Subj : Googles Chrome browser to allow for picking a default search engi
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Sat Dec 09 2023 10:00:06

Googles Chrome browser to allow for picking a default search engine  but far 
from everyone gets a choice

Date:
Sat, 09 Dec 2023 09:48:14 +0000

Description:
The choice of a default search engine is a welcome one, but its only coming 
to certain users sadly.

FULL STORY
======================================================================

Google is in the process of making a useful change to its Chrome browser on 
the desktop whereby users will get a choice of the search engine they want to 
use by default  but the catch is this is only happening in Europe. 

Specifically, this change is incoming for the European Union (EU) and 
European Economic Area (EEA), as Ghacks spotted, with the move currently in 
testing (the Canary version of Chrome, hidden behind a flag). 

How it works is that when you first fire up Chrome, the browser pops up with 
a panel asking you to choose your default search engine from a list. 

The entries on that list are picked as they are popular options in your 
region, and of course theyll doubtless include Google search, but Google may 
not come top of the list  in fact, the ordering is random. (But the selection 
isnt random, because as noted, they are all popular in your particular area). 

Were told that Google plans to roll this out in early 2024, so within the 
next couple of months wed guess, but only in Europe  other regions wont be 
offered the chance to choose a default in this way. Analysis: Come on Google, 
give this option to everyone 

Okay, so its not like changing the default search engine in Chrome is a big 
deal  its a simple matter of going to the Settings panel for the web browser 
and clicking on the search engine section (on the left-hand side). 

However, less tech-savvy users may never do that, or even realize theres a 
choice, so theyll be left on Google search by default which is obviously in 
the search giants interest. If a panel pops up offering a selection of search 
engines, and other names the user has heard of aside from Google, theyre much 
more likely to think about and consider what engine they might want to go 
with. 

Google already does this on Android, anyway, so youd think it wouldnt be too 
much to ask for desktop users to get the same courtesy  but as noted, its 
Europe-only. And the reason for this is that much like Microsoft in recent 
times, Google is having its arm twisted by European laws here. 

In short, just as Microsoft is offering the choice to remove Edge or detach 
Bing from the search box in Windows 11 due to regulations, the same is true 
of Google here. You might also like Swamped with browser tabs? Chrome could 
soon use AI to organize them for you Google forces a new look for Chrome  but 
you can get rid of it if you hate it Google Chrome is copying this essential 
Edge feature - finally



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/chrome/googles-chrome-browser-to-allow-for
-picking-a-default-search-engine-but-far-from-everyone-gets-a-choice


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)

.