Microsoft: Difference between revisions
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|Taking down Minecraft competitors | |Taking down Minecraft competitors | ||
|2019 - Present | |2019 - Present | ||
|Microsoft has submitted various takedowns on games that compete against [[Minecraft]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Andy |date=September 1, 2019 |title=Microsoft Puts Blocks On In-Browser Minecraft Clone |url=https://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-puts-blocks-on-in-browser-minecraft-clone-190831/ |access-date=Feb 10, 2026 |website=Torrent Freak |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215012038/https://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-puts-blocks-on-in-browser-minecraft-clone-190831/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazeriio |date=Feb 10, 2026 |title=Tweet from Mazeriio |url=https:// | |Microsoft has submitted various takedowns on games that compete against [[Minecraft]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Andy |date=September 1, 2019 |title=Microsoft Puts Blocks On In-Browser Minecraft Clone |url=https://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-puts-blocks-on-in-browser-minecraft-clone-190831/ |access-date=Feb 10, 2026 |website=Torrent Freak |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215012038/https://torrentfreak.com/microsoft-puts-blocks-on-in-browser-minecraft-clone-190831/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazeriio |date=Feb 10, 2026 |title=Tweet from Mazeriio |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/Mazeriio/status/2021128578742513930 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321121352/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/Mazeriio/status/2021128578742513930 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=Feb 10, 2026 |website=X formerly [[Twitter]]}}</ref> which unfairly thins out competition against the game. | ||
|[[Minecraft]] | |[[Minecraft]] | ||
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After an update in 2021, computers running ''[[Windows 11]]'' had the systems that handled modifying the web browser defaults.<ref name=":03">{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Microsoft is making it harder to switch default browsers in Windows 11 |url=https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209162923/https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> Rather than allow the user to simply switch the default web browser, file types typically accessed via web browsers, such as HTM, HTML, SVG, and more have to be individually modified to have the default opening application changed. This has angered companies maintaining competing web browsers<ref name=":03" /><!--If we can get the notes feature added, this should be a useful note to include: | After an update in 2021, computers running ''[[Windows 11]]'' had the systems that handled modifying the web browser defaults.<ref name=":03">{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Microsoft is making it harder to switch default browsers in Windows 11 |url=https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209162923/https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref> Rather than allow the user to simply switch the default web browser, file types typically accessed via web browsers, such as HTM, HTML, SVG, and more have to be individually modified to have the default opening application changed. This has angered companies maintaining competing web browsers<ref name=":03" /><!--If we can get the notes feature added, this should be a useful note to include: | ||
“We have been increasingly worried about the trend on Windows,” says Selena Deckelmann, senior vice president of Firefox, in a statement to The Verge. “Since Windows 10, users have had to take additional and unnecessary steps to set and retain their default browser settings. These barriers are confusing at best and seem designed to undermine a user’s choice for a non-Microsoft browser.”--><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockheimer |first=Hiroshi |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Tweet from Hiroshi Lockheimer |url=https:// | “We have been increasingly worried about the trend on Windows,” says Selena Deckelmann, senior vice president of Firefox, in a statement to The Verge. “Since Windows 10, users have had to take additional and unnecessary steps to set and retain their default browser settings. These barriers are confusing at best and seem designed to undermine a user’s choice for a non-Microsoft browser.”--><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockheimer |first=Hiroshi |date=Aug 18, 2021 |title=Tweet from Hiroshi Lockheimer |url=https://nitter.us.catsarch.com/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0321-2130-35/https://nitter.us.catsarch.com:443/lockheimer/status/1428047760620621831 |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=Jun 21, 2025 |website=X, formerly [[Twitter]]}}</ref> and consumers alike over this change. Even if users modify all of these default settings, other features on the device, such as the taskbar's weather widget, which if opened, will create a new tab specifically in ''[[Microsoft Edge|Edge]]''.<ref name=":03" /><!--Another note to add under [39] | ||
