Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe(blogs.windows.com)
blogs.windows.com
Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe
https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/25/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-23531-dev-channel/
353 comments
I'm loving M$ having to admit they're intentionally abusing their users by disrespecting their preferences even when it would cost them nothing to do so.
The other day I tried to install Chrome on a new laptop. (Insert joke about what Edge is good for.)
However, Edge wasn't letting me actually download the Chrome installer. When I clicked the download button on the Chrome website, instead of any indication of its progress or completion, Edge instead displayed a pop-up that kept reassuring me that Edge was just as good.
So it turns out, Edge isn't even good enough to fulfill its meme.
So it turns out, Edge isn't even good enough to fulfill its meme.
Neat! But why not respect the users choice everywhere on earth?
As an American, I'm more annoyed that our government isn't working to protect consumers than I am at Microsoft. Microsoft is acting predictably from a business perspective. This is just a repeat of the Internet Explorer debacle decades ago.
They should have never done this in the first place and it was 100% intentional to try and trick you into using Edge. Secondly it is morally objectionable to just turn this off in the EEA. Thirdly, they still try and force Edge down your throat all the time.
That shows that the user is only being respected when pressured by legislation, not because you're the customer.
Microsoft does not respect its customers and does not deserve our business.
That shows that the user is only being respected when pressured by legislation, not because you're the customer.
Microsoft does not respect its customers and does not deserve our business.
I would also urge people to wonder: why do they care so much?
I don't have the answer. Especially in the past, it seemed like a cost factor to keep up a modern browser (just ask Mozilla) if people might as well install anything else and still buy your OS and use your services. That may have just been going with the flow, not wanting to miss the boat.
My best guess for nowadays is the same as why Google hijacked a login to any google service (from gmail to youtube) as a log in to the Chrome browser, after which all the data on any website is up for grabs and they can facilitate privacy extensions all they want without compromising their own market position. Does Microsoft (plan to) run an ad business? Is it built-in Cortana integration which can answer with ads included or ranking own services higher? Is it just to be able to shove any new future service into more people's faces? To steer web standards, like if you have >70% market share on Windows desktops can you just build in a new ActiveX for WebOffice (as an example) and you'd force others to follow?
Or maybe a combination of all of the above. Either way, I think it would be good to know what strategy is behind this relentless pushing
I don't have the answer. Especially in the past, it seemed like a cost factor to keep up a modern browser (just ask Mozilla) if people might as well install anything else and still buy your OS and use your services. That may have just been going with the flow, not wanting to miss the boat.
My best guess for nowadays is the same as why Google hijacked a login to any google service (from gmail to youtube) as a log in to the Chrome browser, after which all the data on any website is up for grabs and they can facilitate privacy extensions all they want without compromising their own market position. Does Microsoft (plan to) run an ad business? Is it built-in Cortana integration which can answer with ads included or ranking own services higher? Is it just to be able to shove any new future service into more people's faces? To steer web standards, like if you have >70% market share on Windows desktops can you just build in a new ActiveX for WebOffice (as an example) and you'd force others to follow?
Or maybe a combination of all of the above. Either way, I think it would be good to know what strategy is behind this relentless pushing
If the browser market share figures between EU and non-EU now start to diverge, it would really strengthen the case to sue microsoft in the USA...
This is the expected, most intuitive, and only sensible behavior, and yet Microsoft somehow, for some reason, decides it is okay not to use the default browser?
Wait a minute. Are they trying to cause me to have a complete meltdown? This is so irritating. The task bar can also no longer be placed vertically on the left or right. Imo. Microsoft should be forced to open source important parts of Windows so that these processes can be more democratized by users of the system.
Wait a minute. Are they trying to cause me to have a complete meltdown? This is so irritating. The task bar can also no longer be placed vertically on the left or right. Imo. Microsoft should be forced to open source important parts of Windows so that these processes can be more democratized by users of the system.
How do I make Windows 11 think I'm in the EU?
