6 ms·

Microsoft has a dumb idea to make people use its web browser

50 points by okket 9y ago

Froyoh 9y ago
One more reason to use Outlook over Mail
- reaperducer 9y ago
  One more reason to get off the Microsoft merry-go-round.
shakna 9y ago
> In the latest preview version of Windows 10, Microsoft’s Mail app will automatically open web links in Edge, even for users who’ve set a different browser as their default. Let's hope that stays in preview. However, it isn't an uncommon tactic. Outlook has occasionally defaulted to Internet Explorer over the default web browser in its past history, though to give the benefit of the doubt, those times were considered "bugs". Google's GMail on Android tried it once or twice before resorting to embedding a web browser inside itself.
- lultimouomo 9y ago
  GMail now opens a web view, but that view is powered by the user default's browser. The Google app (the one that powers the voice assistant and the search bar) always uses a Chrome web view instead.
  - maxxxxx 9y ago
    Gmail does this really nicely. I use Brave browser and the web view works perfectly.
- r00fus 9y ago
  Isn't this what got Microsoft (and even Google) the anti-trust attention? Pre-installed apps not working with competitors' products?
- ClassyJacket 9y ago
  On my work PC, I constantly get messages that "[Program] caused a problem, the default app has been reset to Microsoft Photo Viewer" etc. Then, when I change it back manually, Windows simply outright ignores it. Default apps on Windows 10 are a disaster, and I don't see the motivation for doing it. Why does Microsoft care which photo viewer or browser I use?
  - shakna 9y ago
    You might have been hit by a bug involving KB3135173 [0]. A later update fixed it, or modifying the Registry can fix it. Windows 10 seems to have issues if it expects a registry entry to exist, and it doesn't. (You probably have no control over any of this unfortunately, being a work PC). [0] https://www.ghacks.net/2016/02/16/beware-kb3135173-for-windows-10-may-reset-default-apps-again/ https://www.ghacks.net/2016/02/16/beware-kb3135173-for-windo...
ocdtrekkie 9y ago
There's really no good reason for Microsoft to be making these moves. Edge is a very solid browser, and a fairly good choice security-wise, if only because of it's very locked down set of extensions. I'm currently a Firefox daily user, but Edge has been my main browser for several months at a time. Why try to capture users by locking out the competition when you can just keep making a better browser? This is burning the goodwill they've built up for no apparent conceivable reason, and remains an excellent example of a company sabotaging itself repeatedly.
- reaperducer 9y ago
  >Why try to capture users by locking out the competition when you can just keep making a better browser? Cost of tricking people into using your browser: $ Cost of making a better browser: $$$$$$
- markbernard 9y ago
  Don't know what you are using but Edge sucks for me. It constantly freezes. It''ll freeze starting up or freeze shutting down. And once that happens the process stays stuck and you can't even kill it so you can't even try again. You just have to restart.
TwoNineA 9y ago
Who inside Microsoft thinks this is a good idea?
cx1000 9y ago
Apple and Google are doing this too: On my iPhone the Gmail app opens things in Chrome, the iOS promoted news stories are opened in Safari, yet I prefer Firefox.
- Feniks 9y ago
  Yep. Its not a bad idea at all, stuff like this is what made Chrome huge on Android. A lot of users will never change default settings. I mean I would love to live in a world were people make informed decisions based on research but that's not happening. Meanwhile advanced users retain the freedom to use whatever browser they want so everyone wins.
- Merad 9y ago
  Not to mention that every time the app updates, it will prompt you to use Chrome, even if you've already changed that setting.
  - libdjml 9y ago
    It’s not even for every update, that setting seems to revert at least daily for me. It’s very rare I see google going for a desperate and annoying UX, but this is infuriating - I’m glad I’m not the only one.
- violinist 9y ago
  Sort of. Google apps give you the choice to open in Safari or Chrome. Not sure if they allow you to pick a different browser besides those two.
  - cptskippy 9y ago
    I've never been asked to open things in Safari or Chrome, but then again I am on Android. For the majority of smartphone users, Gmail just one day started using Chromeframe to open all links without permission. These behaviors are being used more and more as Google tries to tie your actions together into a single identity.
skocznymroczny 9y ago
Does anyone actually use "Mail"? I think most people either use the email webclient, e.g. GMail, or they are corporate users and use Outlook.
- JohnTHaller 9y ago
  I tried it out on my laptop which I don't use much (mostly use my desktop dev rig) and was pleasantly surprised by it. It works pretty well with IMAP and the People app can sync directly with Google, something Outlook still can't do right. So, with a fresh install of Windows 10, you can get your Google-based email, calendar, and contacts into the lightweight built-in apps within about 5 minutes.
  - petecox 9y ago
    Yeah, I found with Mail for Windows 10 that the setup for gmail and my university's office365 account was fairly seamless. Likewise Outlook on Android (although I'm currently using K-9). The only place I'm using webmail is on Linux but now Thunderbird is receiving new love it might be time...
    - craftyguy 9y ago
      > The only place I'm using webmail is on Linux Oh but there are other great MTAs you can use too! Like (neo)mutt and alot!
Someone1234 9y ago
The mail app is so terrible, the few that put up with it likely won't mind this. It makes Outlook Express look good by comparison... For the rest of us just stick to webmail or use Thunderbird/Outlook. Although in general my faith in email and desktop email clients diminishes with each passing year.
CosmicBagel 9y ago
I prefer mailbird anyways
sharpercoder 9y ago
I have a job at a large US company. Although I have admin rights and I can install basically anything I want, there is a script that sets the default browser at startup. Every time I encounter it, I get annoyed and I remember to not use the default browser (It is Edge).
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  Perhaps write your own script that sets it back?
asdsa5325 9y ago
The silliest thing about Edge is that you can't search through your bookmarks ("favorites") or history. That alone makes it an automatic no for me. There are no other features they could add to get me to switch, I can't believe they don't have it already.
candiodari 9y ago
Both Apple and Google do this on their platforms. Hell Apple won't even allow other browsers on IOS.
sssilver 9y ago
This may be a very naive question, but why is Microsoft so invested in getting people to use Edge/IE? What's the big deal for Microsoft if people just prefer to use Safari/Firefox/Chrome/Opera/etc? Their browser share is already very low, what do they stand to lose?
amriksohata 9y ago
Isn't this what got it a court case with Netscape due to anticompetitive laws back in the day?