Windows 11 continues this trend, with search still forcing users into Edge, and now a new dedicated widgets area that also ignores the default browser setting. “It appears that Windows 11 widgets will ignore a user’s default browser choice and open Microsoft Edge for the content instead,” says a Brave spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Brave puts users first and we condemn this Windows 11 approach, because the choice of a default browser has many implications for individuals and their privacy. Users should be free to choose.”-->Microsoft attempts to justify this by stating:<ref name=":03" /><blockquote>“With Windows 11, we are implementing customer feedback to customize and control defaults at a more granular level, eliminating app categories and elevating all apps to the forefront of the defaults experience,” “As evidenced by this change, we’re constantly listening and learning, and welcome customer feedback that helps shape Windows. Windows 11 will continue to evolve over time; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so.”</blockquote> | Windows 11 continues this trend, with search still forcing users into Edge, and now a new dedicated widgets area that also ignores the default browser setting. “It appears that Windows 11 widgets will ignore a user’s default browser choice and open Microsoft Edge for the content instead,” says a Brave spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Brave puts users first and we condemn this Windows 11 approach, because the choice of a default browser has many implications for individuals and their privacy. Users should be free to choose.”-->Microsoft attempts to justify this by stating:<ref name=":03" /><blockquote>“With Windows 11, we are implementing customer feedback to customize and control defaults at a more granular level, eliminating app categories and elevating all apps to the forefront of the defaults experience,” “As evidenced by this change, we’re constantly listening and learning, and welcome customer feedback that helps shape Windows. Windows 11 will continue to evolve over time; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so.”</blockquote> | ||
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=====Family Safety===== | =====Family Safety===== | ||
{{Main|Microsoft's anticompetitive practices}} | {{Main|Microsoft's anticompetitive practices}} | ||
A feature seen within ''[[Windows 11]]''<nowiki/>'s parental controls is Family Safety. A key problem shown from this feature is that it can questionably ban certain applications from properly running on the device, with no notice to the administrator in charge of the device. In '''June 2025''', this feature banned the string "Chrome",<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=u/Witty-Discount-2906 |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=Chrome won’t open (Windows 11) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1l2c552/comment/mvt1w2a/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which blocked the web browser [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] from functioning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=Jun 20, 2025 |title=Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/690179/microsoft-block-google-chrome-family-safety-feature |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203193533/https://www.theverge.com/news/690179/microsoft-block-google-chrome-family-safety-feature |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> Schools in particular use this feature on devices given out for students to complete classwork remotely, and as [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] holds the majority market share of web browser usage, (65-70%)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Browser Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Statcounter |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122220040/https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share |archive-date=22 Jan 2026}}</ref> there has been mass reports of students being unable to complete their classwork strictly due to this flaw.<ref name=":04">{{Cite news |last=Priestley |first=Peter |date=Jun 4, 2025 |title=Microsoft Family Safety Blocking Chrome Browser |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_famsafety/microsoft-family-safety-blocking-chrome-browser/40023ef5-177b-4eed-a857-80ed15afa3a5 | A feature seen within ''[[Windows 11]]''<nowiki/>'s parental controls is Family Safety. A key problem shown from this feature is that it can questionably ban certain applications from properly running on the device, with no notice to the administrator in charge of the device. In '''June 2025''', this feature banned the string "Chrome",<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=u/Witty-Discount-2906 |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=Chrome won’t open (Windows 11) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1l2c552/comment/mvt1w2a/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321124027/https://old.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1l2c552/chrome_wont_open_windows_11/mvt1w2a/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> which blocked the web browser [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] from functioning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=Jun 20, 2025 |title=Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome through its family safety feature |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/690179/microsoft-block-google-chrome-family-safety-feature |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260203193533/https://www.theverge.com/news/690179/microsoft-block-google-chrome-family-safety-feature |archive-date=3 Feb 2026}}</ref> Schools in particular use this feature on devices given out for students to complete classwork remotely, and as [[Google Chrome|''Chrome'']] holds the majority market share of web browser usage, (65-70%)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Browser Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Statcounter |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260122220040/https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share |archive-date=22 Jan 2026}}</ref> there has been mass reports of students being unable to complete their classwork strictly due to this flaw.<ref name=":04">{{Cite news |last=Priestley |first=Peter |date=Jun 4, 2025 |title=Microsoft Family Safety Blocking Chrome Browser |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_famsafety/microsoft-family-safety-blocking-chrome-browser/40023ef5-177b-4eed-a857-80ed15afa3a5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305010351/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3862286/microsoft-family-safety-blocking-chrome-browser |archive-date=5 Mar 2026 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=Microsoft Answers}}</ref> | ||
