Microsoft to change how Windows 10's Edge browser handles Flash content
Microsoft's Windows 10 Anniversary update -- the upcoming update to Windows 10 also known as Redstone 1 -- will include some Edge browser changes beyond the addition of Extensions.
One of the biggest and potentially quite welcome changes will be how Edge handles Flash content.
In an April 7 blog post, the Edge team explained that users will get more control over Flash content with the summer update to Edge.
From that post:
"With the Anniversary Update to Windows 10, Microsoft Edge will intelligently auto-pause content that is not central to the web page. Peripheral content like animations or advertisements built with Flash will be displayed in a paused state unless the user explicitly clicks to play that content. This significantly reduces power consumption and improves performance while preserving the full fidelity of the page. Flash content that is central to the page, like video and games, will not be paused."
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Microsoft's ultimate goal remains to get developers and users to transition away from Flash, towards newer open Web standards like RTC, Web Audio, and Canvas, officials repeated today. Over time, Microsoft plans to add further user controls for Flash.
"We are planning for and look forward to a future where Flash is no longer necessary as a default experience in Microsoft Edge," officials reiterated today.
Microsoft's Anniversary update is expected to be available to existing Windows 10 users as a free update this summer.
As noted earlier this week, Microsoft is adding support for more extensions for its Edge browser to the latest preview version of Windows 10 Anniversary update. In Build 14316, Microsoft is including support for Pinterest and OneNote Clipper extensions, along with the already announced Reddit Enhancement Suite, Mouse Gestures and Microsoft Translator ones.