Mozilla CEO slams Microsoft over Windows 10 browser defaults

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    Mozilla CEO slams Microsoft over Windows 10 browser defaults

    Mozilla CEO slams Microsoft over Windows 10 browser defaults


    Posted: 31 Jul 2015

    In an open letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Mozilla CEO Chris Beard accuses Microsoft of hobbling users' browser choices by making Edge the default browser in the next generation of its operating system and called on the tech giant to reverse what he called an "aggressive move to override user choice." While noting that it was still technically possible to preserve users' browser settings, Beard charged that the default setting changes have made the option less obvious.
    Mozilla CEO slams Microsoft over Windows 10 browser defaults - CNET
    PaulGo's Avatar Posted By: PaulGo
    31 Jul 2015


  1. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #1

    He should get his own house in order before complaining about MS's.
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  2. Posts : 1,625
    W7 Pro x64 | W10 IP x64 | Linux Mint VM
       #2

    I'm not sure what the problem is, anyone who's used Windows for any decent length of time will use Edge to download Firefox if that's their browser of choice and never fire up Edge again. Just because MS makes Edge the default (it's their OS after all) doesn't mean to say everyone is forced to use it.
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  3. Posts : 153
    Windows 10, 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    The problem is it is more difficult in Windows 10 to change the default browser. In Windows 7 within Firefox or Chrome you could choose to make it the default browser from within the browser. Now you have to go outside the browser into Microsoft settings to change the defaults. Also when I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 where I had Firefox as my default browser the migration did not keep that preference and If you choose the default setup preferences it will make Edge the default browser.
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  4. Posts : 1,625
    W7 Pro x64 | W10 IP x64 | Linux Mint VM
       #4

    I never experienced that to be honest. Installed Firefox and just launch it from Taskbar, job done. It's easy to change default programs in 10 as well.
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  5. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    PaulGo said:
    The problem is it is more difficult in Windows 10 to change the default browser. In Windows 7 within Firefox or Chrome you could choose to make it the default browser from within the browser. Now you have to go outside the browser into Microsoft settings to change the defaults. Also when I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 where I had Firefox as my default browser the migration did not keep that preference and If you choose the default setup preferences it will make Edge the default browser.
    While that's true there are a number of things that aren't being said.

    First, this doesn't affect just browsers. It's all default apps.. This is not Microsoft picking on Mozilla or Google specifically.

    Second, When the app tries to set itself as the default, it pops up a dialog that tells the users exactly how to set the defaults.

    Third, this is being done to prevent browser apps from hijacking users preferences. In the end, it's there to protect the users from unscrupulous software vendors who think they can just take over defaults without asking the user. (read PUP's and malware).

    Fourth, It's just not that hard to set.. come on. Anyone that actually cares about the default will figure out how to set it. This is just whinging because they want to.
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  6. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #6

    Mystere said:
    While that's true there are a number of things that aren't being said.

    First, this doesn't affect just browsers. It's all default apps.. This is not Microsoft picking on Mozilla or Google specifically.

    Second, When the app tries to set itself as the default, it pops up a dialog that tells the users exactly how to set the defaults.


    Third, this is being done to prevent browser apps from hijacking users preferences. In the end, it's there to protect the users from unscrupulous software vendors who think they can just take over defaults without asking the user. (read PUP's and malware).

    Fourth, It's just not that hard to set.. come on. Anyone that actually cares about the default will figure out how to set it. This is just whinging because they want to.

    The second is the issue I have. In the older preview build. When the program requested it to be default, it opened up a dialog to give you a choice what to use. Now, you have to go and set that manually. Not all programs are like that. I notice thunderbird was able to be set in the way I just described. One things that was really hard to set the default apps, was the pdf program. That wasn't an easier task to change. I did get it change to fox-it reader.
    Last edited by groze; 31 Jul 2015 at 16:58.
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  7. Posts : 147
    Windows 10 x64
       #7

    I don't have a real problem with the way it works, except for two things:

    --The "default programs" area needs to be made more obvious instead of hidden away. It's a central part of how Windows works (and becoming more important in Android, for that matter), so it needs to be out in the open.

    --I'm okay with needing to go to the "default programs" area, but once I set it, it needs to be done. I've double-clicked a file, and Windows asks me AGAIN if I am sure I want to keep my current default program. That's damn ridiculous.
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  8. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #8

    Mystere said:
    Fourth, It's just not that hard to set.. come on. Anyone that actually cares about the default will figure out how to set it. This is just whinging because they want to.
    I wonder whether the EU countries will let this stand without a fight. I imagine they'll want something like the old Default Browser choice window that appeared when Windows was set up. (When was that introduced - XP?)

    The whole thing seemed ridiculous. I know some people who are anything but tech savvy who use Chrome. It's hardly obscure. Firefox may be a bit less well known, but an obvious choice for those who wish to escape the Google hegemony.
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  9. Posts : 750
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bits
       #9

    Mystere said:
    While that's true there are a number of things that aren't being said.

    First, this doesn't affect just browsers. It's all default apps.. This is not Microsoft picking on Mozilla or Google specifically.

    Second, When the app tries to set itself as the default, it pops up a dialog that tells the users exactly how to set the defaults.

    Third, this is being done to prevent browser apps from hijacking users preferences. In the end, it's there to protect the users from unscrupulous software vendors who think they can just take over defaults without asking the user. (read PUP's and malware).

    Fourth, It's just not that hard to set.. come on. Anyone that actually cares about the default will figure out how to set it. This is just whinging because they want to.
    The third point will certainly be appreciated by the average end users, even if they won't know it...

    BTW... If you set FF as the default browser, Edge won't nag you to change it back like IE used to...
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