Currently, Microsoft has neglected to inform users on rolling out a fix in the future,<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=[User Feedback - Stable] M137 Windows - Increase in feedback about crashing |url=https://issues.chromium.org/issues/422222571 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Chromium issues |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215065440/https://issues.chromium.org/issues/422222571 |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> and the only solutions available to users is to either rename the executable on the affected device<ref name=":3" /> or disable "Block inappropriate browsing" inside the ''Family Safety'' settings.<ref name=":04" /> | Currently, Microsoft has neglected to inform users on rolling out a fix in the future,<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jun 3, 2025 |title=[User Feedback - Stable] M137 Windows - Increase in feedback about crashing |url=https://issues.chromium.org/issues/422222571 |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |website=Chromium issues |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215065440/https://issues.chromium.org/issues/422222571 |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> and the only solutions available to users is to either rename the executable on the affected device<ref name=":3" /> or disable "Block inappropriate browsing" inside the ''Family Safety'' settings.<ref name=":04" /> | ||
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====Xbox 360 Defect - The "Red Ring of Death"==== | ====Xbox 360 Defect - The "Red Ring of Death"==== | ||
{{Main|Bumpgate}} | {{Main|Bumpgate}} | ||
In 2005, Microsoft released the ''Xbox 360''. Not long after, consumers began reporting an issue with their consoles of three red flashing lights on the ring around the power button. This was coined by consumers as the "''Red Ring of Death''", and by 2007, ''Xbox''<nowiki/>'s hardware engineers eventually discovered that the reason for it was a defect in the ''Xbox 360''<nowiki/>'s GPU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Power On: The Story of Xbox {{!}} Chapter 5: The Red Ring of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch? |url-status=live |access-date=June 4, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> | In 2005, Microsoft released the ''Xbox 360''. Not long after, consumers began reporting an issue with their consoles of three red flashing lights on the ring around the power button. This was coined by consumers as the "''Red Ring of Death''", and by 2007, ''Xbox''<nowiki/>'s hardware engineers eventually discovered that the reason for it was a defect in the ''Xbox 360''<nowiki/>'s GPU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Power On: The Story of Xbox {{!}} Chapter 5: The Red Ring of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2d6IMBS8oY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=z2d6IMBS8oY |archive-date=2024-01-29 |access-date=June 4, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> | ||
For several months of this incident's prevalence in 2006, consumers had to pay to get their consoles fixed by Microsoft if the console was outside of its one year warranty. However, by September 2007, they chose to extend the warranty to three years from the date of original purchase, and they refunded anyone who had previously paid to get this issue fixed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Peter |date=2007 |title=Open Letter from Peter Moore |url=http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023004948/http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |archive-date=23 Oct 2007 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Xbox}}</ref>. Some current and former employees' comments in the ''Xbox'' documentary, ''Power On: The Story of Xbox'' reveal that Microsoft may have done this to rescue the ''Xbox'' brand.<ref name=":2" /> Nonetheless, this was beneficial to consumers who had made an investment in and enjoyed games from Microsoft's console. | For several months of this incident's prevalence in 2006, consumers had to pay to get their consoles fixed by Microsoft if the console was outside of its one year warranty. However, by September 2007, they chose to extend the warranty to three years from the date of original purchase, and they refunded anyone who had previously paid to get this issue fixed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Peter |date=2007 |title=Open Letter from Peter Moore |url=http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023004948/http://xbox.com/en-ca/support/petermooreletter.htm |archive-date=23 Oct 2007 |access-date=4 Jun 2025 |website=Xbox}}</ref>. Some current and former employees' comments in the ''Xbox'' documentary, ''Power On: The Story of Xbox'' reveal that Microsoft may have done this to rescue the ''Xbox'' brand.<ref name=":2" /> Nonetheless, this was beneficial to consumers who had made an investment in and enjoyed games from Microsoft's console. | ||