50 points by okket 9y ago

Froyoh 9y ago

One more reason to use Outlook over Mail

reaperducer 9y ago
One more reason to get off the Microsoft merry-go-round.

shakna 9y ago

> In the latest preview version of Windows 10, Microsoft’s Mail app will automatically open web links in Edge, even for users who’ve set a different browser as their default. Let's hope that stays in preview. However, it isn't an uncommon tactic. Outlook has occasionally defaulted to Internet Explorer over the default web browser in its past history, though to give the benefit of the doubt, those times were considered "bugs". Google's GMail on Android tried it once or twice before resorting to embedding a web browser inside itself.

lultimouomo 9y ago
GMail now opens a web view, but that view is powered by the user default's browser. The Google app (the one that powers the voice assistant and the search bar) always uses a Chrome web view instead.
- maxxxxx 9y ago
  Gmail does this really nicely. I use Brave browser and the web view works perfectly.
r00fus 9y ago
Isn't this what got Microsoft (and even Google) the anti-trust attention? Pre-installed apps not working with competitors' products?
ClassyJacket 9y ago
On my work PC, I constantly get messages that "[Program] caused a problem, the default app has been reset to Microsoft Photo Viewer" etc. Then, when I change it back manually, Windows simply outright ignores it. Default apps on Windows 10 are a disaster, and I don't see the motivation for doing it. Why does Microsoft care which photo viewer or browser I use?
- shakna 9y ago
  You might have been hit by a bug involving KB3135173 [0]. A later update fixed it, or modifying the Registry can fix it. Windows 10 seems to have issues if it expects a registry entry to exist, and it doesn't. (You probably have no control over any of this unfortunately, being a work PC). [0] https://www.ghacks.net/2016/02/16/beware-kb3135173-for-windows-10-may-reset-default-apps-again/ https://www.ghacks.net/2016/02/16/beware-kb3135173-for-windo...

