Firefox boss attacks Microsoft over the default browser settings in Windows 10

[Misanthrope]

This is not the same. When you upgrade, it will ask you if you want to keep your current default browser, or if you'd like to change it to Edge. That's consumer choice, and allows users to keep their current browser. It's not Microsoft's fault if people click through settings without actually reading what they do.

 

I'm also assuming, since they released a Windows 10 Home N and Pro N version, that when installing a clean, fresh install of an N version, it will still offer you a choice of the major browsers, as it does in Windows 7 and 8.

Those cases go back to preinstalled windows though not updates. So while no it wouldn't apply to updates I'm curious to know what happens on a fresh install or a preinstalled system.

[dalekphalm]

Those cases go back to preinstalled windows though not updates. So while no it wouldn't apply to updates I'm curious to know what happens on a fresh install or a preinstalled system.

I assume it depends on the location. In EU, it should be the exact same as with previous versions.

 

In North America, and other places that don't have that particular law, you'll have Edge pre-installed as the default.

[elfensky]

But maybe that will change once Edge gets extension support. I plan to make Edge my primary browser once it gets support for LastPass.

 

I have a few gripes with it, example not being able to put ONLY favicons in the favorites bar - you HAVE to add text, and that wastes precious space. Other than that, I'm waiting for uBlock & Pocket, and might fully switch when support arrives.

[RH00D]

I have a few gripes with it, example not being able to put ONLY favicons in the favorites bar - you HAVE to add text, and that wastes precious space. Other than that, I'm waiting for uBlock & Pocket, and might fully switch when support arrives.

 

You can't just leave the name field for it blank?

[Murdoch]

I assume it depends on the location. In EU, it should be the exact same as with previous versions.

 

In North America, and other places that don't have that particular law, you'll have Edge pre-installed as the default.

 

Didn't the "N" versions cover just the anti-trust ruling against Windows Media Player?

 

There was another EU ruling about browser choice after that one. Which I think, iirc was issued as a Windows update to EU users. I remember being offered a choice of Browsers, randomly, despite having Firefox installed etc. Here's what it says on the MS website.

 

"Microsoft provided the Browser Choice update in accordance with a decision issued by the European Commission in December 2009. The obligations imposed by that decision have expired and as a result the Browser Choice Update will no longer be delivered to new users."

[Speedbird]

Ehh, I use Internet explorer still

 

I realised Edge was shit after I can't quote or edit on this forum.

You can, you just have to press the quote button twice.

[sqwidee]

Wow, it doesn't work for me on eiither one of my computers :'( :'(

 

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

[sqwidee]

The whole argument about making it less user friendly for changing default browser is total bullshit.

 

1: Google Chrome requests to be made the default browser when you open it and takes you right to the preferences menu in Windows 10 where you can change it.

2: Accessing this preferences menu is not hard. You can ask Cortana to do it or search for "default browser" in the search bar and the settings menu will pop up right away.

3: Literally all Firefox devs need to do to deal with the situation is write some code like that in Chrome so that it can request to be made the default browser and take users right to the settings menu.

 

Seems like they're upset over the fact that they need to write some code. Realistically the way you change default applications in Windows 10 is no more complicated that it was in 7/8.1.

[Slinkey]

Edge for me is much faster. Just waiting for it get more features and extension support before I switch over from Chrome

 

Decided to edit this post using Edge. No need to double click or anything. Works as well as Chrome.

[arnavvr]

I think Mozilla is just butthurt that their browser share has been tanking severely the past few years.

 

Which is a shame since its the only  browser with awesome extension support that doesn't mine the shit out of your data (Google Chrome).

 

But maybe that will change once Edge gets extension support. I plan to make Edge my primary browser once it gets support for LastPass.

 

Yeah I'm using Chrome on Windows 10 right now, but I LOVE Edge. The only problem is graphical glitches (my cursor randomly goes away) and extension support. Also Google needs some competition to make Chrome as fast as Edge. 

[Murdoch]

The whole argument about making it less user friendly for changing default browser is total bullshit.

 

1: Google Chrome requests to be made the default browser when you open it and takes you right to the preferences menu in Windows 10 where you can change it.

2: Accessing this preferences menu is not hard. You can ask Cortana to do it or search for "default browser" in the search bar and the settings menu will pop up right away.

3: Literally all Firefox devs need to do to deal with the situation is write some code like that in Chrome so that it can request to be made the default browser and take users right to the settings menu.

 

Seems like they're upset over the fact that they need to write some code. Realistically the way you change default applications in Windows 10 is no more complicated that it was in 7/8.1.

 

Firefox does that too, they are complaining about the fact users need to then select Firefox from a list. Same with Chrome.

 

And yes, it's a very minor issue. Especially for people like us. But we're not really talking about people like us, Firefox will be concerned about statistical adoption rates, and minor little things like this will play a slight part in that, I'm sure.

[Textosterone]

http://www.zdnet.com/article/firefox-boss-attacks-microsoft-over-the-default-browser-settings-in-windows-10/

more info

 

TL:DR

 

Firefox upset at MS for defaults

MS says they will fix.

