Microsoft Edge Introduces MSN-Powered Widgets on New Tab Page

Microsoft is extending its widgets functionality beyond Windows 11 by trialing MSN-integrated widgets on the Edge browser’s new tab page. This enhancement provides users with swift access to information on weather, finance, sports, and traffic.

Widgets are compact, interactive cards that deliver timely information. Typically, they can be located and accessed from the lower-left corner of your Windows taskbar. Some of these widgets, including those for weather, sports, stocks, calendar, and the News Feed in the Widgets board, require Microsoft Edge for proper functionality.

Microsoft Experiments with MSN-Powered Widgets on Edge New Tab Page for Instant Information Access

The latest builds of Edge, including Canary, Dev, and Release, introduce a feature that permits users to place widgets directly onto the new tab page. These MSN-driven widgets offer quick access to an array of information sources such as:

• Weather: Up-to-date weather details for your current location.
• Traffic: Live traffic conditions for your daily commute.
• Finance: Latest updates and news from the stock market.
• Sports: Scores and news regarding your favorite teams.

Steps to Activate MSN Widgets on the New Tab Page in Microsoft Edge:

1. Launch the Edge browser.
2. Open a New Tab.
3. Click on the gear icon located in the top-right corner of the new tab page.
4. Activate the “Show Widgets” and “Show Content” settings.

After activation, four widgets will display at the bottom of your new tab page, each offering distinct options. The appearance and types of information shown can be tailored to your preferences.

You can disable all widgets using the Edge New Tab Page Settings or by right-clicking on a widget and selecting the “turn off all widgets” option. Additionally, you have the ability to hide specific widgets or modify the ones that appear on your New Tab Page by choosing “manage widgets” or visiting this link in the address bar.

With the addition of widgets on the new tab page, Microsoft aims to enhance the user experience in Edge, allowing for easier access to crucial information, including weather updates, news articles, and sports results directly from the browser. This feature is entirely optional and is not set to activate by default.

Moreover, Microsoft has decided to remove the Copilot’s shopping notifications setting from Edge, indicating that the Copilot feature will no longer monitor users’ online purchasing habits. Additionally, the company is piloting Instant Updates for Edge, which will enable automatic updates in beta mode without requiring user action.

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Images Credit: Windowsreport.com