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Microsoft now permits uninstalling Edge, Bing, and OneDrive to adhere to the EU's Digital Markets Act. (www.ghacks.net)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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These changes are only applicable to users in the EEA. For those outside the region, Windows will continue to function as it is!

The changes to Windows for DMA-compliance include:

You can now uninstall Edge and Bing web search using the built-in settings. Earlier, the option was greyed out.
Third-party web search application developers can now utilize the Windows search box in the taskbar using the instructions provided by Microsoft and choose any web browser to show results from the web.
Microsoft will no longer sign-in users to Edge, Bing, and Microsoft Start services during the initial Windows setup experience.
Data collected about the functioning of non-Microsoft apps, primarily bug detection and its effects on the OS, from Windows PCs will not be used for competitive purposes.
Microsoft, from now on, will need explicit user consent before combining data from the OS and other sources. It will also deliver new consent screens where required.

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[-] watcher@nopeeking.link 107 points 5 months ago

But I thought this was a crucial part of the operating system?!

[-] MP3Martin@programming.dev 27 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

The Internet Explorer system stuff is still there, the difference is that when it launches as a normal browser, it automatically opens Edge instead of IE. (iirc)

[-] lud@lemm.ee 17 points 5 months ago

Yeah, internet explorer is integrated deeply in places you wouldn't expect.

[-] helenslunch@feddit.nl 3 points 5 months ago

Which is entirely unnecessary and done explicitly so they can pretend it is essential to the operation of the machine.

[-] lud@lemm.ee 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Nah, mostly it's just done stupidly many many years ago but MS being MS wants backwards compatibility.

Even MMC needs internet explorer for some stupid reason. It uses it to show HTML files or some shit.

[-] fishos@lemmy.world -2 points 4 months ago

No, it's because IE was just a modified File Explorer to begin with. It was never its own independent software, but something cobbled together from already existing code. It's these constant dependencies that are the problem due to laziness and bad practice.

Look into League of Legends and how Skarner and Minions are a structurally important part of the games entire code for another example.

[-] helenslunch@feddit.nl 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

IE died years ago.

Edge is Chromium.

[-] fishos@lemmy.world -2 points 4 months ago

And yet it's code is still in there doing work. Way to fail t reading comprehension

[-] helenslunch@feddit.nl 2 points 4 months ago

No it's not. It's Chromium.

[-] OfficerBribe@lemm.ee 19 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It is, specifically MS Edge WebView. For example new MS Teams and new Outlook client are using WebView. Widgets are using it as well as do many other things.

This uninstall will most likely still keep Edge present, it will just be somehow hidden / not as easily accessible.

this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2024

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