 

 

 

you don't see google being all but hurt, (yet), they know whos loyal will stay.

 

personally  i don't like edge, but thats not the point here.

 

 

and people who complain about defaults being changed, it ask last night during install, would you like to change defaults yes or no. (yes to ms ones, no to keep) ihit no, obs, if you hit yes without reading, thats your problem.

Im only butthurt because cortona uses BING and you CANT change it! And i will always stay loyal to firefox because of the LTT addon.

[Colonel_Gerdauf]

Now thinking this over, it seems to be a by-product of old bitterness between the two companies. Remember that Firefox is built under Mozilla, which was the direct child of Netscape. For those who don't know, Netscape (with Navigator) lost a battle with Microsoft's IE in the early world-wide web days, which ended up in a legal spaghetti.

[Centurius]

how is a video explaining how to change defaults on a new os, evidance than google is buthurt?....if this is the case linus must hate the tech world with all his vids

 

 

they are.  most people who use computers know very little about them. the problem is we know alot and to us this is all so basic.

 

 

2 things stoped me using edge....no last pass and bing, and both are them will be sorted soon well assuming the next update for windows 10 allows you to change the search engine.

 

 

i used to use chrome on ios but its shit..always crashing.

 

 

my dev preview is fine and nice on topic post

You can already change the default search engine. Just go to your search engine of choice then go to advanced settings, look for "search in the address bar with" and then add new. At that point you can add it and have it set as default.

[sqwidee]

Im only butthurt because cortona uses BING and you CANT change it! And i will always stay loyal to firefox because of the LTT addon.

 

There are now more Cortanas using Bing than there are humans using Bing

[dimitriianghelov]

well let's be honest Firefox and Chrome suck the only reason i still use them is because of the bookmark toolbar with all my shit . If you just upgrade nothing changes

[RH00D]

Im only butthurt because cortona uses BING and you CANT change it! And i will always stay loyal to firefox because of the LTT addon.

 

I was so pissed when I found out I can't use Bing with Google Now.... Why can't I change it! /s

[Trik'Stari]

So wait, this is all over them removing the annoying "would you like to make this program the default for this type of file (etc)" prompt?

 

For once, I'm actually on MS's side. That prompt was annoying as hell, and it's not like I can't change things on my own.

[jaggysnake57]

You can already change the default search engine. Just go to your search engine of choice then go to advanced settings, look for "search in the address bar with" and then add new. At that point you can add it and have it set as default.

 

well thats counter intuitive....i looked there before and thought you couldn't change it given all the options are greyed out thanks 

[Centurius]

well thats counter intuitive....i looked there before and thought you couldn't change it given all the options are greyed out thanks 

No problem at all, and yeah it confused me as well at first.

[LAwLz]

Now thinking this over, it seems to be a by-product of old bitterness between the two companies. Remember that Firefox is built under Mozilla, which was the direct child of Netscape. For those who don't know, Netscape (with Navigator) lost a battle with Microsoft's IE in the early world-wide web days, which ended up in a legal spaghetti.

Yes, lost because of very shady business practices which were so bad Microsoft were almost forced to split into 2 companies.

Since Microsoft used illegal means to crush a competitor before, Mozilla is worried they might do it again.

 

"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it"

 

 

As for everyone going "it's just 10 seconds to change it", even small steps to make things more inconvenient is a bad thing. The list of "it's just 10 seconds to change it" has grown so long it will take me a really long time to fix all the bullshit, and it will have to be fixed on all computers I use.

 

 

 

 

 

So wait, this is all over them removing the annoying "would you like to make this program the default for this type of file (etc)" prompt?

 

For once, I'm actually on MS's side. That prompt was annoying as hell, and it's not like I can't change things on my own.

No that promt is still there. What they changed was that now when a program asks if you want it as the default program and you press yes, you get thrown into the settings app where you get a list of all your standard programs (such as video player etc), then you have to scroll to the specific thing you want to change (in this case web browser), press the Edge icon and then choose from a list of all the web browsers you got installed.

 

This is what it looks like:

[Arty]

 

legit during install.

it asked keep your personal choices or not. 

dont blame MS if you choose not to read and just spam next.

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

legit during install.

it asked keep your personal choices or not. 

dont blame MS if you choose not to read and just spam next.

 

Of course that only works if you upgrade, not if you go for a clean install.  Anyone who's familiar with Microsoft's upgrade process will do an upgrade to get the new product key, then immediately wipe the SSD and do a clean install.

[LAwLz]

legit during install.

it asked keep your personal choices or not. 

dont blame MS if you choose not to read and just spam next.

I have no idea how that's related to anything I said in my post.

[thexzenon]

Let's be honest, people who use Firefox either know how to set it as default or (like my mom does) have the icon somewhere visible or searches for it in the start menu (not that hard people) and when they open it it will suggest to become the default browser. Problem solved. The thing is, non-tech savy people will just close Edge cause they don't know the UI (I guarantee that 100%) and will just search for whatever they used before. 

 

Mozilla needs to stop worrying about stupid things like this and actually make their browser usable and fast. They're not losing marketshare because MS or Google are cheating (well, not only ), but because they now, unfortunately, have an inferior browser.