Microsoft MSFT -0.34%’s recent behaviour is disappointing. In an attempt to drive more users to Windows 10, this week resorted to scaremongering about the ‘dangers’ of Windows 7. But why would Windows 7 holdouts upgrade when the company is now doing this to Windows 10…
‘Great Features’ and ‘Nasty Surprises’ are my regular columns investigating operating system updates for the best features / biggest problems hidden behind the headlines.
Hoping to increase its revenue from Windows 10, Microsoft is building advertising into two new parts of the operating system. This will debut in April with the massive ‘Creators Update’ (effectively Windows 10.2), and evidence can already be found in the betas…
- Selling Apps
First up the Windows 10 Creators Update will tell you what apps it thinks you should be using. Alongside the apps you choose to install, Microsoft will now advertise additional apps in the share tool. This was picked up by Vitor Mikaelson on Twitter and since replicated by others:
Looking at the screenshot above, Mikaelson says he has never used or had Box installed but Windows 10 clearly thinks he should. The inclusion of this subtle advert also moves around the grid position of existing share options making it less intuitive for users to quickly click their most used service.
- Pushing Microsoft Services
But the Windows 10 Creators Update isn’t only pushing third party apps using Microsoft services, it is also pushing Microsoft apps using third party programs.
Picked up by myce, the site gives the example of Windows 10 users who use Google Chrome. When Chrome is installed the latest Creators Update beta delivers pop-up advertisements on the Chrome icon in the Windows 10 taskbar. Here it is pushing Microsoft’s Personal Shopping Assistant:
Windows 10 Creators Update is putting ads into third party programs, starting with Google Chrome. Image credit: myce
Needless to say, Windows 10 users testing the Creators Update are not happy about this and a growing number of complaints have been left in the review section of the app page for Microsoft’s Personal Shopping Assistant:
Looking at the screenshot above, Mikaelson says he has never used or had Box installed but Windows 10 clearly thinks he should. The inclusion of this subtle advert also moves around the grid position of existing share options making it less intuitive for users to quickly click their most used service.
- Pushing Microsoft Services
But the Windows 10 Creators Update isn’t only pushing third party apps using Microsoft services, it is also pushing Microsoft apps using third party programs.
Picked up by myce, the site gives the example of Windows 10 users who use Google Chrome. When Chrome is installed the latest Creators Update beta delivers pop-up advertisements on the Chrome icon in the Windows 10 taskbar. Here it is pushing Microsoft’s Personal Shopping Assistant:
Windows 10 Creators Update is putting ads into third party programs, starting with Google Chrome. Image credit: myce
Needless to say, Windows 10 users testing the Creators Update are not happy about this and a growing number of complaints have been left in the review section of the app page for Microsoft’s Personal Shopping Assistant:
[Source:-Forbes]
