Subj : Microsoft risks annoying Windows 10 users by testing yet more adv
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Sep 12 2024 14:30:05

Microsoft risks annoying Windows 10 users by testing yet more adverts in the 
Start menu

Date:
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:11:30 +0000

Description:
Microsoft is testing a new account manager feature in Windows 10s Start menu 
thats causing some people to accuse it of pushing more Microsoft 365 ads.

FULL STORY
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If youve stuck with Windows 10 because you dont like how Microsoft is 
seemingly pumping Windows 11 full of adverts then we have some bad news, as 
it looks like the company could start doing the same with Windows 10s Start 
menu. 

The tech giant is currently testing out bringing the Microsoft account 
manager flyout menu in a couple of different layouts to the Start menu. This 
would enable Windows 10 users to manage their Microsoft accounts in various 
ways, including switching between different accounts, changing account 
settings, or signing out completely. 

This would be fairly benign if that was the whole story, but it appears that 
Microsoft account manager could be used to encourage users to sign up for 
Microsofts own products and services like Microsoft 365 , a subscription 
service for apps like Word , Excel , and OneDrive . 

Windows Latest explains that Windows 10 users might start seeing more 
notifications and prompts reminding you (or as some might put it, nagging 
you) that your Microsoft account actually exists, to set up a recovery plan, 
and to learn more about Microsoft 365. Apparently, this doesnt go away even 
if you've subscribed to the basic Microsoft 365 plan. (Image credit: 
Shutterstock/insta_photos) More bad news - it looks like you can't get rid of 
it 

 As reported by Windows Latest , Microsoft seems to be playing around with a 
couple of different designs for this account manager feature. In screenshots 
provided by Windows Latest, you can see the dedicated button in different 
parts of the left-hand Start menu sidebar, and while its not fully functional 
at the moment, it does look like it could be easier to jump to account 
management (if thats something youre after). 

I personally dont manage my Microsoft account that often so this wouldnt do 
very much for me, and unfortunately, if you want to remove this feature, it 
doesnt appear that theres a straightforward way to switch it off. 

Ive gone through cycles of frustration with Microsoft and its a bummer that 
this intrusive method of pushing its own services appears to be the new 
normal. Also, it wants to convert its Windows 10 user base to Windows 11, 
even if users are reluctant to do so. However, Microsoft also peppers Windows 
11s UI with ads so it doesnt look like there will be an easy escape from 
these kinds of interruptions - unless you switch to a different, 
non-Microsoft, operating system such as macOS 15 Sequoia or Linux. 

Of course, Microsoft understandably wants more people to subscribe or 
purchase its products and services, but theres a real danger that this 
heavy-handed approach could do more harm than good. In these financially 
uncertain times, many people are looking to cut down on their subscriptions, 
for example, and they wont like feeling like they are being encouraged to 
sign up for more. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... Windows 10 users have pushed back 
against intrusive pop-ups to get them to upgrade to Windows 11  and Microsoft 
has finally backed down Hanging onto Windows 10 to avoid Microsofts latest 
brainwaves with Copilot AI? Ive got bad news for you Want Wi-Fi 7 on Windows 
10? Forget it, Microsoft has confirmed its for Copilot+ PCs only



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-risks-annoying-windows-1
0-users-by-testing-yet-more-adverts-in-the-start-menu


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