God bless EU
Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries
Submitted 9 months ago by brihuang95@sopuli.xyz to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/5/23859537/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-links-eu-eea-changes
Comments
Lobo6780@lemm.ee 9 months ago
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Nah thanks, we’re lucky to be mostly secular.
Buffalox@lemmy.world 9 months ago
You can have both. For instance Denmark is among the least religious countries in the world, and at the same time among of the most blessed.
That’s i fine arrangement we’ve got IMO.
qwrty@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Microsoft Edge is the true religion
nuttiness_reproach461@lemmy.world 9 months ago
“Microsoft forced to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries”, would be a more descriptive title.
WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 9 months ago
But the multinational hyper-conglomerates are our friends and the most efficient use of capital!
rippersnapper@lemm.ee 9 months ago
Can they do the same for Google recommending Chrome?
boolean@kbin.social 9 months ago
now do the rest of the world.
partial_accumen@lemmy.world 9 months ago
What setting can I put in to make Windows think its in the EU?
Chariotwheel@kbin.social 9 months ago
I have the hilarious image in my head that Microsoft checks their stats and has more EU users than the EU has population.
dublet@lemmy.world 9 months ago
This may or may not help you, I don’t have a Windows 11 install to try: elevenforum.com/…/change-country-or-region-geogra…
Pharceface@lemm.ee 9 months ago
That’s nice for the EU folks, elsewhere Microsoft has doubled down on this practice.
elshandra@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I’ve just doubled down on not using Microsoft tbh. I shouldn’t have to spend so much time and effort cleaning a clean install of an OS. And have updates change things so they don’t work the same or at all any more. Fuck that.
CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Didn’t this all get decided legally like two decades ago when Microsoft tried to do the same kind of thing with internet Explorer?
TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works 9 months ago
In America, software owns you
HidingCat@kbin.social 9 months ago
Pretty sure USA has it the worst when it comes to MS shennenigans.
ZeroCool@feddit.ch 9 months ago
This except it’s not limited to software. We exist at the whims of corporations.
starman@programming.dev 9 months ago
When you don’t control your software, your software controls you, or something like that
Gosnat@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Too late, I already shoved Linux Mint into my new gaming laptop and I’m glad I felt forced to do it, I’m having my first serious dive into Linux and I’m thrilled about my newfound project! I was so surprised over how very little knowledge you needed to have games running these days.
yoz@aussie.zone 9 months ago
Ah damn! I missed out as I am using Pop OS. SWORRY!!
Cabrio@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Linux isn’t an OS, but you GNU that.
Spiritreader@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Round and round and round.
It’s the same all over again. MS got a slap on their wrists with the browser choice tool they had to introduce in Windows 7.
Then everyone forgot about it and they started forcing Edge on users. How they get a slap on their wrist again and the same will happen in another 10 years.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s really awesome and I’m glad that EU regulations actually have a impact. But I still wish for more, more permanent and stricter anti monopoly laws.
Never_Sm1le@lemdro.id 9 months ago
They won’t get anything much harder than a wrist slap because Edge is not the dominant browser right now. Google just had a much hasher punishment with Android and Chrome
fne8w2ah@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Now do cross-platform messaging next!
Buffalox@lemmy.world 9 months ago
According to Microsoft almost everything from Microsoft is cross platform, because it works in both Windows 10 and 11. That’s good enough for Microsoft to be cross platform. I’m not even kidding!
Resolved3874@lemdro.id 9 months ago
I mean they can require it if they want. Apple would just bury the fact that it exists and would use something that’s known to be shit. Idk how they could be forced to make iMessage cross platform.
dan1101@lemm.ee 9 months ago
Here we go again, MS already lost a US federal lawsuit for the same thing but with Internet Explorer.
hypelightfly@kbin.social 9 months ago
Sadly, they didn't lose. They almost lost, appealed and ended up with a settlement which didn't require removing IE from Windows or prevent tying other software to windows.
