Comment by jarfil@beehaw.org on Microsoft stole my Chrome tabs, and it wants yours, too

Last week, I turned on my PC, installed a Windows update, and rebooted to find Microsoft Edge automatically open with the Chrome tabs I was working on before the update. I don’t use Microsoft Edge regularly, and I have Google Chrome set as my default browser. Bleary-eyed at 9AM, it took me a moment to realize that Microsoft Edge had simply taken over where I’d left off in Chrome. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

they keep reinstalling stuff I’ve ripped out purposefully

You’ll find every OS does that, it’s called “installing dependencies”. Even on Gentoo, there is only so far that you can go removing stuff before it turns out they either get reinstalled anyway, or everything comes tumbling down.

putting cloud run python functions in to Excel

People seem to like their cloud run functions in Google Sheets, Jupyter books, Mathematica notebooks, and similar. Can’t blame MS for trying to catch up.

Edge, unlike Internet Explorer, is not a system level dependency. There is a separately installed web view that handles that now, likely due to EU consumer protections.

Edge is a dependency of the “Internet Explorer compatibility” system feature which comes enabled by default, while the Webview feature comes disabled by default.

Sneaky? Yeah… but it’s a dependency 🤷

It kind of still is because of Webview2. Games such as Forza Motorsport (not that you’d want to play that crap) depend on it for Xbox login purposes even if you bought the game on Steam. The game depends on the system Edge libraries and doesn’t ship its own.

Python2 might be required by something. Is Edge required? And Xbox? A folder for 3D models even if I never did 3D stuff and most likely never will on that PC? If yes, why? I can’t think of anything I or lots of other people need that wouldn’t work without these and lots of other things

Edge is, somewhat ironically, required by the “Internet Explorer compatibility” feature. Xbox and the 3D folder, get installed as part of a “user experience” pack. Not sure if Edge also gets pulled as a requirement to populate the “default app” fields. Interestingly, if you never open the Xbox app, it will never fully install, even if the package gets updated.

Why do I need IE compatibility? I use Firefox. Why is the XBox app in the start menu? This is a work PC. The 3D folder (and Videos, Music, etc) just takes space in the File Explorer. I’d be fine if it created it when I save a file there, but until then I don’t want to see it

Why do I need IE compatibility? I use Firefox

If you don’t need it, then disable the feature.

Why is the XBox app in the start menu?

For the same reason ther is a “Games” menu in most Linux distros. If you don’t need it, unpin it.

The 3D folder (and Videos, Music, etc) just takes space in the File Explorer

Same thing, if you don’t need them, unpin them.

I’d be fine if it created it when I save a file there, but until then I don’t want to see it

…how would you save a file there, if they didn’t exist to save your file there in the first place?

(BTW, I don’t have a “3D Folder” on Win 11 🤷)

ye but at least on linux the _dependencies arent bundled with useless applications that u dont want, and u can mostly trust em cuz open source X3

If no one is actually auditing that code, or somehow confirming that the binaries shipped by your package manager match what the code compiles to, then you’re still playing a trust game.

Trusting in open source software devs rather than a capitalist corporation definitely makes sense, but it isn’t some panacea for “safe, nonspying software”.

Also, dependencies on linux absolutely include programs I don’t want. They just tend to be less obtrusive terminal programs and libraries rather than full blown UI based shit. Less visible, but far easier to sneak under the radar.

somehow confirming that the binaries shipped by your package manager match what the code compiles to

Indeed, that’s why: https://reproducible-builds.org/

Right now, Debian seems to be leading with over 95% of packages being reproducible.

That’s why I use Gentoo. I don’t read the code, even just Firefox is absolutely bonkers, but being able to flag out parts of code just feels nice. I know it’s not absolute, but -telemetry gives me a nice warm feeling inside.

is why the mostly trust :3 as always run code at ur own risk

and the utility programs thatr part of thhe dependencies r often there so its easier for devs to use depenancies, so they do sorta gotta be there !

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Microsoft stole my Chrome tabs, and it wants yours, too(www.theverge.com)

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