Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users into Edge

Re:Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users ... by xg15 on Wednesday November 17, 2021 @06:48AM (#29251782)

> Do they really expect people who go through the effort of installing a third party browser and setting it as default to switch back to Edge because of the grand experience they had with it when Windows opened some help article in it?

No they don't, otherwise they wouldn't be trying to undermine the whole concept of "default browser" like this.

I think what they expect is that those people will keep using Edge "on accident" - because various bits of essential OS chrome will just keep opening it, no matter what.

After some time, those users will grow tired of manually copy-pasting the link into Firefox or whatever and just keep using Edge for those tasks.

Never underestimate the power of friction.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users ... by tyingq on Wednesday November 17, 2021 @07:46AM (#29252336)

They may just like the telemetry benefit of users accidentally opening Edge occasionally, versus any uptick in people actually choosing Edge. The "Edge Only" links tend to be to Microsoft properties. Like the weather widget opens an msn.com link.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users ... by xg15 on Wednesday November 17, 2021 @08:39AM (#29252799)

I think search will open Bing. Unless you go to the trouble of manually copying and pasting the link, you'll open all sites you access through the search results in the same edge instance as well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users ... by paledot on Wednesday November 17, 2021 @07:30PM (#29260736)

This happens to me periodically, because I rarely use bookmarks or persistent tabs. Edge will open because Microsoft, I'll start browsing, and it'll be a few minutes before I notice that I've been scammed again.

[ Parent | on HN ]