On November 2, 2001, the DOJ reached an agreement with Microsoft to settle the case. The proposed settlement required Microsoft to share its application programming interfaces with third-party companies and appoint a panel of three people who would have full access to Microsoft's systems, records, and source code for five years in order to ensure compliance.[29] However, the DOJ did not require Microsoft to change any of its code nor did it prevent Microsoft from tying other software with Windows in the future.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp
TimeSquirrel@kbin.social 9 months ago
Yeah I definitely remember that in the news as a teenager...and then I remember everybody kinda shrugged their shoulders and forgot. And now Bill Gates = zoomer jesus after 20 years of PR work to turn his image around.
Phen@lemmy.eco.br 9 months ago
I didn’t even want the windows search results to include web links in the first place…
autotldr@lemmings.world [bot] 9 months ago
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Windows 11 continued this trend, with search still forcing users into Edge and a new dedicated widgets area that also ignores the default browser setting.
Microsoft’s Teams changes are designed to avoid further antitrust scrutiny, after the European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation into Microsoft’s bundling of its Teams software with the Office productivity suite in July.
The EU’s investigation was sparked by a complaint from rival Slack, which alleged that Microsoft had “illegally tied” its Microsoft Teams product to Office and is “force installing it for millions, blocking its removal, and hiding the true cost to enterprise customers.”
Microsoft initially made it difficult to switch default browsers in Windows 11, triggering complaints from rivals before the company eventually backed down.
It’s hard to imagine that Microsoft is making these Windows 11 changes specifically in EU countries out of choice, though.
Platforms like Windows will be required to meet a slew of interoperability and competition rules, including allowing users “to easily un-install pre-installed apps or change default settings on operating systems, virtual assistants, or web browsers that steer them to the products and services of the gatekeeper and provide choice screens for key services.”
The original article contains 479 words, the summary contains 193 words. Saved 60%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 9 months ago
Yay. Still have removed it focefully.
mayonaise_met@feddit.nl 9 months ago
Too late. I work with Microsoft professionally, but I’m about to install Linux Mint personally.
frododouchebaggins@lemmy.world 9 months ago
No offense, but that’s like pissing into the wind. As you know, business drives IT adoption. We have 50 engineers that can only use Windows because we depend on Autodesk software. We spend $50k per year on Office E5. I, as an individual, will never spend in my lifetime, what I spend in 1 year at work, with Microsoft. I’m not saying this to brag, but to give perspective. It’s how you have to drive Linux adoption too.
It is my opinion that the iPhone became successful because it supplanted Blackberry as the preferred corporate phone. At the time, the iphone did not play nice with any IT management system (like Active Directory). IT staff hated it, but we couldn’t say no because there was no equivalent alternative, Corporate adoption drove the iPhone’s success. Linux needs to do something that no one else is doing well.
CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I use Fedora with KDE, and Steam/ Bottles apps to run the games, and that works great.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
Install Linux. Problem solved
cloud@lazysoci.al 9 months ago
microsoft ad, remove
RoseRose56@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I started clapping with a smile and then I said, good for eu but I live in canada lol.
Pi7on@lemm.ee 9 months ago
I love EU
tissek@ttrpg.network 9 months ago
For everyday user (browser, light office, photo management, tv/movie streaming) it is already as viable as windows as a daily driver.
Once it is installed and up and running. But then most windows users haven’t installed windows themselves so that is almost a moot point. It is first when you get into “specialty” software linux viability drops.
madcaesar@lemmy.world 9 months ago
This is good. But they need to target google and chrome next.
Endorkend@kbin.social 9 months ago
Meanwhile, they did this another nearly a decade while one of the first things the EU did was tell Microsoft to stop being assholes and forcing Internet Explorer on everyone.
It was already insane the EU had to RE-legislate phone makers not to be assholes with proprietary connectors, as this was already done 2 decades ago too.
Asudox@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Maybe because of DMS?
theyoyomaster@lemmy.world 9 months ago
As someone who has a job that can’t be done remotely, this is stupid.
kescusay@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I’m under no illusions that Linux is a viable alternative for everyone, but if you’re just using your computer as a web terminal and light gaming system, a decent Linux system + Steam makes for a very usable alternative these days.
