Tag: microsoft

The End of Windows

Ben Thompson:

What is more interesting, though, is the story of Windows’ decline in Redmond, culminating with last week’s reorganization that, for the first time since 1980, left the company without a division devoted to personal computer operating systems (Windows was split, with the core engineering group placed under Azure, and the rest of the organization effectively under Office 365; there will still be Windows releases, but it is no longer a standalone business).

My week is already off to an amazing start with this article. I lived through this timeline; I was there and I was a part of it. What a time to be alive!

Microsoft testing forced Edge browser behaviors

From The Verge:

The software giant revealed today that “we will begin testing a change where links clicked on within the Windows Mail app will open in Microsoft Edge.” The change means 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.

I can’t see any way that this will end well for Microsoft. User trust, and subsequently active use – the more important of the two for the bottom line, is built around providing a superior product or service and therefore a better alternative to the status quo. History has never been kind to removing user choice.

Disclaimer: I use Edge as my default browser. At first, it was an acquired taste, but it has really matured and grown on me.