Windows 10 Edge gets autoplay block but users also want to hide Bing bar

Microsoft is taking feedback from users about what new features to include in its under-development Chromium-based Edge browser. The company has now outlined what's coming up in the next few months and what users want. 

Microsoft has already added obvious features like a dark mode, privacy settings and Azure Active Directory syncing to its new browser.

SEE: Six in-demand programming languages: Getting started (free PDF)

It's also outlined a dozen new features in the pipeline, which are most likely to arrive in the Canary channel through September and October updates. 

Before getting to the changes, one thing that's not changing is the Bing bar at the top of the new tab page. Microsoft made its search engine an integral part of the new Edge and it's meant to be a "one-stop shop" for searching the web and corporate networks. 

However, among the top items listed as user requests for the new tab page is the ability to hide the Bing search bar, turn off the Microsoft-powered news feed, and change the search provider.     

Microsoft Edge developers say they are reviewing the requests, but it would seem unlikely Microsoft would be interested in letting users make the Bing bar vanish or in allowing them to switch to Google Search.  

Users are also asking for Microsoft Edge to support themes from the Chrome Web Store. The browser does support installing extensions from Google's store. And users want to be able to sign in to Edge with a Google account rather than just one from Microsoft. 

There are also requests that seem more likely to make the cut in future builds, such as bringing features from the current version of Microsoft Edge including 'Ask Cortana', tab preview, and the reading list. 

The Canary channel in September will include a new option to stop auto-playing video and audio on websites, improvements to the scrolling experience, and a new favorites button on the toolbar. The auto-play blocker will bring Edge in line with Firefox and Chrome.

In the October Canary channel, Microsoft Edge will support inking on PDFs. Also, signed-in users' avatars will be kept up to date. And users will be able to set their own photos as the background image on the new tab page. 

Additionally, Microsoft will enable search for extensions in its extension store, 'clickonce' deployment of Windows apps from web pages, and a bug fix for administrator mode.

More on browsers

• Google Chrome killing your device's battery life? This Microsoft fix will help
• Microsoft rolls out previews of Chromium-based Edge for Windows 7, 8, & 8.1
• Chrome extension caught hijacking users' search engine results
• Firefox zero-day was used in attack against Coinbase employees, not its users
• Mozilla fixes second Firefox zero-day exploited in the wild
• Firefox to get a random password generator, like Chrome
• Microsoft Edge Reddit AMA: Edge might come to Linux
• How to use the Tor browser on an Android device TechRepublic
• Brave's privacy-first browser ads arrive with promised payout for you CNET