Microsoft introduced the Edge browser with Windows 10 aimed to replace the much-hated Internet Explorer. It is the default web browser for Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile and Xbox devices. Microsoft had a lot of work to do to make people believe that Edge is a much better option when compared to Internet Explorer. Edge has a lot of features that are even better than what Chrome has. It has been almost 3 years since Edge was launched but it still doesn’t have a worthy market share.
One of the problems with Edge browser is that it is not a separate app in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft apps like Outlook Mail, Onedrive are available in the Microsoft Store. This gives Microsoft the ability to update these apps frequently. But that is not the case with Edge browser. Google has made Chrome available in the Google Play Store which gives them the ability to update Chrome frequently bringing new features much faster. Microsoft can only provide new features to Edge in a feature update to Windows 10 which happens only twice in a year.
Microsoft always tests new features on Edge to make it more appealing to the users. A small feature they are now testing is the ability to hide Edge UI buttons. The new feature will allow users to hide some parts of the UI next to the address bar in Edge. The Share and Windows Ink buttons can be moved from its place next to the address bar. This can be done by right-clicking on the button and deselecting “show next to address bar” option. The buttons will then move into the overflow menu.
This is an A/B test and only a few people will get this option to test it out. A/B testing is a type of controlled experiment where two versions of a particular entity are given to two sets of people and they are given the option to test the one which they got. Based on the feedback received, the best version is selected.
Brad Sams, who is the Executive Editor at Petri.com and Thurrott.com posted on Twitter about this test.
Didnt know this was an A/B test but soon (hopefully) everyone will be able to hide these buttons.
Can't hide the star button though. pic.twitter.com/rwP28OPHXf
— Brad Sams (@bdsams) April 5, 2018
This is a much welcome feature to those people who like to have a clean user interface. So there is a high probability of seeing this feature coming to Edge in the near future.