It's harder to switch to Firefox in Windows 10

[bill]

http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/30/9076445/mozilla-microsoft-windows-10-browser-default-apps-complaint [theverge.com]

Mozilla blasts Microsoft for making it harder to switch to Firefox in Windows 10

Microsoft has altered Windows 10 so that users have to explicitly set a default app for applications like mail, calendar, or web browsers. The change means the setup installers for Chrome and Firefox can no longer set themselves as the default browser during the install process. Mozilla isn’t happy with this change, and the company is calling on Microsoft to reverse what it calls an "aggressive move to override user choice on Windows 10."

[graeme_p]

You mean Microsoft are trying to push people to use their software? What next!

I can see interesting reactions to this from competition regulators, especially if it increases Microsoft's market share.

[tangor]

With Win 10 geared to Microsoft Accounts, the set default apps explicit makes sense.... but also, as noted above, brings up that ugly old spectre of "opt out" instead of "opt in" choices for users.

The set default app has been around since at least Win XP, so is not new.

But Mail and Calendar are MS Account apps and you have to turn those off, else a nag, or fail. I doubt many have MS accounts anywhere.... and this is the OTHER big thing behind Win 10: get the Account and the Store and the Service....

If you value privacy and control, don't upgrade from Win7. If you are Win8x, you're already halfway into that new paradigm whether you know it or not.