I have exactly one computer in my house that has Windows on it. It was provided by my employer, and I turn it on maybe once every two weeks or so, for special-purpose activities that can’t be done on my Linux laptop. And most of the time, for most activities my Linux laptop is the clearly superior performer - it’s not even close, despite their similar hardware specs.
I don’t think everyone should - or can - switch. But if you’ve got an old beater laptop gathering dust, try popping Ubuntu or something on it, see how it performs. See if it’s something you could legitimately switch to full or part time.
FatTony@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Is Linux still a good option for gaming if one were to not purchase games?
e-ratic@kbin.social 9 months ago
Yes, you can either add the game as a non-steam game and force proton, or use Lutris or Bottles. For repacks with installers, you can launch the setup.exe with Lutris or Bottles, just make sure you're include dependencies that require it (usually .net framework).
Source: most of my steam library on my steam deck is plundered loot
Granixo@feddit.cl 9 months ago
Linux is paradise when it comes to emulation 🎮
reflex@kbin.social 9 months ago
😏
Caradoc879@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Take your piracy back to the piracy sub
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
Yes, Steam doesn’t do anything
You can just as easily use Wine/Proton as your runner as you can set up Steam to use Wine/Proton as your runner
nicman24@kbin.social 9 months ago
yes but steam is so easy
Zpiritual@lemm.ee 9 months ago
Sure. I’ve run several modern … repurposed… games and it usually works through lutris.
dinckelman@lemmy.world 9 months ago
At this point in time, I only occasionally have mild issues with newest games, because Wine is a continuously developed software, and games with an annoying anticheat, such as Destiny 2 or R6 Siege. Everything else just runs, including older games, that don’t even run on Windows, or titles you had to sail the seas for
Jumper775@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Yeah it’s great. Bottles is the best tool imo, lutris almost feels like a relic from the early days of Linux gaming, and non-steam games in steam don’t always work exactly how you might want, and aren’t so much fun. There is also heroic games launcher now which lets you add custom games and is also a very nice option if you don’t use gnome (bottles is a gnome style app so it may look out of place elsewhere). I would put some thorough research into VPNs if you torrent though because the one I used on my Linux box (expressvpn) leaked my ip at some point and I got a letter in the mail.
OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
I’m a gamer. I’ve used Windows since the 95 days. I’m done with Microsoft. I was not happy with Windows 10 and the bullshit they introduced but there is no way in hell I’m signing up for Win11.
Steam has made a lot of progress with Proton. My next computer will be Linux-based.
kescusay@lemmy.world 9 months ago
It’s getting pretty easy to ditch Windows these days. Microsoft got too greedy and desperate, and actually using the damn platform they built is getting harder and harder, especially if you don’t want the nagging and annoyances that come from them trying to turn your computer into their subscription revenue stream. My impression is that Valve is aware of the problem, and wants to make sure that their store works regardless of which operating system you prefer.
sturmblast@lemmy.world 9 months ago
You’ll be just fine. So long as they fix the issues with anticheat software at some point. Gaming on linux is great these days in most cases though.
Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 9 months ago
Yeah this is so true. I have a gaming laptop with Linux on it and a steam deck. If it doesn’t run on Linux, I don’t buy it. The problem is that strategy isn’t really saving me any money these days.
Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 9 months ago
There’s a real sense of relief whenever I close my (work) windows laptop and open my personal Pop_OS laptop… and then start up Baldur’s Gate.
I’ve been primarily a Linux user for several years now and it seems like Windows is just getting worse and worse in terms of user experience. I fear the day that my company wants everyone to move to Win11.
sturmblast@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I’m just hoping 12 is better… somehow… and soon? I loathe 11.
uranibaba@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Give me GOG Galaxy and Path of Exile on Linux and I would install it now. Last time I wanted to switch, I installed everything I needed, went to download GOG and remembered why I switch back last time. :(
veloxization@yiffit.net 9 months ago
You don’t need GOG Galaxy. I play my GOG games through Heroic Games Launcher on my Artix Linux system.
Path of Exile is rated Gold on ProtonDB and according to reports works out of the box through Steam Proton.
gataloca@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I use Lutris to install my GOG games, Battle.NET, EA launcher, and Ubisoft Play. It’s a very simple solution.
KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 9 months ago
I use heroic launcher, works perfectly for me
regalia@literature.cafe 9 months ago
If everyone swapped to Linux, how quickly do you think it’d be as viable as Windows?
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
5 years for personal, 20 years for professional
Eheran@lemmy.world 9 months ago
How or why does Linux have a higher performance for you?
Im_old@lemmy.world 9 months ago
not OP but similar situation. My Linux desktop is just more snappy, despite being 5 years old (and the work Win11 laptop brand new). I already have customized with my shortcuts and apps. I don’t have to listen to the fan spinning up every time I open a new window (exaggerating a bit, but not much). Also I am not tied to work filters. If I want to read the news online for 5 minutes in a coffee break I don’t risk being monitored and potentially evaluated. But really, I’ve been a Windows and Linux user for 20-odd years. I’ve always found that Linux installed on the same hardware of Windows is just smoother and faster. Windows is getting so much bloatware (from MS or enterprise apps) that it doesn’t even have a fighting chance.
GigglyBobble@kbin.social 9 months ago
Memory management and file IO is far more efficient in Linux. So much so that I even got better performance in Windows running Debian in a VM for some very file-intensive stuff.
whileloop@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Probably just down to less stuff running in the background using up CPU cycles. I can’t imagine it makes a huge difference, but more than nothing.
Nefyedardu@kbin.social 9 months ago
Most desktop environments are really efficient at what they do and minimize the background resources they take. Just checked my system and GNOME takes ~350MBs RAM and literally 0.0% CPU, it's insane. I looked up Windows 11 and it seems like it can use up to 4 GBs (!) of RAM all by itself.
jayandp@sh.itjust.works 9 months ago
I’m gonna ride out Windows 10 since I’ve got it behaving and I’m lazy. But if Windows 12 is just like Windows 11, or worse, I’m switching to Linux and figuring out how to get a vGPU VM up and running for when I have to run something on Windows for one reason or another. I messed with a vGPU in Hyper-V on Windows and was amazed by how seamless the performance was compared to other VM GPU acceleration options. I found a project to do something similar on Linux, so I’m gonna mess with that. If I can get it running as well as I’ve seen in some videos, I won’t need a bare metal Windows install anymore.
bhamlin@lemmy.world 9 months ago
You should probably just go ahead and switch now. It’s not going to get any better, at least not over one iteration. Maybe Windows 14…
Zealousideal_Fox900@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Yeah same. When they do eventually kill 10 then im bailing for Firefox and Linux. I do also have it behaving but sometimes it tries the odd bullshit about edge.
SnipingNinja@slrpnk.net 9 months ago
Linux needs a Chrome OS type thing but FOSS with steam and it’ll be the best version for most users, and if it’s configurable unlike Chrome OS it’ll even serve power users
(Chrome OS was actually really good imo, especially with their container method of running Android and Linux apps, but they moved it to VM, and it’s not as good functionally for some reason)
Mio@feddit.nu 9 months ago
You know there is a Chromium OS out there that is not only for Chrome OS computers. I don’t remember the exact name, Google it.
ebits21@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
And you can put windows in a virtual machine for edge cases for most use cases. Use Linux for everything else.
Mnmalst@kbin.social 9 months ago
@kescusay Just out of interest, what are the "special-purpose activities that can’t be done on my Linux laptop" if you don't mind sharing?
GigglyBobble@kbin.social 9 months ago
Running AAA games with kernel level anti-cheat (aka malware) would be an example. Or special-purpose Windows-exclusive software like some ERP client, specific hardware drivers etc.
TrustingZebra@lemmy.one 9 months ago
Ironically enough, some of the Linux certification exams only work on Windows and macOS.
supercriticalcheese@feddit.it 9 months ago
For most things I fully agree, unless it’s for windows specific applications that don’t exist in other platforms.
What about Nvidia drivers for games?
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 9 months ago
Use X11 and you are fine
bisq@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I would switch tomorrow if I didn’t play competitive CS that requires third-party anti-cheat like Faceit/ ESEA.
kescusay@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Which version of CS? Many of them work fine now.