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Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#331

Post by coffeeling »

RajBhai wrote: post #128

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 f…

I just tried it out, Edge showed the banner twice, once over the Chrome download confirmation (when the browsers asks if you're sure you want to keep an .exe file), and the second didn't obey the X to close. I had to click on the downloads list to be able to tell Edge to keep the Chrome installer.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#332

Post by coffeeling »

LeanderK wrote: post #227
RajBhai wrote: post #128

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 f…

wait a minute...were you able to download chrome in the end? Or was edge straight up refusing to download it?

I just tried it out, Edge showed the banner twice, once over the Chrome download confirmation (when the browsers asks if you're sure you want to keep an .exe file), and the second didn't obey the X to close. I had to click on the downloads list to be able to tell Edge to keep the Chrome installer.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#333

Post by coffeeling »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #81
djbusby wrote: post #4

Neat! But why not respect the users choice everywhere on earth?

I love Microsoft, but I hate whoever is controlling all these awful choices for their OS. Lets be real its probably a marketing team trying to sell office and whatever else. I just want a version of Windows for actual professionals with no nonsense on it. Slim it down, make it feel like I'm on a 2023 machine with the minimalism of like idk Windows XP or Windows 7. No nonsense.

Not a marketing team trying to sell Office. They're trying to grow in the advertising sector, which means funneling people into Bing, since search ads are really profitable.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#334

Post by coffeeling »

baz00 wrote: post #127
giancarlostoro wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Microsoft, but I hate whoever is controlling all these awful choices for their OS. Lets be real its probably a marketing team trying to sell office and whatever else. I just want a version of Windows for actual professionals with no nonsense on it. Slim it down, make it feel like I'm on a 2023 machine with the minimalism of like idk Windows XP or Windows 7. No nonsense.

Remember back when Nadella took over Microsoft. HN was all over it like the second coming of Jesus. I complained that it doesn't change the organisation and this is just marketing. I was completely right. I remember being downvoted over and over again suggesting this is the end game of the takeover and the push that was promoted. Microsoft wants to be a subscription company and will try and funnel you down any route…

I mean, you were wrong and he was the second coming of Jesus in many ways. The Microsoft of today isn't the Microsoft of yesteryear.

It just doesn't change the fact that they're in the advertising business, and that the advertising business is really lucrative so they started pushing for it hardcore.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#335

Post by martin_a »

xg15 wrote: post #224
helsinkiandrew wrote: post #208

> In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows system components use the default browser to open links. 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 issu…

I hope someone manages to write a crack or something that enables the same behaviour in non-EEA locales, if only to see what mental gymnastics MS will engage in to explain why that would be bad for users.

How are they going to implement it anyway? Based on the location you provide while setting Windows up? IP lookup?

I mean, there needs to be a safe way, so I invite everyone to become European for this patch. :-)

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#336

Post by ptdorf »

coffeeling wrote: post #312
tempodox wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Complete disrespect for the end luser is nothing new with Microsoft.

I feel like there are two Microsofts. There are parts that make some honestly good software. And then there are parts touched by Bing and MSN, and they're some of the most hideous, dark patterny piles of user hostile garbage. Win11 search, widgets. Edge. Now Skype. They just ruin things that might otherwise even be great. Edge has a bunch of good ideas going on the UI but it hates user choice so much it just feels ba…

> I feel like there are two Microsofts

Same with most companies. The business side tends to steer, resist and fight the creative side. The irony is that in the long run, these two are aligned.

Sad that higher management feels the need to use short-term mechanisms for profit at the expense of reputation and what's best for their users in the long run.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#337

Post by tornato7 »

QuantumGood wrote: post #284
_fat_santa wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to ask a really basic question: Why does Microsoft have such a vested interest in users using Edge over competitors? I get the argument: "it's their browser, of course they want people to use it" but for me that answer isn't satisfactory. What is the financial motive to go through all the trouble of pushing Edge? The only reason I can think of is "your data" but even then, what sort of data might MS want to ex…

Not necessarily an answer, but an overview of the topics in the domain space of your question might include: - DATA COLLECTION: Allows Microsoft to collect user data for analytics, targeted advertising, and product improvement. - REVENUE GENERATION: Advertisements and search engine partnerships generate revenue for Microsoft. - ECOSYSTEM INTEGRATION: Encourages use of other Microsoft products, enhancing user experien…

Thanks, ChatGPT

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#338

Post by coffeeling »

npteljes wrote: post #207
fsflover wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I installed Linux for my relatives and they never have this problem (or any other problem!).

Can I please ask how technical they are, and what distro are you using? And that what are they using the OS for? I'm looking into this passively for years now, and I'm really interested in actual people's experiences.

For simple use, Linux is actually pretty simple and useful. It's the inbetween where you require some kind of power user features or specialized software and aren't a developer type where things get hairy.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#339

Post by Clamchop »

kramerger wrote: post #51

"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"

If it still works like it did for Internet Explorer, then interestingly, these files are tagged by using an auxiliary data fork in NTFS.

Re: Windows 11 system components use the default browser to open links in Europe

#340

Post by cyanydeez »

ChadNauseam wrote: post #272
cyanydeez wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They have a suspicious lack of coup attempts in the last decade.

Is the idea that it would have been really good if the person who organized the insurrection also had the ability to censor people who disagreed with him?

Are you paying attention to their current argument about why it was legal to conspire to overthrow the government?
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