Subj : Microsoft is messing with Windows 11s Start menu and jamming in m To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Jul 04 2024 11:45:04 Microsoft is messing with Windows 11s Start menu and jamming in more adverts and Im sick of it Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:42:42 +0000 Description: Whats even worse here is that Microsoft is obscuring genuinely useful features in the Start menu to fit in these ads. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Windows 11 is set for a change to the Start menu thats not been popular in preview, and will surely be even less popular when it makes its full debut in Microsofts operating system next week. The change in question involves a new account manager section thats been added to the Start menu though I say added, but the real controversy isnt so much its addition as the fact that it replaces existing functionality thats more useful. (Well, not so much replaces as hides, and well come back to that). Currently, this is part of the most recent preview update (for June, KB5039302 that packed a nasty bug, incidentally ), but that will become the cumulative update for July very soon (next week, in fact, on July 9 which is Patch Tuesday). Microsoft explains in a support document for KB5039302: This update starts the rollout of the new account manager on the Start menu. When you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you will get a glance at your account benefits. This feature also makes it easy to manage your account settings. Windows Latest has experienced the move first-hand, pointing out the differences between how the Start menu acts right now, and how itll change next week (in theory). So, the change is being applied to your profile picture and name, displayed bottom-left of the Start menu. Currently when clicked, this pops up a small menu of options that allow the user to sign out, lock the PC (basically some of the shortcuts youll see on the CTRL+ALT+DEL screen). This has become a new panel which instead gives you Microsoft Account-related settings and reminders, plus info on Microsoft services like OneDrive or Microsoft 365. As Windows Latest further observes, though, youll get prompts about the likes of Microsoft 365 whether you subscribe or not in fact, part of the drive here is to persuade you to take out a subscription, as a link is provided to discover all the benefits of Microsoft 365. The old functionality hasnt been entirely replaced here, though, as theres still a three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the new panel, and clicking this brings up the old options to sign out, lock and so forth. (Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes) Analysis: Make your opinion known There are two levels of annoyance here. Firstly, while said sign out options are still present, theyre hidden away, buried a further level down in the menu system so an extra click is required to access them. (Indeed, less observant Windows 11 users may not even notice the three-dot icon). And secondly, as complainers on Microsofts Feedback Hub have pointed out, they dont want any more Microsoft Account-related shenanigans in Windows 11s interface. Especially not additions that are another form of adverts, such as pointing out the benefits of Microsoft 365. Sadly, Microsoft seems to be adding these kinds of recommendations all over Windows 11 currently, and this is just another example . Whats particularly surprising for me is that I saw this change in testing in the Dev channel, but suddenly it seems to have leapt to the release version of Windows 11. Or it will do if Microsoft includes it in the cumulative update for Windows 11 due next week, which seems highly likely. Unless enough people raise objections so you might want to do your bit on that front if you feel as strongly as I do about this continued messing with the Start menu, or other key parts of the interface like the Settings app , that Microsoft seems increasingly obsessed with. Note that not all Windows 11 users will see this change straightaway with the July update if indeed the move does go live as planned because Microsoft is rolling this one out gradually. Its coming, though, unless Windows 11 users can change the software giants mind, and as one complainant points out, Microsoft could make one easy switch to alleviate some of the pain here: namely leaving the existing options on the bottom of the new panel, instead of shifting them a layer down the interface, hidden away. You might also like... Microsofts embarrassment over Recall fiasco gets worse as Windows 11 feature becomes the butt of Apple execs joke Windows 11 remains an unloved OS but why won't people upgrade? Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-is-messing-with-windows- 11s-start-menu-and-jamming-in-more-adverts-and-im-sick-of-it --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .