Thanks to Windows 10 v2004, Microsoft Edge consumes significantly less memory, claims the company. According to Microsoft, Edge has leveraged the Windows segment heap memory improvements with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. As a result, Win32 applications claim more efficient memory management than before.
Windows 10 2004 improves Edge’s memory management
In her recent blog post, Microsoft Edge’s Principal Program Manager Kim Denny wrote:
“Our goal on the Microsoft Edge team is to deliver the best performing browser possible on Windows and other platforms. When a browser uses too much memory, it can slow down the whole system; memory, in general, is a critical resource to keeping any device running smoothly.”
When browsing with Edge, Windows 10 2004 devices show a memory usage reduction of up to 27 percent, reveals Microsoft’s early internal testing. Depending on configuration and usage, the company projects variations in terms of individual device performance. Microsoft further adds that lower memory usage of Windows 10 v2004 creates room for a better experience.
Windows segment heap memory improvements
Microsoft describes segment heap as a modern heap implementation that reduces overall memory usage. Interestingly, the ‘heapType’ element is supported in Windows 10, version 2004, and later. Using the ‘heapType’ element also overrides the default heap implementation for the Win32 heap functions. We can safely assume more Win32 applications will try to leverage Windows segment heap memory improvements in the future.
Microsoft is working towards replacing Edge Legacy with Edge Chromium completely in the future. Earlier this year, Microsoft released its new Chromium-based version of the Microsoft Edge web browser. However, Edge Legacy continues to remain the default web browser on most Windows 10 computers. Microsoft is eventually phasing out the Edge Legacy and making a permanent switch to Edge Chromium.
In related news, folks at Microsoft Edge are working to implement a new Chromium feature called App Shortcuts. It will allow Edge users to perform certain tasks such as composing an email or a tweet directly from the Windows 10 taskbar or macOS dock. In the coming months, Edge wants Windows 10 users to rely heavily on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
