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Konryan | 7 years ago

I think there's another factor at play that isn't often mentioned: Google uses the dominant position of its services, as well as the strength of their brands, to promote Chrome as the better browser, in not-so-subtle ways.

One is often repeatedly prompted to install Chrome when visiting Google on other browsers[1][2]. Most normal users would just give up and install just to get rid of the pop up.

Microsoft has been doing the same (e.g. trying to trick you into keeping Edge when trying to select another browser as default on Windows 10), but their product wasn't good enough for it to work, it seems.

[1] https://superuser.com/questions/1192441/is-it-possible-to-te... [2] https://support.mozilla.org/it/questions/922025

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Jonnax|7 years ago

Also Firefox for Android gets a shit version of Google search. But if you spoof your user agent it works perfectly.

That definitely is using their dominance in search to make people.use their web browser.

EwanToo|7 years ago

That's recently (and silently as far as I can tell) changed for me, I now get a fairly good google search on Firefox on Android.

However you're right in general Google are using the position to enforce Chrome

hkt|7 years ago

Doesn't surprise me. The EU should fine Google for a lot of things, including that.

There's always duckduckgo, though.

IshKebab|7 years ago

That's been fixed recently but there is another issue - Google search results from the home screen always open in a Chrome view, even if your default browser is Firefox. You end up with an awkward mix of Chrome and Firefox.

vthriller|7 years ago

Those rare folks who prefer older Google interfaces might actually consider this a feature, a nice additional reason to ditch modern Chrome.

simfoo|7 years ago

Can you give more details?

TheArcane|7 years ago

Yes. Google translate integration is the only reason I keep Chrome around