Browser Maker Vivaldi Accuses Microsoft Of Anticompetitive Tactics With Edge In Windows 10
Microsoft has a history of riling people up over the way it promotes its own software and services in Windows. One of the longstanding disputes is between Microsoft and developers who make third-party browsers. Microsoft over the years has been accused on several occasions of unfairly favoring Internet Explorer or, more recently, its Edge browser over the competition, and lest anyone think the matter has been put to rest, the co-founder and CEO of Vivaldi is pretty ticked off.
For anyone who is not aware, Vivaldi is a third-party browser that has been referred to as the spiritual successor to Opera. It is led by co-founder and CEO Jon von Tetzchner, who also co-founded and formerly served as CEO of Opera Software. These days he is all about promoting Vivaldi and he is none-too-happy with what he perceives to be "anti-competitive practices" by Microsoft.
"The issue with Windows 10 upgrade resetting the default browser to Edge is a known one, and a lot has been said about it previously. I refrained from making any comments until now, but my patience has run out," Jon stated in a scathing blog post. "What I want to address is how Microsoft’s anti-competitive practices create problems for the users—actual real-life people that use technology in their daily lives. What happened to putting them first?"
Jon goes on to tell a story about a 72-year-old friend of his who called him for help with a "significant problem" that cropped up when she upgraded her PC from Windows 8 to Windows 10. He claims that the upgrade occurred without her consent, and to add salt to the wound, it changed her default browser to Edge (it's the same issue that made Mozilla fuming mad at Microsoft). She tried to change it back on her own but was not able to without Jon's help.
"I understand that Microsoft is concerned with the low usage of Edge, but instead of building a better browser, Microsoft is forcing its product onto people in the most unapologetic manner," Jon says.
One of the issues that Jon has is that Windows 10 changes the default browser back to Edge each time there is an upgrade. It can also happen when a new browser is installed. He calls on Microsoft to accept that some users simply prefer third-party software and that technology companies have a responsibility to be fair the user, which he feels Microsoft is not being.
"So here is my question to you, Microsoft. Where has the user’s absolute prerogative to make a choice gone? It is time to do the right thing. Stop stealing the default browser, accept user choice and compete on the merits," Jon concludes.
What do you think, does Jon have a point or Microsoft in the right to push its own software in Windows? Sound off in the comments section below!
For anyone who is not aware, Vivaldi is a third-party browser that has been referred to as the spiritual successor to Opera. It is led by co-founder and CEO Jon von Tetzchner, who also co-founded and formerly served as CEO of Opera Software. These days he is all about promoting Vivaldi and he is none-too-happy with what he perceives to be "anti-competitive practices" by Microsoft.
"The issue with Windows 10 upgrade resetting the default browser to Edge is a known one, and a lot has been said about it previously. I refrained from making any comments until now, but my patience has run out," Jon stated in a scathing blog post. "What I want to address is how Microsoft’s anti-competitive practices create problems for the users—actual real-life people that use technology in their daily lives. What happened to putting them first?"
Jon goes on to tell a story about a 72-year-old friend of his who called him for help with a "significant problem" that cropped up when she upgraded her PC from Windows 8 to Windows 10. He claims that the upgrade occurred without her consent, and to add salt to the wound, it changed her default browser to Edge (it's the same issue that made Mozilla fuming mad at Microsoft). She tried to change it back on her own but was not able to without Jon's help.
"I understand that Microsoft is concerned with the low usage of Edge, but instead of building a better browser, Microsoft is forcing its product onto people in the most unapologetic manner," Jon says.
One of the issues that Jon has is that Windows 10 changes the default browser back to Edge each time there is an upgrade. It can also happen when a new browser is installed. He calls on Microsoft to accept that some users simply prefer third-party software and that technology companies have a responsibility to be fair the user, which he feels Microsoft is not being.
"So here is my question to you, Microsoft. Where has the user’s absolute prerogative to make a choice gone? It is time to do the right thing. Stop stealing the default browser, accept user choice and compete on the merits," Jon concludes.
What do you think, does Jon have a point or Microsoft in the right to push its own software in Windows? Sound off in the comments section below!
