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Key aspects from Microsoft Edge: Making the web better through more open source collaboration - Windows Experience BlogWindows Experience Blog:

    We will move to a Chromium-compatible web platform for Microsoft Edge on the desktop. Our intent is to align the Microsoft Edge web platform simultaneously (a) with web standards and (b) with other Chromium-based browsers. This will deliver improved compatibility for everyone and create a simpler test-matrix for web developers.
    Microsoft Edge will now be delivered and updated for all supported versions of Windows and on a more frequent cadence. We also expect this work to enable us to bring Microsoft Edge to other platforms like macOS.

    Improving the web-platform experience for both end users and developers requires that the web platform and the browser be consistently available to as many devices as possible. To accomplish this, we will evolve the browser code more broadly, so that our distribution model offers an updated Microsoft Edge experience + platform across all supported versions of Windows, while still maintaining the benefits of the browser’s close integration with Windows.
    We will contribute web platform enhancements to make Chromium-based browsers better on Windows devices. Our philosophy of greater participation in Chromium open source will embrace contribution of beneficial new tech, consistent with some of the work we described above. We recognize that making the web better on Windows is good for our customers, partners and our business – and we intend to actively contribute to that end.

Also see Microsoft is Rebuilding Edge Browser using Chromium for Windows & macOS.

Maybe this bit of news is not so stunning to people who have been keeping up with the latest in browser developments (I fell out of the habit quite a few years back).  But for someone who remembers the various versions of the browser wars  ---  1.  Netscape vs. Internet Explorer; 2.  Internet Explorer vs. Firefox (and other Gecko based browsers) vs. original Opera; 3.  Internet Explorer vs. Firefox vs. original Opera vs. Chrome; 4.  Internet Explorer vs. Gecko-based browsers vs. Chromium-based browsers vs. Edge  ---  this new Microsoft strategy almost "feels" like something of a surrender to the "Google empire."  Granted, I am over-dramatizing the situation, and yes I understand the Chromium is not exactly "Google", and yes I do understand the possible benefits involved for virtually "everyone."  The situation just feels like a narrowing options and a loss of a certain kind of independence.

I personally have not been terribly found of most of the Chromium browsers, mostly because on my older computers they tend to be resource hogs.  In terms of how they work they do seem to be relatively fast and effective.  (I have and use several Chromium-based browsers:  new Opera, SRWare Iron, and Epic.)  So I have no problem with their performance.  I suppose that I am a creature of habit and that I have stuck with the look and operations of the old Netscape branch:  early Firefox and SeaMonkey (my default browser at the moment), and therefore the minimalist approach has not appealed to me.

But change happens!!, and if somehow this new Microsoft strategy makes the internet more effective, efficient, and secure for everyone then who am I to complain?  Who doesn't want better web site standards and compatibility?

Oh well.  I was more 'heartbroken' when the original Opera (my old long-time default browser) gave up the ghost and moved to Chromium.  So having gotten over that (the original Opera {12.17} does not perform too well on the newer and more up-to-date web sites) I suppose that this will be just another minor bump in the road of my internet "experience."

The next big bump for me will occur when SeaMonkey finally breaks and becomes no longer usable.  But hopefully that will not be for another couple of years or so!

Sigh!!!

v_v