Microsoft Edge Takes a Victory Lap With Some High-Looking Usage Stats For 2024 (theregister.com) 18
An anonymous reader shares a report: Microsoft has published a year in review for its Edge browser and talked up AI-powered chats while lightly skipping over the software's stagnating market share. The company had some big numbers to share. There had been over 10 billion AI-powered chats with Copilot from inside the Edge browser window (although it did not disclose how many chats were customers asking how to install Chrome). Some 38 trillion characters had been auto-translated. Seven trillion megabytes of PC memory had been saved through the use of sleeping tabs.
However, are those numbers actually as big as they seem? What Microsoft did not say is how little Edge has moved the needle on market share in 2024. Strangely, the company did not share raw usage information. Yet, a look at Statcounter's figures for browser desktop market share showed Edge with 11.9 percent of the market in December 2023 and reaching 12.87 percent by November 2024 -- an increase of less than 1 percent. The market leader, Google's Chrome browser, went from 65.23 percent to 66.33 percent in the same period. That's only slightly more than 1 percent, but it still maintains its dominance.
However, are those numbers actually as big as they seem? What Microsoft did not say is how little Edge has moved the needle on market share in 2024. Strangely, the company did not share raw usage information. Yet, a look at Statcounter's figures for browser desktop market share showed Edge with 11.9 percent of the market in December 2023 and reaching 12.87 percent by November 2024 -- an increase of less than 1 percent. The market leader, Google's Chrome browser, went from 65.23 percent to 66.33 percent in the same period. That's only slightly more than 1 percent, but it still maintains its dominance.
Installing Chrome is redundant (Score:2)
Chrome and Edge is the same thing with different skin.
If only Microsoft could skip all bloat and all questions coming up at every major update Edge would be more popular. Nobody wants msn or a plethora of other distractions.
Chrome isn't without problems either and it runs a lot of stuff in the background that nobody except a select few knows anything about. It becomes obvious if you have a strict firewall.
Re: (Score:3)
Not really. Chrome and Edge are different. Same engine, different support.
Edge still supports Manifest V2, for example, so things like UBlock Origin and such work just fine.
Also, I've found Ublock Origin on Edge works quite a bit better than on Firefox, which means YouTube ads are nowhere to be seen. About the only reason I really use it.
Re:Installing Chrome is redundant (Score:4, Informative)
...I've found Ublock Origin on Edge works quite a bit better than on Firefox....
Care to elaborate? I use uBlock Origin on Firefox, and I haven't seen ads in years.
Re: (Score:2)
But modern Chromium web browsers killed the old extensions. Have to use UO's Lite ext. However, it's not good as the original. :(
Re: (Score:3)
Huh? I've been using uBlock on Firefox for years now and not a single ad anywhere on the net, that includes YouTube.
Re: Installing Chrome is redundant (Score:2)
So no reason to install Chrome.
Re: (Score:1)
Asian kids are soooo damned cute. It found out the hard way it's not PC to say that, but being cute is a good, isn't it? At least there are far worse looks than "cute".
Sue me, they're cute! (Or is it Su Mi?)
I''ll install Chrome (Score:2)
Which makes it more difficult to have a free choice? Microsoft, because they will not let you switch out Edge where it is "integrated" with the OS.
So, I'll install chrome and use it, until M$ really gives us a choice.
Re: (Score:2)
How is that a "3rd option"?
A valid third option would be to install and use Firefox.
Re: (Score:2)
The OP seemed to focus on MS vs Google; I do use Brave quite a bit if we are looking at the census of browsers rather than just comparing Edge and Chrome.
Re: (Score:2)
A valid option that wasn't mentioned is to use chromium variants stripped from privacy-invading code and services, such as ungoogled-chromium, cromite (both community-maintained on github), and Brave.
I personally use Firefox, as I don't mind if Mozilla compromises a bit my privacy so they can make a few pennies and stay alive; but those who want better privacy with a Gecko-based browser should have a look at Librewolf.
When forced (Score:4, Insightful)
When Edge is forced to display, despite setting another browser as default, of course numbers are going to increase. Microsoft is artificially (i.e. being sneaky) inflating the numbers, nothing new to see here .. move along .. move along.
Re: (Score:2)
This. Windows will randomly reset your defaults to Edge. Office opens links in edge regardless of browser unless you disable that.
Likely marketing spin (Score:1)
I kicked the tires of Copilot, but beyond the amusement of trolling a bot, it didn't provide practical help in most cases. It probably will get better over time, but is too green still. (When it finally gets good, they'll charge, U watch.)
Regardless, counting tire-kickers as "users" is a stretch.
(Making focked up images of the The Tinted One is still may fav use of AI, but MS blocks most of those.)
When they excitedly applaud themselves ... (Score:2)
... you know it is because nobody else applauds them. Edge is still a lemon. In fact, pretty much everything Microsoft makes is. It is just that Edge is easier to replace.
Yeah, right (Score:2)