Today, Microsoft announced that they will roll out changes to Cortana so that only Bing and Microsoft Edge can be used for utilizing its functionality in Windows 10. Microsoft will forbid redirection of the taskbar search box to Google or any other engine, as well as launch exclusively Microsoft Edge to show more details of the search. The searches will redirected back to Bing and Edge for those who customized it to use Google search in Chrome or Firefox.
Earlier, we covered how to change the web search engine for Cortana in Windows 10. This will not be possible any more. Microsoft stated the following:
Unfortunately, as Windows 10 has grown in adoption and usage, we have seen some software programs circumvent the design of Windows 10 and redirect you to search providers that were not designed to work with Cortana. The result is a compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable. The continuity of these types of task completion scenarios is disrupted if Cortana can't depend on Bing as the search provider and Microsoft Edge as the browser.
The changes will affect all users without installing additional patches or updates. They will be rolled out via Cortana's server-side backend.
This move allows Microsoft to increase the search engine ad revenue and usage of both, Bing and the Edge browser. Microsoft claims that this will benefit the end user, but clearly the choice is going away from the user in this case. Many users prefer alternative search engines and browsers even if they have upgraded to Windows 10.
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It’s like they’re actively telling people who haven’t switched to Windows 10 to [censored] off.
well, their upgrade policy and apps enforcement are too aggressive.
So I guess it’s more in line with “Deal with it”. That should be their slogan.
WHAT A DRAG!
Thanks for verifying this problem…
NOW I understand why I can’t install Firefox search browsers – or uninstall/RE-install Google Chrome.
I was able to download and use Chrome the other day.
I WAS using it.
So this JUST happened in the last couple of days.
I can’t even un-install Google Chrome…
Looks like Windows10 has quarantined the Chrome software.
Didn’t Microsoft lose a lawsuit back in the day for these mafia-type tactics?
Weren’t they accused of monopolizing the Search Engine market by forcing people to use THEIR browser exclusively?
Anybody remember this Federal Supreme Case against Microsoft:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.#Judgment
-S
This SAME problem again?!?
Does anyone remember the Federal Supreme Court case against Microsoft about this SAME problem before?
The Search Engine wars continue!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.#Judgment
THIS just happened.
I was using Chrome on this Windows10 computer the other day – now I can’t.
I can’t even un-install / re-install it.
I just downloaded Firefox – but I can’t install the software.
I don’t want to use BING!!!
Why am I being forced to use THEIR crappy search engine?!?
-s