Windows 10: Microsoft bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders

Brink · Aug 14, 2019

Beginning with the most recent Dev and Canary channel releases, preview builds of Microsoft Edge now include support for 24 cloud powered text to speech voices across 21 different locales. One place where these will start to show up is in Read Aloud, a feature from the current (EdgeHTML-based) version of Microsoft Edge that gives people the option to have websites read to them by the browser.

A common theme that we heard from Read Aloud feedback in the current version of Microsoft Edge was that the default speaking voices sounded robotic and unnatural. People also told us how time consuming it was to install different language packs so that they could read text in other languages. We have made this experience better with the arrival of cloud powered speaking voicesin the preview builds of Microsoft Edge.

What are cloud powered voices?

Powered by Microsoft Cognitive Services, these new voices come in two different styles and can be distinguished from other voices you may have installed on your computer by the fact that they have “Microsoft <voiceName> Online” in their names:

Neural voices – Powered by deep neural networks, these voices are the most natural sounding voices available today.

Standard voices – These voices are the standard online voices offered by Microsoft Cognitive Services. Voices with “24kbps” in their title will sound clearer compared to other standard voices due to their improved audio bitrate.

Using cloud powered voices

The easiest way to try out the new array of cloud-powered voices is to use the Read Aloud feature. To do this, navigate to a website, select some text, right click it, and select “Read aloud selection”. This will start Read Aloud and will also open the Read Aloud menu bar which lets you pick different voices and adjust reading speed by clicking on the “Voice options” button:

It’s also worth noting that these voices have been exposed to developers through the JavaScript SpeechSynthesis API. This means that any web-based text to speech application can leverage them to create more configurable and human sounding experiences in the new version of Microsoft Edge!

Let us know what you think

Which voice is your favorite? Do you have any other suggestions for how we could make this experience even better? If you have any feedback for us, please send it our way using the “smiley face” in the top right corner of the browser.

We’re excited to hear what you think!

– Scott Low, Program Manager, Microsoft Edge HTML Platform
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Source: Bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders - Microsoft Edge Blog
See also: Microsoft Edge Insider preview builds are now ready for you to try
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P4-630 · Aug 14, 2019

Microsoft is developing a built-in ad blocker for its Edge browser

"One of the first browser add-ons many people install to improve their online experience is Adblock Plus or something similar. Until recently, Microsoft Edge's lack of support for add-ons put off a lot of would-be users, but reports from Build 2016 suggest that native ad blocking is on its way to the Internet Explorer successor.

Adblock Plus is coming to Edge, but built-in ad blocking would negate the need for such an add-on. A slide shown off and snapped at a Build presentation shows that the next version of Edge, in response to user feedback, will feature ad blocking capabilities. There's no word on delivery timescale, but the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update would seem a likely candidate.

ZDNet's Ed Bott photographed the slide which shows Microsoft's development roadmap built around feedback from testers. Right at the top of the list is reference to plans to create a plugin and extension store for Edge, but it's entry number four that's more intriguing.

"Build ad blocking features into the browser" is listed as a Feature Request from users. But the good news is that it is not only listed as being "Deliverable 4682811", but as "Targeted for the next version".

This will no doubt come as good news for those who have fallen in love with Edge, but it's not something that will be welcomed by the likes of Adblock Plus. It does seem that, particularly in the mobile arena, there is a move to baking ad blocking into the browser so it makes sense that Microsoft is following the trend. But it is the fact that Edge straddles Windows 10 on the desktop and Windows 10 Mobile that makes this a particularly interesting move.

Keep an eye out for Insider builds in the coming weeks as the feature may be just around the corner."

Forget extensions, built-in ad blocking is coming to Microsoft Edge - [UPDATE... no it's not!]

Brink · Aug 14, 2019

Inspired by Insiders - Microsoft Edge

Hello Window Insiders, and greetings from the Microsoft Edge team! With the next release of Windows (RS4) just around the corner, we wanted to say “Thanks!” to our Windows Insiders. Your feedback has helped make this new version of Microsoft Edge our best yet.

In this article, we’d like to explain just how important Insider feedback is to our development process. We’ll also highlight several features and fixes that made it into RS4 – in large part because of the comments and suggestions from Insiders like you.

What do we do with Insider feedback?

It’s worth repeating: we love getting feedback from Windows Insiders. Checking Insider feedback is a regular part of our engineering process. Here on the Microsoft Edge team, we have a group dedicated to tracking Insider feedback on a daily basis – both in English and across multiple languages.

We look for ‘hot’ issues in the days immediately following a release, and we maintain a list of the top overall feedback. This feedback list is a central part of how Edge leadership plans “what’s next” for Microsoft Edge. Everyone on the engineering team knows what’s on the list, and we’re all working to address it in future releases.

