[Trainer-Talk] Fwd: New Chromium-based Microsoft Edge released

[Reginald George]

Spoiler alert, it is accessible.
Right on schedule, one year after Microsoft announced they were going to switch to Chromium for their next version of Edge, it is now available to the general public running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and recent versions of Mac OS.

You can download the new browser from http://www.microsoft.com/edge and once you install it, any Windows 10 icon for Microsoft Edge (desktop, taskbar, start menu and/or live tile) will take you to the new Edge. According to tech blogs, Microsoft is going to push this version to all Windows 10 users through Windows Update at some point but for now, anyone can download it from the link above.

 

Accessibility

My initial test with Fusion proved positive. The first time you run the new Edge, if you are running a screen reader, you will be presented with a link to learn about the new accessibility features in the new Edge browser. Webpage navigation with JAWS is about as snappy as it is with Google Chrome. I also tested Supernova, which immediately cried foul when the original Edge browser was loaded. Supernova no longer directs you to use Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, probably because it detects the Chromium resources and treats the browser as if it was another fork of Chrome. Reading the web with Supernova actually works on the new Edge browser.

 

 

Roberto Cordero

Assistive Technology Specialist

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

e-mail: Roberto.Cordero at dsb.wa.gov

office: (206) 906-5552

mobile: (206) 550-4356