this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2023
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378
The EU will finally free Windows users from Bing (www.theverge.com)
submitted 11 months ago by Tibert@jlai.lu to c/technology@lemmy.world
34 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

All of these Windows 11 changes are part of key tweaks that Microsoft has to make to its operating system to comply with the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect in March 2024.

Alongside clearly marking which apps are system components in Windows 11, Microsoft is also responding by adding the ability to uninstall the following apps:

  • Camera
  • Cortana (already removable and thrown in the trash)
  • Web Search from Microsoft Bing, in the EEA
  • Microsoft Edge, in the EEA
  • Photos

Only Windows 11 users in the EEA will be able to fully remove Microsoft Edge and the Bing-powered web search from Windows Search. Microsoft could easily extend this to all Windows 11 users, but it’s limiting this extra functionality to EEA markets to comply with the rules. “Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the EEA,”

Microsoft will allow EEA machines to remove the Bing results, so Google could provide its own search results here and effectively become the default if a user has uninstalled Bing. “If the user has more than one search provider installed, Windows Search will show the last one used when opened,”

So possibly search engines like ddgo and others may be able to develop an integration to be able to be used in the windows search menu.

But no nice things for outside the EEA.

Now I hope that when uninstalling edge, it won't auto reinstall back like the f piece of s omen software which installs itself because I have an hp display.

Also what would happen if a user, who has no idea what they are doing, uninstalls edge without having another browser available?

all 35 comments
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[–] sunbunman@lemm.ee 31 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Sounds like we need to start installing windows as a EU nation.

[–] Aatube@kbin.social 19 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I wish America would join the EU

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 51 points 11 months ago

Why do you hate the EU so much?

[–] themurphy@lemmy.world 19 points 11 months ago

Omg please stay away

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 7 points 11 months ago

Please don't

[–] techgearwhips@lemmy.world 28 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Just moved from WIndows to Linux Mint a few weeks ago and never going back

[–] Neon@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

Linux Users telling everyone they use Linux

I use NixOS btw

[–] reksas@lemmings.world 3 points 11 months ago

Once windows 10 becomes unuseable, I will switch to linux no matter what. Considering they are already testing the waters about subscription for OS, there is nothing they will stop for.

I wouldn't be surprised if they completely started preventing regular users from having administrator rights to their own computers and you would either have to buy more expensive licence or just contact some ms support ai and beg it to do what you need admin rights for. Most users most likely wouldn't even notice or care since you dont need administator account to do things majority of people use computers for.

[–] hikaru755@feddit.de 14 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Also what would happen if a user, who has no idea what they are doing, uninstalls edge without having another browser available?

I guess not allowing the current default browser to be uninstalled while there is no other program available that can be made the default browser would be a simple and viable solution here.

[–] Silentiea@lemm.ee 6 points 11 months ago

They have to use terminal to download a new one, duh.

Or more likely, there will be an option to use the OS's installation media or something to install edge again, if not a still-legal-to-remove-but-separate-from-edge installer that would take someone who knows what they're doing to remove.

[–] pizzawithdirt@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Microsoft Store already has browsers like Firefox.

[–] SimonSaysStuff@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (2 children)

As someone who is sadly no longer part of the EEA, I wonder what would happen if you selected an EEA region during install, removed everything you want gone, then set your region properly?

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago

update goes brrrr

[–] runner_g@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 11 months ago

A quote in the article from Microsoft: “Once chosen in device setup, the region used for DMA compliance can only be changed by resetting the PC.”

So if you move into EEA from outside you have to reset your device to be given this option? That smells like a lawsuit ready to happen.

[–] pastaPersona@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

EU coming in clutch for tech rights once again

Would be hilarious of Microsoft did a 180 and decided to just stop all business in the EU in order to be able to continue forcing edge

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That's funny, I think this whole new bing with the AI is the first iteration of bing I like.

[–] HidingCat@kbin.social 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes, but it still shouldn't be forced down users' throats.

There's a lot I like about MS products (unlike the majority here), but I still dislike the way they integrate their services into their products. I'll use what I want, thanks.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 6 points 11 months ago

Everything from Microsoft is literally just white noise to me at this point, so I don't even know what they're pushing or forcing down anyone's throat. I've been using Linux for years.

But I thought I'd give their new ai chat thing a whirl and really enjoyed using it.

[–] Endorkend@kbin.social 6 points 11 months ago

This, the USB standard for phones and so many other things are shit that happened before, over a decade ago.

The moment these companies see a technicality or loophole to skirt the rules, they do it.

[–] RmDebArc_5@lemmy.ml 5 points 11 months ago

If they uninstall it there’s still the Microsoft store

[–] xep@kbin.social 2 points 11 months ago (4 children)

But only in Europe. Is there any way the rest of us can do this too?

[–] original_reader@lemm.ee 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

If I understand this correctly, using a European countries' location during setup should work. When all is done and dusted, set your actual location.

[–] Tibert@jlai.lu 2 points 11 months ago

Most certainly the today tools to uninstall software from windows would still be usable, but not official like in EEA locations.

[–] thecrotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago

remove-appx package in powershell can remove edge and always could, I honestly don't even understand why this legislation was necessary

[–] ABCDE@lemmy.world -2 points 11 months ago

Use a Mac or Linux.

[–] Trystero@sh.itjust.works -2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Just use linux.

[–] Tibert@jlai.lu 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well you see, there is a reason I'm on windows, because I can't use Linux for what I need, unless... Maybe you want to do a commit on the Linux kernel and amd driver to enhance the libVF.IO compatibility for recent amd gpus? Oh and don't forget commits on overwolf for Linux/wine support and some other things too hmm?

[–] Trystero@sh.itjust.works 0 points 11 months ago

And if you noticed a problem in windows and wanted to do commit on the windows kernel?