Microsoft has launched a new rewards program offering Chrome users “real cash value” points to switch to Edge browser[1]. When users search for “Chrome” on Bing, they receive a prompt offering 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points that can be exchanged for gift cards, including on Amazon[1:1].
The Browser Choice Alliance, representing Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi, criticizes this as Microsoft’s latest tactic to manipulate browser choice, following earlier practices like “forced resets, misleading prompts, and hidden settings”[1:2].
The market context shows why Microsoft is pursuing this strategy - Edge holds less than 9% market share compared to Chrome’s 78%[1:3]. The rewards program appears targeted specifically at Chrome users, with Windows Latest noting “we’re not seeing ads for other browsers, such as Opera, Firefox or Brave”[1:4].
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EDGE is an usefull app for downloading an Browser in a new Windows.
FTFY
Definitely check the signature though in case Edge decides to inject some “improved UX” into Linux.
Surely Windows has
curlbuilt in@null @Zerush Well I mean it’s very good at silently downloading files from remote servers without telling you, if that’s what you mean. It does it for other people all the time.
I mean, unless you’re a legend and memorized the Firefox latest release URL you still have to navigate to a website to get the link.
Unless you have a Graphene or Linux phone it’s probably just as bad if not worse than using Edge.
And ‘wget’ I believe.
cmd:
winget install Mozilla.FirefoxLove this.
For everyone bitching about Win 11, I agree - however - I’ve been using Win 11 LTSC IoT version which is basically a naked version of Win11 with zero bulk, bloat, or unnecessary BS. It’s for my consulting workstation. My daily driver at home is Arch. :)
If only us mere mortals could gain access these official non-bloated versions that do exist. 😔
Edit: I use Arch btw for my servers. 💪
You can… massgrave.dev
Thanks!
I had to set up Windows 11 on a new work computer yesterday and this was exactly the purpose of Edge. It’s incredible how hard you have to fight during the setup process not to be railroaded into accepting settings that work against you and for Microsoft. By the time I was done I felt sick and angry and there was no way I’d use Microsoft’s browser after all that. And then it turned out I wasn’t done, because it had defaulted to putting all my documents and pictures in Microsoft’s cloud even though I hadn’t asked it to, so as soon as I migrated my documents I got a warning that my cloud storage was full and I should pay them more money. So I had to undo all that, but Microsoft already got to see all my documents. Infuriating from start to finish. I am very glad to use Linux on my own machines. Windows feels like a hostile environment with traps around every corner.
Sorry for the rant. I have to go back to that machine today and I guess I’m still angry.
If you have to use Windows, there are two mandatory apps with which you can turn Windows in an fast, private and submissive OS without nags and trackings, Hellzerg Optimizer and Portmaster. My tweked W11 use less than 1 GB in RAM and the GUI has nothing to do with the (horrible) original one.
Thanks. Both of those look interesting.