My brand-new Start Menu contains shortcuts to Microsoft apps Ive never ever installedScreenshot: Sean Hollister/The Verge.
No, this time Microsoft is merely sneaking unwanted web apps onto my PC– and using my Windows 10 Start Menu as free marketing space. Did I point out that icons for Microsoft Office apps have amazingly appeared in my Start Menu, even though Ive never once installed Office on this computer?
Seriously, the story youre checking out today started as a news post about this taking place to other individuals.
Screenshot: Sean Hollister/The Verge
Windows 10 had actually restarted my computer without approval yet again– to install yet another required OS upgrade onto my solid state drive.
I stepped far from my computer for dinner, midway through writing a story for The Verge I couldnt think my eyes when I got back.
These arent complete complimentary copies of Office, by the way. Theyre simply faster ways to the web variation you might currently access in any web browser of your choice, which function as advertisements to pay for a more totally featured copy.
The craziest part: When my machine finished rebooting, it now included the exact thing I d been writing about before I was rudely interrupted. Microsoft had actually installed unsolicited, undesirable web app variations of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook onto my computer system.
Because theyre web apps, its not like they use up any space on my computer system, and I dont truly mind them in my Start Menu. Theyre amongst the least offending bloatware Ive seen, and I never really take a look at the Start Menu anyhow– my taskbar and search bar have long been enough for me.
OK, its not as bad as when my whole computer system screen got taken control of by an unwanted copy of Microsoft Edge. That was truly outright.
These web apps are barely an inconvenience, but believe about the bigger image
However, theyre the newest proof that Microsoft doesnt respect your ownership of your own PC, the most current example of Microsoft installing anything it likes in a Windows upgrade approximately and consisting of bloatware, and the most recent example of Microsoft caring more about the bottom line than whether a few people might lose their work when Windows all of a sudden shuts down their PC. Thankfully, I didnt lose any work today, however a buddy of mine just recently did:
Microsoft seems to think our computer systems are totally free marketing space, a place where it can selfishly promote its other items– even though they were informed roundly in the 90s that even bundling a web internet browser was not OK. Now, theyre bundling a browser you cant uninstall, and a set of PWA web apps that launch in that same browser. (Yes, they fire up Edge even if youve set a various browser as default.).
Like ZDNet veteran Microsoft press reporter Mary Jo Foley notes, this isnt simply an experiment taking place to some Windows Insiders. Im not signed up with the Windows Insider program on this PC.
Like ZDNet veteran Microsoft press reporter Mary Jo Foley keeps in mind, this isnt simply an experiment taking place to some Windows Insiders. Im not joined the Windows Insider program on this PC. The business hasnt deigned to respond to Foleys demands for comment yet, however lets see if that modifications next week.
As Ive argued formerly, decisions like this weaken the one excellent argument Microsoft actually has for necessary updates– that they provide essential security patches that keep computers (yours and others) safe. When the most visible difference after a new upgrade is an effort to make more cash, thats a harder argument!
Microsoft appears to believe our computers are free advertising space, a location where it can selfishly promote its other items– even though they were told roundly in the 90s that even bundling a web internet browser was not Okay. Now, theyre bundling an internet browser you cant uninstall, and a set of PWA web apps that launch in that very same web browser. (Yes, they fire up Edge even if youve set a different browser as default.).
