NOT AGAIN!!! Microsoft is forcing Edge browser on Windows 10 users through the Windows 10 Mail app
In yet another move to make Windows 10 users forcibly opt for Microsoft Edge browser, the Redmond giant is testing a new method that will compel Windows 10 Mail users to use the Edge browser for links clicked on within the email client, regardless of the user’s app defaults. In other words, if you have set Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your default browser in Windows 10, Microsoft will ignore that setting and force you into using Microsoft Edge through the Mail app.
The company, which revealed the changes in the announcement of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17623 for Skip Ahead, said that “we will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge.” The company is testing the change in the latest test build of Windows 10.
In a note to “Windows Insider” testers, Microsoft argued that Edge “provides the best, most secure and consistent experience on Windows 10 and across your devices”. It further said that “With built-in features for reading, note-taking, Cortana integration, and easy access to services such as SharePoint and OneDrive, Microsoft Edge enables you to be more productive, organized and creative without sacrificing your battery life or security. As always, we look forward to feedback from our WIP community.”
This move by Microsoft has infuriated many users and industry watchers and raised concerns about Microsoft’s conflict of interest in running both a browser and an operating system.
We want people to use our product. Should we:
a) Make a better product
or
b) Not give them a choice and ram this inferior product down their throats?
Is not a normal question to ask.
— Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) March 16, 2018
This is not the first time that Microsoft is forcing its choice on Windows 10 users. Cortana users are forced to use Bing search and open results in the Microsoft Edge browser.
Although the feature is currently in “testing phase”, but if it does manage to make through to the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update, due in April, the users then might find it difficult to switch to any other web browser other than Edge. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that it doesn’t make it to a public release.
Do let us know what you think of Microsoft’s pushy practices in the comments section below.
