Re:The new Microsoft Edge is out of preview
by BrendanEich on Thursday January 16, 2020 @11:07AM
(#22065803)
Microsoft was slowly losing browser share with their own engine, felt they needed more web compatibility (including de facto via the WebKit lineage) and extensions sooner. They were not going to play a long game, even if they could afford it. Mozilla may have looked wobbly to them, too.
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Re:The new Microsoft Edge is out of preview
by igravious on Tuesday January 21, 2020 @10:29AM
(#22107744)
Didn't see your reply before this, sorry.
I hear what you're saying – but! – a tech giant has to play the long game. The Web is an open (for now) platform and Microsoft, like Apple, like Google, need to have their own web client/server implementation. Makes no sense to be beholden to Google imho.
I'm stunned at how little desktop browser share Edge has (4.6%): https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/desktop/worl... – however, changing browser engine is not going to change that, is it? I suppose, if Google and Microsoft end up equally and democratically sharing Chromium development then all's well.
Given the recent layoffs at Mozilla it's a pity (in hindsight – for the benefit of the open web) Microsoft didn't back them :(
Anyhow, thanks for the response.