5 ms·

I think there's another factor at play that isn't often mentioned: Google uses the dominant position of its services, as well as the strength of their brands, t

I think there's another factor at play that isn't often mentioned: Google uses the dominant position of its services, as well as the strength of their brands, to promote Chrome as the better browser, in not-so-subtle ways. One is often repeatedly prompted to install Chrome when visiting Google on other browsers[1][2]. Most normal users would just give up and install just to get rid of the pop up. Microsoft has been doing the same (e.g. trying to trick you into keeping Edge when trying to select another browser as default on Windows 10), but their product wasn't good enough for it to work, it seems. [1] https://superuser.com/questions/1192441/is-it-possible-to-tell-google-to-stop-nagging-me-about-chrome https://superuser.com/questions/1192441/is-it-possible-to-te... [2] https://support.mozilla.org/it/questions/922025 https://support.mozilla.org/it/questions/922025

Jonnax 8y ago
Also Firefox for Android gets a shit version of Google search. But if you spoof your user agent it works perfectly. That definitely is using their dominance in search to make people.use their web browser.
- EwanToo 8y ago
  That's recently (and silently as far as I can tell) changed for me, I now get a fairly good google search on Firefox on Android. However you're right in general Google are using the position to enforce Chrome
- simfoo 8y ago
  Can you give more details?
  - dessant 8y ago
    https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=975444 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=975444
- hkt 8y ago
  Doesn't surprise me. The EU should fine Google for a lot of things, including that. There's always duckduckgo, though.
- IshKebab 8y ago
  That's been fixed recently but there is another issue - Google search results from the home screen always open in a Chrome view, even if your default browser is Firefox. You end up with an awkward mix of Chrome and Firefox.
- vthriller 8y ago
  Those rare folks who prefer older Google interfaces might actually consider this a feature, a nice additional reason to ditch modern Chrome.
sametmax 8y ago
Actually in Europe, MS got forced to create a ballot screen for the windows for 5 years: https://www.clubic.com/pro/entreprises/microsoft/actualite-745679-ballot-screen.html https://www.clubic.com/pro/entreprises/microsoft/actualite-7... It stopped because IE and Windows were not dominent anymore. Surprised Google didn't get at least a warning for force feeding his browser.
TheArcane 8y ago
Yes. Google translate integration is the only reason I keep Chrome around

Jonnax 8y ago

Also Firefox for Android gets a shit version of Google search. But if you spoof your user agent it works perfectly. That definitely is using their dominance in search to make people.use their web browser.

EwanToo 8y ago
That's recently (and silently as far as I can tell) changed for me, I now get a fairly good google search on Firefox on Android. However you're right in general Google are using the position to enforce Chrome
simfoo 8y ago
Can you give more details?
- dessant 8y ago
  https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=975444 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=975444
hkt 8y ago
Doesn't surprise me. The EU should fine Google for a lot of things, including that. There's always duckduckgo, though.
IshKebab 8y ago
That's been fixed recently but there is another issue - Google search results from the home screen always open in a Chrome view, even if your default browser is Firefox. You end up with an awkward mix of Chrome and Firefox.
vthriller 8y ago
Those rare folks who prefer older Google interfaces might actually consider this a feature, a nice additional reason to ditch modern Chrome.

sametmax 8y ago

Actually in Europe, MS got forced to create a ballot screen for the windows for 5 years: https://www.clubic.com/pro/entreprises/microsoft/actualite-745679-ballot-screen.html https://www.clubic.com/pro/entreprises/microsoft/actualite-7... It stopped because IE and Windows were not dominent anymore. Surprised Google didn't get at least a warning for force feeding his browser.

TheArcane 8y ago

Yes. Google translate integration is the only reason I keep Chrome around