Subj : Unpopular Windows 11 Start menu change could be back in the cards To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Mar 20 2023 12:15:03 Unpopular Windows 11 Start menu change could be back in the cards Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 19:30:09 +0000 Description: A clue in Windows 11 preview versions suggests Microsoft might be bringing back an idea it had seemingly ditched. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Windows 11 speculation has once again turned to the topic of personalized recommendations within the Start menu, and it seems that a feature which Microsoft discarded may be back on the drawing board. The feature in question is recommended websites, which could pop up alongside other existing recommendations at the bottom of the Start menu (commonly used apps, suggested files and so forth). You can enable website recommendations in 25247+ (and 23403) with this ViVeTool command:vivetool /enable /id:40059556 (TopSitesRecommendations)This was tested in November/December last year, interesting to see it potentially making a return soon March 18, 2023 See more You may recall that recommendations for websites to visit was an idea Microsoft was toying with in past preview builds from November 2022 onwards, but the idea was subsequently abandoned in build 25272 , which landed in January 2023. As PhantomOfEarth pointed out on Twitter , though, theres evidence that recommended websites are making a return in test builds of Windows 11. The feature is hidden and was only unearthed using ViVeTool, a Windows configuration utility but its certainly interesting to see it could potentially be making a comeback. Especially given that a fair few Windows 11 users were happy to see the back of this concept when Microsoft seemingly ditched it at the start of the year. Analysis: Drawing the line with recommendations What folks are concerned about with recommended websites is that Microsoft will use this as a vehicle for pushing third-party sites (effectively advertising). Its one thing to recommend files or existing apps on your PC that you might want to conveniently and quickly open, but its entirely another to start suggesting useful websites. (Sites thatll no doubt be opened in Edge if past Microsoft form is anything to go by the software giant wont likely pass up an opportunity to promote its browser). Whats also noteworthy here is that this ties up with another hidden piece of the puzzle that was discovered in the latest preview version of Windows 11. Namely the Recommended part of the Start menu panel being renamed as the For you section , which as we mulled previously seems to suggest that further personalization of this element of the interface might be incoming possibly including recommended website content? Maybe, just maybe Yes, we are treading deeper into speculative territory here, but with AI increasingly being pushed by Microsoft, its not difficult to believe that suggestions and recommendations are going to be in evidence across Windows 11 before too long. The worrying bit is exactly where the line will be drawn regarding helping users and helping advertisers, certainly in the case of recommended websites. Fingers crossed that if recommended sites are again inbound, or about to be tested, that Microsoft can strike a well-considered balance. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/unpopular-windows-11-start-menu-change-could-be -back-in-the-cards --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .