Microsoft apps exist on Android and they're not forced to open links in Chrome on Android. If the user chooses, they can open on Microsoft Edge on Android. The user can set their own browser preference - and Google doesn't force them.

Apple doesn't allow other browser engines but it's on them.

None of these bug tech corps are in the right here, but MS is being more anti-competitive than most.

Edge and Chrome use the same engine, don’t they?

So the correct iOS parallel is not Apple’s refusal to allow non-WebKit engines. But Apple’s hypothetical refusal to allow links to be opened in WebKit-flavored Firefox. Which, for the record, it does let you do.

>Edge and Chrome use the same engine, don’t they?

To be precise: No, they don't. Their engines are based on the same codebase, but they still are running their own installed engines.

In contrast, Apple doesn't just refuse to allow non-WebKit engines. It requires everyone to use the pre-installed, Apple-provided engine. You can't use your own build of WebKit.

I know I'm comparing a turd sandwich to a puke pancake here, but in what way is "Apple doesn't allow other browser engines" less anti-competitive than what MS is doing?

For Apple, the wall around the garden is so high that you don't realize there is an outside in the first place. So no one notices it.

Never said it wasn't, thats why I used Android's example and then also called out Apple.

Umm, MS Teams on Adroid forced me to install Edge to open links. Even the copy action pushes "haha, we wont give away this link you moron" (in corp speak) to the clipboard.

Thats on Microsoft not Google

I use Teams on my phone regularly and have never seen this happen. Clicking on a link takes me to the web page without any problems, even in my default browser which is Firefox.

I think they are using a dark pattern now. I opened a link in Outlook (Android) after a recent update and I got a popup to open with Edge. I didn't have Edge installed so I was confused for a moment. Just below the big colorful edge icon was (a much less visually prominent) option to open in my default browser.

If I hadn't been paying attention, I would have thought that they were forcing me to install Edge too.

One variable many people don’t consider is that Microsoft gives organizations an incredible amount of control over application behavior when trying to maintain a through line for rights protection of organizational data. Like not allowing organizational data to be opened in apps that aren’t approved, authenticated with user creds, and supportive of rights management (no printing, no saving, etc.).

I’m not saying that’s what’s happening with GP’s experience with Teams, but just pointing out that when thinking about MS app behavior on any platform, it’s a variable that can be present in the corporate context which many “users” remain blissfully unaware of, or see it manifest as these weird rules and behaviors and not acting like other apps. But there can be an entirely different set of user stories at play beneath the surface.

But you compared Microsoft apps on Android. This article is more analogous to Google apps on Android always using Chrome.

What web view engine? MS are using chromium

On iOS?

I thought the argument was they were against using someone else's rendering engine?

The equivalent apps on iOS aren't even allowed, Android allows other browsers (including their browser engines) just fine. Firefox is the only browser to bother though, as most of the chromium wrappers, including edge for android, are happy to just build a skin around the default web view.

Android allows this. Links from the gmail app open in Firefox in my Android phone.

On Android I can install Firefox and have all browser activities forwarded there, even from GMail, and even for opening YouTube links.

> The equivalent for this on iOS or Android would be allowing opening links in a different browser and web view engine.

In Android, all my links open in Firefox. I don't see any issue there. Might serve as an inspiration to Microsoft ;)

I have that setting set, and various links open in chrome instead of firefox for me.

Maps open links in Firefox for me; Gmail by default in-process with webview, but that is disable-able in settings and then it opens links in the default browser. For the google search widget, I don't use it, but after a quick check yes, it does use webview too, but also has the option to open in browser.

I've not seen anything opening in Chrome for years, if ever.

> I've not seen anything opening in Chrome for years, if ever.

Except for the things that you just said open in the chrome webview, right?

It is not chrome webview. It is android webview. Yes, it is similar to chrome engine, but it is not chrome. Just like edge is not chrome.

It is also per-app choice. If an app decides doing something in a particular way, it is not the system's fault -- some reddit readers do the same, for some reason. For now, apps do have preferences to open in browser instead, and that option respects the default one.