You can dig into this list for your by going to the L: Feedback Hub app, opening the Microsoft Edge category, then filtering by “Insider” and sorting by “upvotes.”

How Insiders inspired the next version of Microsoft Edge

While we try to look at as much Insider feedback as we can, we pay especially close attention to those suggestions that get the most votes by Insiders. Many of these top-voted suggestions helped inspire some of the most exciting features and improvements in RS4 – whether it was ideas to improve an existing feature, a push to prioritize a feature already planned – or a suggestion that sent us off in a whole new direction. Here are just a few highlights.

Evolving full screen mode (F11). Windows fans have been enjoying this feature since the Fall Creators Update. In this next release, Windows Insiders helped make it better. We heard your feedback, and we updated the experience so you can access the address bar (and navigate to other sites, add a site as a favorite, and more) – all without leaving full screen.

Instantly mute auto-playing media on websites. This was one of the most upvoted suggestions by Insiders for Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge now displays an audio icon that shows which tab is playing sound. Just click the icon to mute and unmute. Thanks to everyone who shared feedback requesting this handy feature.

Form Fill for credit cards and address fields. Microsoft Edge can now save and automatically fill your credit card and address information on payment and related web forms. Thanks to Insiders for getting this prioritized for the current Windows release!

Use Extensions when InPrivate. This was yet another great Insider suggestion with lots of upvotes. We heard your feedback and have added the ability to load extensions when Microsoft Edge is in an InPrivate window. You can grant individual extensions permission to run in InPrivate from the options menu for the extension.

Bookmark button and flyout become one. Microsoft Edge has simplified adding and managing bookmarks for EPUB and PDF books. Based on your feedback, we now allow you to add bookmarks and manage your list of bookmarks from the same location.

Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) updates. You spoke, and we listened. Microsoft is bringing Windows Defender Application Guard to Windows 10 Professional in the next feature update of Windows 10.

Accessibility improvements. Responding to your feedback, we added additional context for screen reader users with vision impairments when they perform key actions. For example: When a user opens a tab, Narrator announces “Opening new tab”, and when you add a favorite, you’ll hear “Favorite added, find it in Hub, Ctrl + i.” When you click on a link, Narrator announces “Loading page” and when the page has finished loading, you’ll hear “Loading complete.”

Bug fixes! It’s also worth noting that, along with your feature suggestions, Insiders also alerted us to some extremely important bugs during our development cycle. Bugs are to be expected with early Insider Preview builds. But thanks to the sharp eyes and speedy posts of Insiders, we were able to address these issues right away -– much to the delight of both our engineering team and the entire Insider community.

Keep that feedback coming!

While we gather feedback from a number of channels such as community and support forums, the Feedback Hub is still the one that gets the greatest amount of attention from our engineering teams.

You can access the Feedback Hub in settings – but you can also get to it directly from Microsoft Edge in the Feedback & Reporting pane. If you see an issue with a website or encounter a page that seems unsafe, you should continue to use the other options here, but if you have feedback on the Microsoft Edge web browser itself, click the link under “Microsoft Edge problems or suggestions.” Once you’re in the hub, you can search and vote for an existing issue or suggestion – or create your own post.

As we look toward upcoming releases of Microsoft Edge, your feedback will continue to have ever-growing importance in planning and prioritization. In fact, as we’ve said before, our product backlog (a.k.a. “to do” list) is more influenced by user feedback than anything else.

Thanks again for helping us build Microsoft Edge, and keep that feedback coming.
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Source: Inspired by Insiders - Microsoft Edge - Windows Insider

Brink · Aug 14, 2019

Microsoft Edge Insider extension now available in Microsoft Store

Stay informed with the latest Microsoft Edge Announcements, Features, Known Issues, and Fixed Issues directly in Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge Insider is the official extension for Microsoft Edge for Microsoft Edge Insiders.

This extension puts an icon on the Microsoft Edge toolbar that receives notifications about the latest Microsoft Edge Announcements, Features, Known Issues, and Fixed Issues.

Microsoft Edge Insider can also provide desktop notifications about important issues.

This extension is for Insider build channels ("canary", "dev", and "beta") only.

Download: Get Microsoft Edge Insider | Microsoft Store

See also:

Microsoft Edge Insider Addons

A first look at Microsoft’s new Chromium-powered Edge browser - Windows 10 Forums

Microsoft Edge Making web better with more open source collaboration - Windows 10 Forums

Microsoft Edge Insider builds: Troubleshoot install and updates - Windows 10 Forums

Windows 10: Microsoft bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders

Microsoft bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders

Microsoft bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders

Microsoft bringing cloud powered voices to Microsoft Edge Insiders

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