Windows 11 Now Officially Adware as Microsoft Embeds Ads in the Start Menu - You will view ads and you WILL like it!

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Published: Wednesday, 05:38

Microsoft over late-Tuesday started distributing the KB5036980 optional update to Windows 11 users, which effectively makes the operating system adware (software that displays ads to support its author). The update gets the Windows 11 Start Menu to display ads in the "Recommended" section that suggests apps and games for you to download from the Microsoft Store, subscribe to Copilot Pro, etc. While the update is currently optional, the changes contained in it will be made part of next month's "Patch Tuesday" update.

This wouldn't be the first time Microsoft is advertising software, the OEM versions of Windows 11 can be customized by PC manufacturers to pre-install bloatware, or suggest apps or services for users to buy within the Start or Apps menus. You usually uninstall the pre-installed bloatware, and dismiss recommendations. Today's update is different, in that even the Retail versions of Windows (without the bloatware) start receiving ads. Luckily, these ads are not inescapable, you can disable them. Head over to Settings > Personalization > Start, and uncheck the toggle that reads "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more."
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It's unreal how invasive advertising is. It's unreal how little respect they have for your time. There's nothing better to me than a nice relaxing space where there's no fucking noise. But they want nothing to be that. You need ads. Ads for your eyes, ads for your ears, ads shuffled into your search results like a deck of cards. It drives me up the fucking wall. I am not a consumer to be advertised to. Your product is shit. I will buy only things I trust.
 
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I have never bought anything because of an advertisement even when I used to actually watch TV, I don't think anyone I know ever has either.
You see it in films though "zomg did you see the nuthang product! I just had to order one!" who the fuck buys things because you saw it on TV? who the fuck are these people?
I really do think "advertising" is just a giant scam the marketing department came up with just so they don't get absorbed by sales.
 
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Anti Alien Alarm said:
Luckily, these ads are not inescapable, you can disable them
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For the time being! Soon it will generate pop ups that, when you try to close them, generate twice as many - just like 20 years ago. A year of two after that you'll have to enter credit card details to close the ad.

theTime15Nigh said:
Anyone dumb enough to install GoySoft's win 11 doesn't deserve to complain.
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Can't disagree but that's easier said than done for most people. I run 10 on the main machine and only installed that when 7 stopped getting security updates. I run telemetry/spying blocking and even a skin so I can pretend it's still 7 but for software I use (let's be honest, games) I don't think I have a realistic non MS alternative. I have an aversion to Apple which is partially rational and partially pure unabated hatred. I use Linux (Mint) on another machine used mainly as a media centre and would happily use it on the main machine but doubt that the software would be nearly as happy. Not sure what I will do once MS kills off 10.
 
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Milkshake Sniffer said:
For the time being! Soon it will generate pop ups that, when you try to close them, generate twice as many - just like 20 years ago. A year of two after that you'll have to enter credit card details to close the ad.
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Which will of course kick off a software arms race where Microsoft desperately tries to stay ahead of unofficial patches that flush that shit into a digital oubilette.
 
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One thing i've never understood is why so much is spent on advertising. Whenever i've consumed product, it's because I've seen something I like in it from either need (that cable got 5 stars, so it's a buy) or from content (That game that streamer plays is worth buying). But traditional banner ads or youtube sponsorships have literally never gotten me to buy anything. Am I the odd one out?
 
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A computer is a tool, when you make or buy a tool you do not expect it to recommend what you should use it with.

I'm a Mac guy always have been always will be and I know how needlessly dickish they are at times but even they would not do this unless you are directly in the app store and it's a list based off the top 10 purchases that day or a top picks list.
 
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Maeis said:
One thing i've never understood is why so much is spent on advertising. Whenever i've consumed product, it's because I've seen something I like in it from either need (that cable got 5 stars, so it's a buy) or from content (That game that streamer plays is worth buying). But traditional banner ads or youtube sponsorships have literally never gotten me to buy anything. Am I the odd one out?
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I remember reading that a small percentage of people are basically immune to that kind of advertising. I suspect I'm a part of that minority, as I have never, ever paid attention to that shit. I research in my own time, at length, and choose products accordingly.

For most people though, they are absolutely suspceptible to this shit. Proof? Those TV product marketing gimmicks generate tens of millions per year in revenue, reliably. A LOT of people are buying that shit.

Per the thread topic, this will only serve to push me farther away from Jewcrosoft. You want to further degrade my OS experience? Get fucked Nosebergs.
 
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I thank god that I switched to linux years ago.

Axiom the Fucker said:
This is an advertisement to get an iMac I swear
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Or you could save thousands of dollars and use linux. I guess its a trade off of time or money. But there's some user friendly linux distros that don't require you to get your A+ Linux cert to install and use it.

I wouldn't buy an apple silicone mac. Everything is on the SOC. So if your RAM/Storage/CPU dies, you now have an expensive paperweight. At least with intel or power pc macs, if your ram dies, you could just get a new stick of it. Or upgrade to a new CPU. Or add additional storage, internally.

Milkshake Sniffer said:
For the time being! Soon it will generate pop ups that, when you try to close them, generate twice as many - just like 20 years ago. A year of two after that you'll have to enter credit card details to close the ad.
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The joke is on you. Because you have to buy a license* to use Windows 11 and you still get ads. You'll have to buy the disable switch for $20 on the MS Store. But that's only for 6 months.

*Yes, I know there is open source solutions to bypass getting a license. But for most normies, they won't do that.
 
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Null said:
It's unreal how invasive advertising is. It's unreal how little respect they have for your time. There's nothing better to me than a nice relaxing space where there's no fucking noise. But they want nothing to be that. You need ads. Ads for your eyes, ads for your ears, ads shuffled into your search results like a deck of cards. It drives me up the fucking wall. I am not a consumer to be advertised to. Your product is shit. I will buy only things I trust.
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Speaking of ads for your eyes I won't be the least bit surprised when somebody inevitably markets smart contact lenses connected to the internet that randomly force you to watch ads when you're wearing them

You just know some marketing executive is getting a hardon at the idea and trying to figure out how to do it as we speak
 
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