Microsoft recently released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15002 to insiders in the Fast Ring. Windows 10 Build 15002 is the first build of 2017 and it brings loads of improvements alongside some new features as well.
Microsoft’s own Edge browser also made it to the list that received some pretty handful feature additions, as well as the new web platform features that will ship with the Windows 10 Creators Update in spring this year.
New Microsoft Edge features
- Tab preview bar: It’s easy to lose track of what’s in your tabs, especially when you have many tabs from the same site, with similar titles and icons. Tab preview bar allows you to easily glance at a visual preview of every tab you have open without leaving your page. You can scroll through the list with touch, mouse wheel, or a touchpad. Just click the chevron icon next to your tabs to get started.
- Set tabs aside: We often hear that it’s a headache to keep all your tabs organized, and pick up where you left off. Sometimes you just need to set everything aside and start from a clean slate. We’ve added two new buttons next to your tabs in Microsoft Edge to help you quickly manage all your tabs without losing your flow.
- Jump List: You can now launch a new window or new InPrivate window for Microsoft Edge straight from its Taskbar icon. Simply right-click or swipe up on the Microsoft Edge icon in the Taskbar, and pick the task you want!
- Component UI: This release introduces a new UWP architecture for Microsoft Edge’s multi-process model, including a new visual tree and new input model. These changes will help improve stability and input responsiveness and make the browser UI more resilient to slow or hung web page content. Be on the lookout for any issues with tab launches and activation or input (including keyboard, mouse, or touch) and share feedback in the Feedback Hub if you have problems!
- Flash Click-to-Run: Microsoft Edge will now block untrusted Flash content is now blocked by default until the user explicitly chooses to play it. This means better security, stability, and performance for you, while preserving the option to run Flash when you choose. You can learn more about this change on the Microsoft Edge Dev Blog: Extending User Control of Adobe Flash with Click-to-Run. We will be evolving this experience in upcoming flights to make the option to run Flash content more contextually obvious.
- Web Payments: Microsoft Edge now has preview support for the new Payment Request API, which allows sites to make checkout easier using the payment and shipping preferences stored in your Microsoft Wallet. This is currently in a preview state for developers and will not process payment information until a future flight. You can learn more about Payment Request on the Microsoft Edge Dev Blog.
New web platform features
- Untrusted Flash content is now blocked by default. Customers will be prompted to allow Flash content to play on page load.
- Enabled TCP Fast Open by default (previously behind a flag).
- Added support for Content Security Policy 2.0 (on by default).
- Added support for WebVR APIs (on by default). Note that this feature requires Windows Holographic hardware which is not yet available.
- Limited setTimeout() and setInterval() callbacks to once per second for cross-origin iframes when not in view, to improve energy consumption.
- Disabled requestAnimationFrame() callbacks for cross-origin iframes when not in view, to improve energy consumption.
- Enabled independent rendering of HTML5 video elements by default (previously behind a flag)
- Enabled Media over Fetch and XHR over Fetch by default (previously behind a flag)
