Subj : Microsoft could add more suggestions to Windows 11 that some fear
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Jul 25 2024 11:30:05

Microsoft could add more suggestions to Windows 11 that some fear might be 
ads  this time as you search its store

Date:
Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:27:37 +0000

Description:
Microsoft's new Windows 11 preview build introduces a Microsoft Store update 
with suggestion flyouts, sparking concerns about more intrusive advertising.

FULL STORY
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 Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 preview (in the Beta testing channel 
of the Windows Insider Program ), and it includes an update for the Microsoft 
Store thats caught the attention of some folks. 

The latest version of the Microsoft Store thats available as part of this 
preview ( build 22635 ) has added a flyout when you search for apps in the 
stores search box, as Windows Central noticed. 

This flyout will display suggestions for other content (apps, games and the 
like) you may be interested in, similar to suggestions that are displayed 
when you open the Microsoft Store which are based on your previous searches. 

At this point, we dont know if these flyout suggestions will be generated 
organically from your past search history, or if there will be a sprinkling 
(or even a helping) of paid advertising added in here. 

Given Microsofts history of cramming in adverts in various places in Windows 
11, which many people are frustrated with and consider heavy-handed, its easy 
to be cynical when considering Microsofts motivation behind this fresh 
development. (Image credit: Shutterstock - Gorodenkoff / Microsoft) It all 
'ads' up to a headache, frankly 

This is hardly the first time Microsofts offered similar app and product 
suggestions in parts of Windows 11, and I would hazard a guess that few users 
want these kinds of nudges. Microsoft calls these additions suggestions and 
recommendations, but to a lot of Windows users and observers, they sure look 
a lot like adverts. 

Just this year alone, weve written about recommendations in the Start Menu 
that include promoted apps , alongside further recommendations in the 
Settings app urging you to get the Xbox Game Pass , not to mention intrusive 
full-screen notifications and nags . Then theres ads infiltrating the MSN 
Weather app , and Microsoft jamming more ads into the Start menu (again). 

Its ad-ception all over Windows 11, in short, and all these moves are likely 
to annoy and frustrate at least some users, who may be thinking of looking 
elsewhere at an alternative desktop OS at this point (or maybe a trimmed-down 
version of Windows 11). 

The Microsoft Store already suffers from a low count of users, seemingly 
lower than Microsoft would like, at any rate - and I doubt sticking ads 
(sorry, suggestions) in will help remedy that. Although, maybe because of 
that (relatively) low level of traffic, perhaps this store update wont result 
in a significant increase in the overall discontent level of Windows 11 
users. Either way, however, this begs the question - why bother doing this in 
the first place? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... Windows 11 users are getting fed up 
with the performance of the OS  including an ex-Microsoft senior engineer 
Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11 Havent got round to 
installing Windows 11 23H2 yet? Youll soon be forced to get the latest update



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-could-add-more-suggestio
ns-to-windows-11-that-some-fear-might-be-ads-this-time-as-you-search-its-store


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