151–160 of 645 posts
I don't understand how Microsoft benefits from getting everyone to use their web browser? Is it all to spy on people's browsing habits?
Windows is just full of hostile, anti-user patterns these days. I've considered building a windows box just to have a gaming rig multiple times over the last few years, but every time an article like this or their crusade against Chrome reminds me that Bill Gates is still the same anti-trust monster he was in the 90s.
Google has an equally annoying crusade against anything that isn't Chrome. Visit google.com with Edge (on desktop) and you immediately get a popup on the top right "Google recommends using Chrome. Built for Windows. Easily search on Google with the fast, secure browser". As if there was any material difference between the browsers. We need a comeback of antitrust enforcement with teeth to get both Microsoft and Googl…
On Firefox I can stand the suggestion to use Chrome when I use google, I can even block it with uBlock, but haven't really bothered to.
Now, when they keep tweaking my OS settings, and use every upgrade as the excuse to reset my browser settings over and over, then I get mad. When I get ads on my start menu too. That's why I don't use windows anymore.
Google does something like this with the GMail app on iPhone— you click links and instead of just opening Safari, it pops up a "which browser to use" selector modal, which is really just an advertisement for you to install Chrome.
I use different browsers for different things: let me fucking chose which browser to use.
I am currently wondering how easy it would be to build a "shim browser" that you can set as default but does not actually open the page, it only list the urls apps tried to open and lets you copy them to whichever browser you prefer.
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That’s a configurable suggestion in Safari. Go to Settings > Safari and turn off ‘Safari suggestions’
A non-dark-pattern for that would be a button on the first suggestion that lets you disable the suggestion permanently.
There is a hugely substantive difference between this feature being on by default and say, making a ”reject tracking” button in 2 point grey font. Dark patterns are primarily things that if presented equally would result in a different decision which often go directly against the users self interest.
I don’t see that here.
Its getting worse everywhere: some things I've noticed: Mobil Safari seems to be using the search bar to hijack my google search (Particularly for locations which open in apple maps) Although I'm mostly linux these days I went to install an alternative browser on a windows machine (using edge to download). I mentioned this in another post, but edge seems to watch for "chrome" or "firefox" downloads and politely remin…
That’s a configurable suggestion in Safari. Go to Settings > Safari and turn off ‘Safari suggestions’
I wish they would label that section of the results (would have given a hint to what it was). The google search results are labeled and appear below those unlabeled suggestions.
It feels a little sneaky to me (like having to go to settings to turn off the a"subscribe to apple music" in the music app..)
The web based outlook is an extremely well-polished and usable piece of software. You can use it in any browser you like.
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This is a changeable setting (though obviously it sucks that you have to make a choice to use your default browser). Hamburger > Settings > Default Apps (in "General" at the bottom)
It's such an obvious dark pattern; I'm really surprised Apple accepts this from Google, but I expect there's some mutually assured destruction horse-trading that goes on behind the scenes with players this large.
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A non-dark-pattern for that would be a button on the first suggestion that lets you disable the suggestion permanently.
I think people have started using “dark pattern” to mean any UX decisions they disagree with. There is a hugely substantive difference between this feature being on by default and say, making a ”reject tracking” button in 2 point grey font. Dark patterns are primarily things that if presented equally would result in a different decision which often go directly against the users self interest. I don’t see that here.