Google’s claim that search users have choice is “bogus,” Microsoft CEO tells judge::Google’s search dominance creates “vicious cycle,” Satya Nadella testified.

  • db2@sopuli.xyz
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    1 year ago

    Dear Microsoft: I saw your shenanigans from Windows 3.1 onward, you gotta stop making me agree with you in 2023 because it makes me feel dirty. Thanks.

  • rivalary@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I feel I have less of a choice in operating system than I do browsers or search. Just saying.

      • rivalary@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        I’ve boarded the Linux train but not everyone can replace their OS nor troubleshoot issues, and good luck bringing your computer to a repair shop if you do run Linux. For the average person, they need someone to help them whether it’s Windows or Linux.

      • GONADS125@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Is it really a valid option for people outside the tech industry who don’t know programming and who play PC games?

        That’s an honest question, not a snide question.

        • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Generally, you don’t need to know any programming in order to install and get most mainstream distros working on your machine. Most apps/drivers are one click installs. PC Gaming is still the kicker. There are some compatibility issues, but more and more games work as time progresses.

          • OrangeJoe@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            I would say though that it’s not really a great choice unless you are already pretty tech savvy. And these days, less and less people seem to even know how to actually use a computer, let alone one that runs Linux.

          • GONADS125@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Thanks for the response! Sounds like it might be a few more years off for me then. But I am continually more disgusted with windows… Might make the switch sooner on that account.

            • rivalary@lemmy.ca
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              1 year ago

              Honestly, gaming on Steam is pretty straightforward on Linux. You just have to go into the Steam settings and allow Proton (the compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows games on Linux) to not restrict your game list to tested games. It’s a single checkbox. If you do anything more than just play the games (ie., you install mods for the games) you’ll need to dig in a bit more. I suppose that’s the same for Windows, though.

              Really, I think the issue is more Windows applications that aren’t available for Linux if you’re a professional. People need their Adobe software.

              Additionally, you’ll need to be able to troubleshoot and fix issues if you don’t have someone to do it for you, just like on Windows. The difference is that Windows can be supported by almost any computer enthusiast whereas tons haven’t learned the ins and outs of Linux.

        • joel_feila@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yes installing Linux mint is just as easy as installing windows. It runs almost the same as windows but faster.

  • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Funny they should say that, considering that Bing is deeply integrated into Windows, and users have literally no choice of another search engine.

    • 4lan@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      And if you accidentally open edge you can’t even close the application without going through the setup process.

      They literally tried to force you to make a Microsoft account as set up and make it seem like you have no choice other than to make one.

      Microsoft is more guilty than Google

      Pro tip: enter no@thankyou.com and any password to bypass it

      • pazukaza@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        They don’t realize how much they fucked up when they forced users to download the Bing app in order to use GPT in Bing.

        They had the perfect chance to hijack Google by making users switch their default search engine in Chrome. But no, they had to get greedy as fuck, and now Bing is dead again.

        They went all-in and lost. Who is using Bing search now? Nobody, people want to use Chrome.

        I’d have probably used Bing for a longer time and maybe would have gotten used to it (only for GPT) if they hadn’t forced me to download their app.

  • fubo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Microsoft has been making users’ choices “bogus” since at least Windows 95.

  • Joker@discuss.tchncs.de
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    1 year ago

    Things could be better, but it’s a far cry from the IE monopoly days. It’s amusing to hear Microsoft complain. DDG and Kagi are both very good search engines and DDG is a built-in option on iOS. Kagi even requires a fee and it’s still blowing up in popularity. I think the real issue for Microsoft is nobody chooses Bing.

  • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You know what would be refreshing? If someone in business could actually hold themselves accountable. For literally anything.

  • danielfgom@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Hypocrite! Every time there’s a Windows update it makes Edge the default browser again. Without the user asking. They should look in mirror!

      • PR_freak@programming.dev
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        1 year ago

        It sneakily asks for Microsoft to select the most secure configuration for your system (or something similar)

        Which means setting edge and bing as default

      • emptiestplace@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Today I was working on a 2019 server. I clicked on IE to download Firefox and it asked me if I wanted Edge. I didn’t want to do anything that might interfere with existing services running, so I said no. I took a phone call, and when I came back … welcome to Edge, I’m so fuckin great - let’s get started!

        I’ve been doing this since the 80s, but this was a surprisingly fresh experience for me.

        • poopkins@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Probably you are not selecting the “recommended settings” in the welcome wizard after a feature update.

          • MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            I also have never had another welcome wizard appear after any update. Only get that after a fresh install. I just update, reboot pc, and it just boots up as normal to desktop with nothing extra.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    On Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella showed up at the Google antitrust trial to back the Department of Justice’s argument that “Google used unfair tactics”—most significantly, default search contracts—to block opportunities for search competitors like Bing, The Wall Street Journal reported.

    At the trial, Nadella said that in Silicon Valley, Internet search is “the biggest no-fly zone,” which the Journal characterized as “the hardest market to crack.”

    Third-party data showed that “Microsoft’s share of the search market has hardly budged” since adding AI features to Bing, but Google’s lead trial counsel, John Schmidtlein, argued that this was “a direct result of Microsoft’s missteps in Internet search,” not due to Google’s command of the market.

    Nadella also expressed significant concern that emerging AI technology—rather than providing opportunities for competitors like Bing—could ultimately further entrench Google’s dominance in search without the court’s interference.

    “In fact, if anything, I worry a lot that—even in spite of my enthusiasm that there is a new angle with AI—this vicious cycle that I’m trapped in could even become even more vicious because the defaults get reinforced.” He added: “This going to be even worse of a nightmare to make progress in search, because there’s a new avenue” for Google to “lock up essentially” the “thing that feeds” AI models, “which is content.”

    Nadella told the court that to Microsoft, search is “a hard game to make any breakthroughs, but no one can accuse us of not being persistent.”


    The original article contains 618 words, the summary contains 242 words. Saved 61%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!