ocdtrekkie 9y ago

There's really no good reason for Microsoft to be making these moves. Edge is a very solid browser, and a fairly good choice security-wise, if only because of it's very locked down set of extensions. I'm currently a Firefox daily user, but Edge has been my main browser for several months at a time. Why try to capture users by locking out the competition when you can just keep making a better browser? This is burning the goodwill they've built up for no apparent conceivable reason, and remains an excellent example of a company sabotaging itself repeatedly.

reaperducer 9y ago
>Why try to capture users by locking out the competition when you can just keep making a better browser? Cost of tricking people into using your browser: $ Cost of making a better browser: $$$$$$
markbernard 9y ago
Don't know what you are using but Edge sucks for me. It constantly freezes. It''ll freeze starting up or freeze shutting down. And once that happens the process stays stuck and you can't even kill it so you can't even try again. You just have to restart.

TwoNineA 9y ago

Who inside Microsoft thinks this is a good idea?

cx1000 9y ago

Apple and Google are doing this too: On my iPhone the Gmail app opens things in Chrome, the iOS promoted news stories are opened in Safari, yet I prefer Firefox.

Feniks 9y ago
Yep. Its not a bad idea at all, stuff like this is what made Chrome huge on Android. A lot of users will never change default settings. I mean I would love to live in a world were people make informed decisions based on research but that's not happening. Meanwhile advanced users retain the freedom to use whatever browser they want so everyone wins.
Merad 9y ago
Not to mention that every time the app updates, it will prompt you to use Chrome, even if you've already changed that setting.
- libdjml 9y ago
  It’s not even for every update, that setting seems to revert at least daily for me. It’s very rare I see google going for a desperate and annoying UX, but this is infuriating - I’m glad I’m not the only one.
violinist 9y ago
Sort of. Google apps give you the choice to open in Safari or Chrome. Not sure if they allow you to pick a different browser besides those two.
- cptskippy 9y ago
  I've never been asked to open things in Safari or Chrome, but then again I am on Android. For the majority of smartphone users, Gmail just one day started using Chromeframe to open all links without permission. These behaviors are being used more and more as Google tries to tie your actions together into a single identity.

skocznymroczny 9y ago

Does anyone actually use "Mail"? I think most people either use the email webclient, e.g. GMail, or they are corporate users and use Outlook.

JohnTHaller 9y ago
I tried it out on my laptop which I don't use much (mostly use my desktop dev rig) and was pleasantly surprised by it. It works pretty well with IMAP and the People app can sync directly with Google, something Outlook still can't do right. So, with a fresh install of Windows 10, you can get your Google-based email, calendar, and contacts into the lightweight built-in apps within about 5 minutes.
- petecox 9y ago
  Yeah, I found with Mail for Windows 10 that the setup for gmail and my university's office365 account was fairly seamless. Likewise Outlook on Android (although I'm currently using K-9). The only place I'm using webmail is on Linux but now Thunderbird is receiving new love it might be time...
  - craftyguy 9y ago
    > The only place I'm using webmail is on Linux Oh but there are other great MTAs you can use too! Like (neo)mutt and alot!

Someone1234 9y ago

The mail app is so terrible, the few that put up with it likely won't mind this. It makes Outlook Express look good by comparison... For the rest of us just stick to webmail or use Thunderbird/Outlook. Although in general my faith in email and desktop email clients diminishes with each passing year.

CosmicBagel 9y ago

I prefer mailbird anyways

sharpercoder 9y ago

I have a job at a large US company. Although I have admin rights and I can install basically anything I want, there is a script that sets the default browser at startup. Every time I encounter it, I get annoyed and I remember to not use the default browser (It is Edge).

mixmastamyk 9y ago
Perhaps write your own script that sets it back?

asdsa5325 9y ago

The silliest thing about Edge is that you can't search through your bookmarks ("favorites") or history. That alone makes it an automatic no for me. There are no other features they could add to get me to switch, I can't believe they don't have it already.

candiodari 9y ago

Both Apple and Google do this on their platforms. Hell Apple won't even allow other browsers on IOS.

sssilver 9y ago

This may be a very naive question, but why is Microsoft so invested in getting people to use Edge/IE? What's the big deal for Microsoft if people just prefer to use Safari/Firefox/Chrome/Opera/etc? Their browser share is already very low, what do they stand to lose?

amriksohata 9y ago

Isn't this what got it a court case with Netscape due to anticompetitive laws back in the day?