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:Xbox Series X/S uses a proprietary [https://www.seagate.com/content/dam/seagate/en/content-fragments/products/datasheets/xbox-expansion-card-series-4tb/xbox-expansion-card-series-4tb-DS2081-4-2504US-en_US.pdf Storage Expansion Card] that costs more when compared to industry standard storage.{{Citation needed}}<!-- this section seems to reference a lot of support forums/reddit. not exactly the most professional but it's better than nothing considering this is user reporting --> | :Xbox Series X/S uses a proprietary [https://www.seagate.com/content/dam/seagate/en/content-fragments/products/datasheets/xbox-expansion-card-series-4tb/xbox-expansion-card-series-4tb-DS2081-4-2504US-en_US.pdf Storage Expansion Card] that costs more when compared to industry standard storage.{{Citation needed}}<!-- this section seems to reference a lot of support forums/reddit. not exactly the most professional but it's better than nothing considering this is user reporting --> | ||
*'''Encrypted Storage''' | *'''Encrypted Storage''' | ||
:Xbox Series X/S consoles have a removable solid-state drive (SSD), yet they contain an encrypted partition with a key that is married to the motherboard. This key changes after each system update, making it difficult to replace the drive<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 13, 2023 |title=New Xbox SSD interface is horribly anti repair|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbmzp-rqwfU |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Bbmzp-rqwfU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>. Xbox One consoles allowed users to easily replace the hard disk drive (HDD) as needed since the hard drives did not contain such encryption<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Xbox One Hard Drive Replacement|url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+One+Hard+Drive+Replacement/36771 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=iFixit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218160941/https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+One+Hard+Drive+Replacement/36771 |archive-date=18 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Though technically possible to replace HDDs on the Xbox 360, replacement drives have to be modified to report original drive information (like serial number) and in some cases cannot utilize all the storage available on a drive<ref>{{Cite web |title= | :Xbox Series X/S consoles have a removable solid-state drive (SSD), yet they contain an encrypted partition with a key that is married to the motherboard. This key changes after each system update, making it difficult to replace the drive<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 13, 2023 |title=New Xbox SSD interface is horribly anti repair|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbmzp-rqwfU |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Bbmzp-rqwfU |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>. Xbox One consoles allowed users to easily replace the hard disk drive (HDD) as needed since the hard drives did not contain such encryption<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Xbox One Hard Drive Replacement|url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+One+Hard+Drive+Replacement/36771 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=iFixit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218160941/https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+One+Hard+Drive+Replacement/36771 |archive-date=18 Dec 2025}}</ref>. Though technically possible to replace HDDs on the Xbox 360, replacement drives have to be modified to report original drive information (like serial number) and in some cases cannot utilize all the storage available on a drive<ref>{{Cite web |title=Security Sector Information |url=https://fatxplorer.eaton-works.com/security-sector-information/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260321125530/https://fatxplorer.eaton-works.com/security-sector-information/ |archive-date=21 Mar 2026 |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=FATXplorer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Nov 28, 2024 |title=Xbox 360 HDD Replacement|url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+HDD+Replacement/3430 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=iFixit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130220622/https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+HDD+Replacement/3430 |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>. For the original Xbox, the hard drive was married to the motherboard, but if the console was modified with custom firmware, users could easily replace the drive{{Citation needed}}. | ||
Security Sector Information|url=https://fatxplorer.eaton-works.com/security-sector-information/ |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=FATXplorer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Nov 28, 2024 |title=Xbox 360 HDD Replacement|url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+HDD+Replacement/3430 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=iFixit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130220622/https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+HDD+Replacement/3430 |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>. For the original Xbox, the hard drive was married to the motherboard, but if the console was modified with custom firmware, users could easily replace the drive{{Citation needed}}. | |||
*'''Ending Third-Party Wireless Controller Support''' | *'''Ending Third-Party Wireless Controller Support''' | ||
:Support for third-party wireless controllers was ended in October 2023. Users were given a two week warning before their devices could no longer be used wirelessly unless the manufacturer paid a licensing fee. | :Support for third-party wireless controllers was ended in October 2023. Users were given a two week warning before their devices could no longer be used wirelessly unless the manufacturer paid a licensing fee. | ||