A huge admission of not respecting the user. If they didn't support this anywhere they could claim that it was because they can't test and support every browser. But if they can support other browsers in the EEA then they have no legs to stand on for why they disable it elsewhere. It is now clearly that they care about their preferences more than respecting the user's preferences.
I wonder how much money Microsoft is making by not respecting user choices in non European countries.
I also wonder how much money they invested in the legal handlings of this topic and how many developer/sales hours are and were wasted to make this "split" possible.
I also wonder how much money they invested in the legal handlings of this topic and how many developer/sales hours are and were wasted to make this "split" possible.
Every time I visit my parents, I find they've reverted to using Edge and don't know why. Despite my best efforts, they don't seem to have the will or technical ability to resist M$ manipulation. It's frustrating.
Thank god Valve exists for their work getting Steam games to work on Linux. A lot of the captive Windows audience is gamers. With another option, people don't have to put up with Microsoft's OS terrorism.
Technically it's in the European Economic Area (EEA) but the title was too long.
It seems like we have to do a lot of work in the US to empower the consumer, at least to catch up with Europe.
Now break up Alphabet before attestation really kicks in so we can still use Firefox and not just reskins of Chrome.
I'm not sure it's down to the new EU Digital Services Act (which is more focused on "online" behaviour, rather than client-side), but nb Art. 25(1) of the DSA:
"1. Providers of online platforms shall not design, organise or operate their online interfaces in a way that deceives or manipulates the recipients of their service or in a way that otherwise materially distorts or impairs the ability of the recipients of their service to make free and informed decisions."
Or there might be an argument that downloading instructions to a user's device, causing it to do something they didn't want, is a breach of the EU's anti-malware rule (AKA the much-despised "cookie law", even though that name downplays its significance)
"1. Providers of online platforms shall not design, organise or operate their online interfaces in a way that deceives or manipulates the recipients of their service or in a way that otherwise materially distorts or impairs the ability of the recipients of their service to make free and informed decisions."
Or there might be an argument that downloading instructions to a user's device, causing it to do something they didn't want, is a breach of the EU's anti-malware rule (AKA the much-despised "cookie law", even though that name downplays its significance)
But not W10? Of course not, because that's what everyone is using.
In other words: Microsoft only respect users when forced.
I am very irritated that I have made it very clear that I wish to use Firefox as my default browser in Windows 11. However, tools such as Microsoft Outlook and Office keep trying to force me into Edge by opening links in it by default. You don't gain converts by forcing something onto users.
Much too little, much too late. Nothing I own runs Windows any more. I now swear at computers much less often.
So... does anyone have any good guesses what actually caused them to do this?
I mean, obviously they want to push Edge - but for some reason their hands were forced within the EEA. I'd be interested to know that reason :)
I mean, obviously they want to push Edge - but for some reason their hands were forced within the EEA. I'd be interested to know that reason :)
"Respect" but will nag you and refuse to open certain files due to "security"
Source: currently on win10 enterprise and it refuse to open certain PDF files outside Edge, because "security"
Source: currently on win10 enterprise and it refuse to open certain PDF files outside Edge, because "security"
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Now if only PWAs running in Edge would do the same thing...
(Sick of links I click in Teams opening in Edge instead of my system's default browser!)
(Sick of links I click in Teams opening in Edge instead of my system's default browser!)
Lots of outraged comments but few will close their GitHub account and stop using VSCode.
My decision to move to Mac when the M1 came out is starting to pay more and more dividends!
I wonder which competitor lobbied for this and will now be doing the same thing.
meanwhile the other article currently on the front page about microsoft is them using malware-like popups to get people to ditch chrome
nice
nice
That shows such complete and utter contempt for the wishes of their users. The user has actively selected a browser as the one they want to use by default, but windows only uses it in the EEA because they were forced to.
As it will be used by EEA system components, there's presumably no technical/compatibility issues that would stop the rest of the world using it to.