Microsoft has announced the release of version 114 of its Edge web browser, introducing the new feature called Workspaces. Edge Workspaces have been designed to enhance productivity for businesses.
Organizing Browsing Tasks In Dedicated Windows
Edge Workspaces is a feature that allows users to organize their browsing tasks into dedicated windows. Each workspace contains its own set of tabs and favorites, all of which can be created and curated by the user and their collaborators. The workspaces are automatically saved and kept up to date, providing a seamless experience for users.
The new feature is particularly beneficial for project teams, allowing them to share a set of browser tabs so that everyone can view the same websites and latest working files in one place. This ensures that all team members stay on the same page, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
Prerequisites and Requirements
To use Edge Workspaces, users must have an Azure Active Directory (AAD) account and Microsoft Edge version 114 or greater installed. Additionally, access to a OneDrive for Business license is required to create an Edge Workspace.
It’s important to note that users in a shared Edge Workspace bring their identity, authentication, and cookies to the open websites. A user might have access to a specific workspace but might not have access to all the websites loaded in the workspace.
User Experience and Sharing
Edge Workspaces offers a unique user experience. For instance, when a new team member is onboarded to a project, instead of sending multiple links back and forth over email, sharing all the links as open tabs in a workspace is more productive and convenient. The user will be able to see which tab each group member is on and, if tabs are updated, will see those updates happen in real-time.
When sharing a workspace, the browser tabs, favorites, and history are shared with the team in real-time. However, a user’s logins, passwords, downloads, collections, extensions, and cookies are not shared. Personal browser settings such as appearance or search engine, tabs or data from outside the workspace, and website content only the user can access are also not shared.
Future Plans
While the current version of Edge Workspaces offers a range of features, Microsoft is committed to further developing and enhancing the user experience. Future versions of Microsoft Edge are expected to bring more customization options for the sidebar toolbar button and other features. Users can leave feedback by clicking the Like or Dislike button at the bottom of the Edge Workspace menu to help improve the feature.
