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posted by cmn32480 on Wednesday December 20 2017, @02:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the dept.

Google published a "Chrome browser" app in the Windows Store on Tuesday, but it simply opened up a Google Chrome download page in the default Windows browser. Most users would then have been able to download and install the Chrome browser, except for the minority of Windows 10 S users who are restricted to downloading Windows Store apps which must use the EdgeHTML rendering engine rather than Blink. Microsoft was not amused at the stunt and removed the "app" from its Store later that day:

Google published a Chrome app in the Windows Store earlier today, which just directed users to a download link to install the browser. Microsoft isn't impressed with Google's obvious snub of the Windows Store, and it's taking action. "We have removed the Google Chrome Installer App from Microsoft Store, as it violates our Microsoft Store policies," says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge.

Citing the need to ensure apps "provide unique and distinct value," Microsoft says "we welcome Google to build a Microsoft Store browser app compliant with our Microsoft Store policies." That's an invitation that Google is unlikely to accept. There are many reasons Google won't likely bring Chrome to the Windows Store, but the primary reason is probably related to Microsoft's Windows 10 S restrictions. Windows Store apps that browse the web must use HTML and JavaScript engines provided by Windows 10, and Google's Chrome browser uses its own Blink rendering engine. Google would have to create a special Chrome app that would adhere to Microsoft's Store policies.

Most Windows 10 machines don't run Windows 10 S, so Google probably won't create a special version just to get its browser listed in the Windows Store. Google can't just package its existing desktop app into a Centennial Windows Store app, either. Microsoft is explicit about any store apps having to use the Edge rendering engine.

Related: Microsoft Adds Store App-Only Restriction as Option in Windows 10
New Windows 10 S Only Runs Software From Windows Store
Microsoft Knows Windows is Obsolete. Here's a Sneak Peek at Its Replacement.
First ARM Snapdragon-Based Windows 10 S Systems Announced


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  • (Score: 2) by Pino P on Wednesday December 20 2017, @06:51PM (11 children)

    by Pino P (4721) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @06:51PM (#612444) Journal

    [Are students, employees, gift recipients, and living room gamers idiots for receiving a device locked down to Windows Store?]

    Why, yes! Why do you ask?

    Because I anticipated that you would follow "yes" with a list of practical measures that you expect people in each situation to take in order to demonstrate that they don't have "idiocy", or severe to profound intellectual disability relative to others of the same age.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 20 2017, @07:08PM (10 children)

    by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @07:08PM (#612456) Journal

    a list of practical measures that you expect people in each situation to take in order to demonstrate that they don't have "idiocy"

    Short list:
    1. Don't run Windows.
    2. Run Linux.
                  Done.

    • (Score: 2) by Pino P on Wednesday December 20 2017, @07:42PM (9 children)

      by Pino P (4721) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @07:42PM (#612479) Journal

      For this purpose, does Android/Linux count as Linux? Does Chrome OS/Linux? Or do you refer specifically to GNU/Linux? Because I haven't seen GNU/Linux laptops in showrooms for a long time.

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 20 2017, @08:34PM (8 children)

        by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @08:34PM (#612521) Journal

        Because I haven't seen GNU/Linux laptops in showrooms for a long time.

        When did you ever? Silly Windows user! You think there is some necessary connection between the OS and the hardware? Other than an illegal monopoly or obfuscation by a corporation with pretty shells? Free software. You don't have to buy it. In fact, some corporations have done their damnedest to make it nearly impossible to see a GNU/Linux laptop in a showroom, or even to be able to buy a laptop without a pre-installed computer virus and surveillance system.

        • (Score: 5, Touché) by Pino P on Wednesday December 20 2017, @09:50PM (7 children)

          by Pino P (4721) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @09:50PM (#612566) Journal

          Because I haven't seen GNU/Linux laptops in showrooms for a long time.

          When did you ever?

          Several years ago, I purchased an Eee PC 900 with GNU/Linux at Target.

          Silly Windows user! You think there is some necessary connection between the OS and the hardware?

          Of course there is. It's called drivers. Otherwise you get things like the ASUS Transformer Book T100TA [debian.org] where half the stuff is broken after GNU/Linux is installed.

          • (Score: 4, Insightful) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:01PM (6 children)

            by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:01PM (#612573) Journal

            . It's called drivers. Otherwise you get things like the ASUS Transformer Book T100TA [debian.org] where half the stuff is broken after GNU/Linux is installed.

            Rather like Win8, then? Why is it that drivers are not available, or even that the APIs are not freely available? Could it be licensing threats by monopolistic software companies? My solution: do not buy hardware that is broken. Proprietary drivers means the hardware is broken. Only an idiot would buy something like this, and anyone accepting such a thing as a "gift" is equally an idiot.

            • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Pino P on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:39PM (5 children)

              by Pino P (4721) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:39PM (#612595) Journal

              It's called drivers. Otherwise [...] half the stuff is broken after GNU/Linux is installed.

              Rather like Win8, then?

              A preinstalled operating system on a device will at least include drivers for the components of that device. Thus a Windows 7 PC included Windows 7 drivers, a Windows 8 PC included Windows 8 drivers, and a Windows 10 PC includes Windows 10 drivers.

              My solution: do not buy hardware that is broken. Proprietary drivers means the hardware is broken.

              Assuming your definition of "broken" as "incompatible with free drivers": In principle, I agree. But in practice, from the inside of a showroom, how can I tell whether a particular laptop is broken? Product displays in major electronics showroom chains such as Best Buy don't have any clear indication of whether or not a particular laptop is broken, nor is it printed on the packaging.

              What new, non-broken 10.1" or 11.6" laptop is good for running GNU/Linux and the applications I use regularly (some of which are free applications for Windows that run correctly in Wine)?

              • (Score: 3, Informative) by aristarchus on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:47PM (4 children)

                by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday December 20 2017, @10:47PM (#612597) Journal

                What new, non-broken 10.1" or 11.6" laptop is good for running GNU/Linux and the applications I use regularly (some of which are free applications for Windows that run correctly in Wine)?

                You want me to do your research for you? Google is your friend. One example:

                https://laptop.ninja/finding-the-best-linux-laptops/ [laptop.ninja]

                Not nearly the issue it was before the Microsoft Monopoly cracked.

                • (Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 21 2017, @05:53AM (3 children)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 21 2017, @05:53AM (#612706)

                  Why the FUCK is there a .ninja TLD?

                  • (Score: 4, Funny) by aristarchus on Thursday December 21 2017, @06:07AM

                    by aristarchus (2645) on Thursday December 21 2017, @06:07AM (#612709) Journal

                    Why the FUCK is there a .ninja TLD?

                    I would think it is rather obvious: they defeated the pirates. Probably hired by the MPAA, or the RIAA, or the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ninjas! Forking mercenaries!

                  • (Score: 4, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday December 21 2017, @06:28AM (1 child)

                    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday December 21 2017, @06:28AM (#612716) Journal

                    It's dark web, duh. You can't see it unless you know it's there :D

                    --
                    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 22 2017, @06:30PM

                      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 22 2017, @06:30PM (#613279)

                      Just because I know there's a monster under my bed doesn't mean I can see it. That's what the flashlight is for.