BunnyJ said:

It's really not a big deal in the long run. Google got a bug up somewhere and they provide an older look to their site for Edge.

It's the non-touch version of Google search with a very degraded experience for devices with touch capabilities... The browser wars are alive and well, looks like Edge is the new Netscape

I never knew there were two versions of how it displayed (99% of my browsing is with Bing anyway) but fwiw, I think the black menu bar is much nicer and more understandable and given a choice that is the one I would choose.

Mooly said:

I never knew there were two versions of how it displayed (99% of my browsing is with Bing anyway) but fwiw, I think the black menu bar is much nicer and more understandable and given a choice that is the one I would choose.

Previously, you could use the "noj" parameter and disable the touch version of Google and instead use the version with the 'black menu': http://www.google.com/?noj=1

About 3 months ago Google removed that parameter and redirected everyone back to the touch version. You have to completely disable javascript in the browser options to get the non-touch version (black menu)... Hence the browser wars reference, Google has been restricting the WP8 browser with the non-touch version for the last two years and has now expanded that policy to WP10 and included Windows 10 (Edge).

WP10 and Edge have higher web standards compatibility than even Firefox and there is no reason to restrict the usability of Google search on touch based devices running WP8, WP10 and Windows 10 (Edge). The policy is almost identical to what Microsoft was doing to in the 90s by forcing Netscape users to have a limited and degraded browsing experience, except this time it's Google forcing the degraded experience on WP8, WP10 and Edge (desktop) users

dmex said:

Previously, you could use the "noj" parameter and disable the touch version of Google and instead use the version with the 'black menu': http://www.google.com/?noj=1

About 3 months ago Google removed that parameter and redirected everyone back to the touch version. You have to completely disable javascript in the browser options to get the non-touch version (black menu)... Hence the browser wars reference, Google has been restricting the WP8 browser with the non-touch version for the last two years and has now expanded that policy to WP10 and included Windows 10 (Edge).

WP10 and Edge have higher web standards compatibility than even Firefox and there is no reason to restrict the usability of Google search on touch based devices running WP8, WP10 and Windows 10 (Edge). The policy is almost identical to what Microsoft was doing to in the 90s by forcing Netscape users to have a limited and degraded browsing experience, except this time it's Google forcing the degraded experience on WP8, WP10 and Edge (desktop) users

Thanks for the detailed explanation and a bit of history. I had no idea tbh. I do hope that Edge goes the distance because its a browser that I've really taken too. Its generally excellent.