Microsoft Edge Gets New Extensions Ahead of Official Launch

Microsoft at the ongoing Build 2016 conference has already announced innumerable updates coming to Windows 10 devices, Xbox One and more. The Redmond-based tech giant however, has now announced some new Microsoft Edge browser extensions. To recall, Microsoft had given its Edge browser extension support only last month, and that too in a preview Windows 10 build to Insiders. Microsoft Office for Mac has also received add-in extensions.

At the Microsoft Build 2016 event, it was announced that the Microsoft Edge browser will soon be getting extensions from services like Pinterest, Amazon, Evernote, LastPass, Reddit, Adblock and Adblock Plus. Although initially it seemed like Microsoft Edge would natively feature ad blocking functionality, it actually is taking help from Adblock and Adblock Plus to block the ads. Apple's Safari (on desktop), Google's Chrome, and Mozilla's Firefox also use this method to block ads.

Microsoft says ad-blocking is a feature request from users. Other such requests include support for extensions, which to no one's surprise is on the top of the list. Support for extensions, or "modern extension/plugin model and extension/plugin store for Edge" as Microsoft describes it, will also be available to regular Windows 10 users with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which is expected to roll out around June or July.

Microsoft for now is still behind the dominant Web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox in terms of extensions.

In addition to these new Microsoft Edge browser extensions, the company also announced that the 'add-ins' for Microsoft Office will be reaching to Office for Mac for the first time. It is worth mentioning that these add-ins are already available on Windows, iPad, and the web Office interface.

Further, the company launched two new tools letting developers build more advanced Excel add-ins, deploy Office add-ins, and find add-ins for Outlook. The company also demoed a Starbucks add-in, which might be helpful for some employees. One can also send gift cards to others in the contacts using the Outlook add-in.