application Guard by default, so you’ll be protected when browsing the web, but also comes with secure receipt of payment card data.
Furthermore, Microsoft says it also enabled Application Reputation from the SmartScreen feature for all users, and it added a family safety feature flag within the app.
More improvements under the hood
There are obviously plenty of other fixes and refinements, and you can check out the full change log in the box after the job.
Worth highlighting are fixes for the dark theme, which is now displayed correctly on more pages and various controls, but also for macOS, as Microsoft says that the TouchBar should now work as expected in YouTube fullscreen mode.
Needless to say, this release also resolves a series of crashes, so you should expect Microsoft Edge to run smoother overall.
Microsoft Edge Dev is the most stable build of the browser so far, and updates here land every week. Most improvements are first tested by the software giant as part of the Canary version (which receives updates every week).
More stable builds, including beta and the final version, are expected later this year, albeit for now Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on everything related to this release. Microsoft Edge will be available on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, and possibly on Linux.