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Microsoft Wants To Force Windows 10 Mail Users To Use Edge For Email Links (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures dept.

Microsoft has revealed today that "we will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge." What this means is that if you have Chrome or Firefox set as your default browser in Windows 10, Microsoft will simply ignore that and force you into Edge when you click a link within the Mail app. The Verge reports: "As always, we look forward to feedback from our WIP community," says Microsoft's Dona Sarkar in a blog post today. I'm sure Microsoft will receive a lot of feedback over this unnecessary change, and we can only hope the company doesn't ignore it.

8 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Use a different mail app by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Use a different mail app ... problem solved.
    (1) View webmail in a different browser
    (2) Install Outlook, which will remain configurable for business reasons
    (3) Install Thunderbird or another 3rd party email app

    Microsoft Mail is the new Outlook Express, without the charm of a built-in NNTP client...

  2. Re:So... by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I use a desktop email app, because I can respond to stuff when I'm offline and get notifications on my laptop. Thunderbird is still awesome. Plus I host my own IMAP server and don't feel like giving all my personal info to Google/M$/Yahoo/Apple.

  3. Since I will not be using mail on win10 anyways... by gweihir · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, the only thing I am going to trust Win10 with (somewhat) when win7 goes out of service will be gaming. No email, no web-browsing, nada. They can f*** their creepy selves. Instead I will have a clean, trustworthy Linux box for anything non-gaming and a win10 box for gaming only.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  4. They are just widening the hole by HannethCom · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They already did this with Cortana. Remember her? No, probably because anyone who was using her stopped when it started ignoring your default browser and always opens Edge instead.

    --
    Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
  5. Re:Since I will not be using mail on win10 anyways by Teckla · · Score: 4, Funny

    *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark* *bark*

    *BLAM* *BLAM*

    NO TERRIER

  6. Microsoft does NOT respect you ... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 3, Insightful

    .. nor your preferences.

    Fuck them. Use software that does.

  7. Re:It's not a completely unreasonable change by Wyzard · · Score: 3

    None of those reasons they cite are specific to email. They're valid reasons why one might want to use Edge as the default browser for everything in Windows 10, but if a user has nonetheless chosen to use a different browser, the mail app -- just like other apps -- ought to respect that preference.

    ...will open in Microsoft Edge, which provides the best, most secure and consistent experience on Windows 10 and across your devices. 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.

    This is marketing-speak. It seems pretty clear that the purpose of this change is basically to advertise Edge: Microsoft is dissatisfied with how many people are choosing different browsers, Microsoft thinks that people would prefer Edge if only they'd give it a try, so Microsoft is basically railroading people into trying Edge whether they want to or not. Same sort of thinking that gave us GWX.

  8. Soooo? by Sarusa · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you're actually using the Windows Store Mail app, Edge is what you deserve for a browser.