Windows 10: Microsoft is not done yet: more ads spotted in latest Windows 11 build

When is an ad an advertisement and not a recommendation? Microsoft clearly likes to use the term recommendation for what others may see as an advertisement.

There are recommendations in the Start menu, Settings app, Lock screen, File Explorer, Get Help app, and other areas of the operating system already. These are often not that useful. App recommendations in the Start menu are limited to Microsoft Store apps.

Now, Microsoft is testing recommendations in the Microsoft Store app. If you never use the app, you won't be exposed to these. If you do, you may notice recommendations popping up when you try to use the built-in search.

First spotted by phantomofearth on X, two or three recommendations are shown whenever search is activated in the official Microsoft Store app.


Recommendations shown in the Microsoft Store app. Image source: phantomofearth

We were able to verify this independently in the latest Windows 11 Insider build. Whether the feature will make it into stable versions of Windows 11 remains to be seen. The chance that it does seems good though.

Recommendations seem to focus mostly on games at this point, with popular games such as Homescapes, Forza Horizon 5, or Sea of Thieves 2024 Edition being recommended to the user. Some are free to play, usually with some form of in-game monetization scheme, others need to be bought before they can be played.

For Microsoft, it is a way to advertise apps and games to the Windows user. It is unclear if Microsoft is receiving compensation for these.

To be fair; compared to Google Play, the main store for Android apps, and Apple's App Store, the Microsoft Store is pretty tame when it comes to ads or sponsored content. It is probably not used as widely as those two stores.

Many Windows users prefer to get their programs from other places and not the Microsoft Store with its rather limited selection of apps and games.

Closing Words


If one thing is certain, it is that Windows users should expect more ads in Windows in the future. Whether Microsoft will change its course eventually remains to be seen. For now, the company seems to be all-in on pushing its services and content in the Windows operating system.

What about you? Do you mind these type of recommendations in the operating systems that you use? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft is not done yet: more ads spotted in latest Windows 11 build appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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Windows OS Builds List

Windows Operating Systems Builds List by Matthew Smith
*Many Builds Are Subject To Change Due To Various Sources
NOTE: the listing titles are in order from the order in the actual list, anything added in v8 will show which beta it was updated in to keep you guys informed on what changes were made where, as of 8.0 BETA 8, 7.1 is obsolete, but will keep it up to show how many changes I've made.


NOTE 2: each new list version doesn't just come up with more builds but might come with renaming/removing/replacing of the builds aswel to show proper release names such as,
Release Candidate, RTM, Pre-Beta, etc.
Enjoy


Windows OS Builds Lists - http://www.T4CFantasy.com/WOS/
Currently 5583 Builds Listed
Microsoft DOS / OS/2 (Currently 118 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft BASIC (Currently 5 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Xenix (Currently 4 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 1.x (Currently 6 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 2.x (Currently 18 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 3.x (Currently 27 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 4.x (Currently 6 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 5.x (Currently 23 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 6.x (Currently 24 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 7.x (Currently 4 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft DOS 8.x (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1

Microsoft Windows Emedded CE (Currently 138 Builds Listed)
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 1.x (Currently 4 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 2.x (Currently 9 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 3.x (Currently 6 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 4.x (Currently 9 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 5.x (Currently 45 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.x (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 (Currently 32 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 8 (Currently 30 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (Currently 5316 Builds Listed)
- Microsoft Windows 1.x (Currently 14 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows 2.x (Currently 10 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows 3.x (Currently 59 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows 3.x For Workgroups (Currently 7 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows For Pen Computing 1.0 (Currently 5 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 4
- Microsoft Windows For Pen Computing 2.0 (Currently 1 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 3
- Microsoft Windows NT 3.1x (Currently 31Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x (Currently 78 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Server 1.5 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.x (Currently 104 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Server 4.0 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Server 4.5 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Terminal Server 4.0 (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows 95 (Currently 224 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows 96 / Nashville (Currently 7 Builds Listed) 8.2.0 Alpha 4a
- Microsoft Windows 97 / Memphis (Currently 12 Builds Listed) 8.2.0 Alpha 4a
- Microsoft Windows 98 (Currently 151 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Me (Currently 58 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows 2000 (Currently 279 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows BackOffice Server 2000 (Currently 2 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 9
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2000 (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Neptune (Currently 8 Builds Listed) 8.2.0 Beta 2
- Microsoft Windows XP (Currently 1226 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows XP Embedded (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 6
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (Currently 186 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows .NET Server 2003 R2 (Currently 5 Builds Listed) 8.0.0 BETA 4
- Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Vista (Currently 713 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Currently 483 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows 7 (Currently 580 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (Currently 364 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 5
- Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 (Currently 8 Builds Listed) 8.0.2 BETA
- Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 (Currently 12 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 5
- Microsoft Windows Hyper-V Server 2008 (Currently 5 Builds Listed) 8.2.0 Beta 1
- Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.0.2 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.0.2 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.0.3 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.0.1 BETA 2
- Microsoft Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (Currently 14 Builds Listed) 8.0.2 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Foundation (Currently 1 Build Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 6
- Microsoft Windows Home Server (Currently 20 Builds Listed) 8.0.2 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011 (Currently 10 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 7
- Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.0.0 BETA 5
- Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 (Currently 6 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 7
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (Currently 4 Builds Listed) 8.0.3 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2011 (Currently 7 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7 (Currently 6 Builds Listed) 8.0.3 BETA
- Microsoft Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 5
- Microsoft Windows Thin PC (Currently 3 Builds Listed) 8.1.0 BETA 5
- Microsoft Windows 8 (Currently 419 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Currently 161 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Essentials (Currently 2 Builds Listed) 8.4.0 Alpha 1

 

Microsoft is developing a built-in ad blocker for its Edge browser

"One of the first browser add-ons many people install to improve their online experience is Adblock Plus or something similar. Until recently, Microsoft Edge's lack of support for add-ons put off a lot of would-be users, but reports from Build 2016 suggest that native ad blocking is on its way to the Internet Explorer successor.

Adblock Plus is coming to Edge, but built-in ad blocking would negate the need for such an add-on. A slide shown off and snapped at a Build presentation shows that the next version of Edge, in response to user feedback, will feature ad blocking capabilities. There's no word on delivery timescale, but the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update would seem a likely candidate.

ZDNet's Ed Bott photographed the slide which shows Microsoft's development roadmap built around feedback from testers. Right at the top of the list is reference to plans to create a plugin and extension store for Edge, but it's entry number four that's more intriguing.

"Build ad blocking features into the browser" is listed as a Feature Request from users. But the good news is that it is not only listed as being "Deliverable 4682811", but as "Targeted for the next version".

This will no doubt come as good news for those who have fallen in love with Edge, but it's not something that will be welcomed by the likes of Adblock Plus. It does seem that, particularly in the mobile arena, there is a move to baking ad blocking into the browser so it makes sense that Microsoft is following the trend. But it is the fact that Edge straddles Windows 10 on the desktop and Windows 10 Mobile that makes this a particularly interesting move.

Keep an eye out for Insider builds in the coming weeks as the feature may be just around the corner."

Forget extensions, built-in ad blocking is coming to Microsoft Edge - [UPDATE... no it's not!]

 

New Microsoft 365 Current Channel v2007 build 13029.20344 - August 11

Source:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/off...2007-august-11
• What's new in Microsoft 365 - Office Support

Latest Office Updates for Windows

How to Check for Updates in Office 2016 and Office 2019 for Windows