Microsoft apparently has a big plan to revamp Edge, and one of the possible next steps in the evolution of the web browser has just been flagged.
As Windows Latest explains, the software giant has a project codenamed ‘Phoenix’ that aims to overhaul Edge and make it look more modern, but not in one big update, but in a series of drip moves.
And one of the incoming changes could be the browser’s ability to transform its color palette to match Windows 11 settings, the tech site theorizes.
This is based on a couple of indicators that Windows Latest noticed in a test build of Edge from the Canary channel (early preview builds).
The flags are ‘msEdgePhoenixColorPaletteGenerator’ and ‘msUseSnappingPointsForPhoenixPaletteGeneration’, so we have a clear reference to the Phoenix project here.
What these flags are likely referring to is Edge’s ability to run ‘color palette generator’ code that could detect Windows 11 accent colors or theme and change the browser to match that. In other words, Edge would dynamically change to complement the Windows 11 environment in this regard.
Analysis: what happens in tests, sometimes stays in tests
This is educated guessing on the part of Windows Latest, but it makes sense to me. Please note that not only is this an initial test, but the functionality is not even enabled in the preview yet and is only present in these hidden flags in the background. Nothing may come of this in the end, but we can keep an eye out for more clues.
Apparently, Mica will also be coming to Edge’s title bar, which is an opaque effect that means the bar is slightly tinted by the color of the desktop behind it.
While this is all commendable, if it happens, will it be enough to boost Edge in terms of browser share? I’m looking for bigger moves than this, and I hope you do too, although it certainly won’t hurt Microsoft’s browser’s chances.
To be fair to the software giant, there have been some nifty things built in in the past as part of Project Phoenix, like Edge’s split-screen feature that lets you browse two websites simultaneously, side by side in the window. of the browser. That’s a smart touch.
Another point to note here, although more minor, is another flag that Windows Latest recently detected in testing, namely ‘msVisualRejuvTooltips’, which likely represents a revamp of Edge’s tooltips. While this has since been removed, it’s still something Microsoft could return to at some point down the road.
Additionally, Leopeva64, source of many Edge on X rumors and leaks, recently pointed out that the ‘Auto Picture in Picture’ feature in Microsoft’s browser is being removed from testing (see post below).
Edge’s “Auto PiP” feature still works in Beta and Stable (no longer works in Dev and Canary), if you want to try it before it stops working, here is the CLF to enable it: –enable-features=msEdgeAutoPictureInPicture, msEdgeAutoPictureInPictureTrigger pic.twitter.com/UDu8LUPY7dJanuary 12, 2025
All of which illustrates exactly why test changes need to be carefully considered: not all of them make it to publication by any means.
Whatever happens, it’s clear that Microsoft hopes to substantially improve Edge with Project Phoenix, but I expect to see some bigger pieces of that puzzle on display this year.
