If you are in Eurpore and use Windows, Microsoft will soon push a “browser ballot” screen like this to your system (via Windows Updates) to help you install a new browser other than Internet Explorer. The order of browsers in the screen will be random.
Here’s the story: Microsoft bundles their Internet Explorer browser with every version of Windows.
Rival browser makers including Opera, Mozilla (Firefox) and Google (Chrome) weren’t too happy about this so they filed a complaint with EU saying that this factory bundling of Internet Explorer in Windows was harming competition.
Now instead of paying billions of dollars in fines to the EU, as they have done in the past, Microsoft came with an alternate solution that has now been accepted.
Microsoft will send “ballot browser screens” via Windows Automatic Update to all Windows users in Europe so that they can pick and install an alternative to Internet Explorer (see screenshot above). The screen will only be shown to users who have Internet Explorer set as their default web browser.
Turn Off Internet Explorer in Windows
Microsoft is also enhancing the “Control Panel” for Windows users in Europe so that they can easily disable or turn off Internet Explorer on their machines with a click.
Once disabled, users will not be able to launch Internet Explorer on their computer for any reason, even if no other browser is available on the system. It won’t however uninstall Internet Explorer from the system.
Find this article at: http://labnol.org/?p=11724
Reader Comments
Treat people like children or pay us billions.
The EU greed will be cheered by those
who like being treated like children.
Written by Robert Palmar on 12.16.09
Ugh. This ruling is stupid for the most part, and even IE’s declining marketshare, should indicate that other browsers are competing on a pretty fair level playing field. It shouldn’t be Microsoft’s job to promote and deal with other browsers.
.
I kinda hope this idea will fail somehow, and get Microsoft to like call some court action against the EU for hurt Microsoft’s own customers by pushing some convolted browser selection system. Most people will not have a clue as to the difference between so many browsers so it could hurt MS. If it fails, it will at least show how dumb the EU’s grand decision was. I hope Apple’s Safari will one day get the same treatment – you don’t even have much choice in its search box!
Written by Quikboy on 12.16.09
It’s about time. I wouldn’t use IE if they paid me. Haven’t used it in years because it distorts the way blogs are seen online, mine included. (Though I’ve heard the latest version fixed that somewhat)
I’ve had many IE users write to tell me I need to fix my WordPress blog. But there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s their browser problems. I can’t count how many online professionals have told me the same thing.
Written by Aggie Villanueva on 12.16.09
Hrmr, clever Microsoft :)
Written by gofree on 12.16.09
This is awesome, but I want it in the United States, too.
Written by John Franson on 12.16.09
Wonder when Apple would be forced to bundle dozens of browsers along with Safari! :P
Though not a Windows fanboy, EUs decision seems to be asinine to me.
Just because a product has monopoly doesn’t call for its features to be curtailed.
It’s not like someone’s holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use IE.
It will probably still be the default in the millions of corporate computers where users would have no control during the installation process.
Written by Arbit Zindagi on 12.18.09