Windows 10 – “News and Interests”

Normally I am Linux user. It is not a secret, but no: I don’t run around trying to convince people to change their operating system – because I simply don’t care for what OS somebody is using and for what reason. I have my reasons for using Linux and have just been reminded to pay attention to that reasons. Those “My OS is better than yours because…” discussions are simply stupid. With that out of the way to the actual topic:
My main Linux computer is off most of the time in summer, and the laptop currently has a spare SSD running outdated (offline) Windows 7 which doesn’t get security patches anymore… so how to I use GBAtemp at the moment? With my only Windows 10 computer: A cheap tablet with keyboard dock from 2018. The winver command says: “Version 20H2 (Build 19042.1052)”

After the latest regular update I couldn’t believe my eyes: On the taskbar was a new thing. A so-called widget with the name “News And Interests” which reacts to mouse hover by default and not only a click. What does it do? It shows news. Or as I would like to call it: Ads. This is advertising in the taskbar! Clickbait opening articles in Microsoft Edge (despite my default browser being Firefox) which will lead to news sites with more ads. All searches for how to get rid of this thing go to one of the dozens of articles explaining how to deactivate it for the current user (right click on Taskbar, News and Interests, Turn off). I also found out this came with a cumulative security patch. Actual removal from the system? Remove the security patch. Now that is some really great idea! I have to find out which domain(s) to block in Pi Hole to prevent this thing from working if possible.

Let me think about this a moment. I have paid for commercial software, an OS bundled with a computer. This OS gets a security update containing advertising functions. Sounds very, very legitimate.
Seems the users are callous nowadays. They accept simply everything without protesting. Even more: There are enough of people defending such practices who will explain why everything that comes from big companies is good, justified and why I just should shut up instead of complaining.

Edit:
I already got three comments of the type "It can be disabled -- so no problem." Not a surprise.



Time to overcome my laziness and install the SSD/HDD into the laptop for getting my Linux back. Then I can stop complaining. But I had to let off steam.

a) The laziness mentioned above. Because of the dominance of the Windows OS, I sometimes (but very rarely) need it for using Windows exclusive software. Call it opportunism.
b) That small tablet with keyboard is an excellent mobile typewriter with long battery running time and it didn't cost much.
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Comments

lwiz
The feature can be disabled easily enough so it doesn't bother me that much.

For privacy concerns people do tend too easily "donate" all their personal info to Google without second thoughts - using Android, Chrome... whatever that nasty company spews out.
 
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tech3475
TBH it doesn't bother me that much and it's relatively easy to disable, so far I'm not seeing any literal ads, just headlines.

Windows would have to get allot worse for me to want to change to desktop Linux full time, considering the problems that would cause and given my prior experience.
 
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KleinesSinchen
@lwiz Concerning Android... My opinion on this: Using a stock Android phone without root access and possibly LineageOS is a bad idea. Logging into a Google account with a phone is an even worse idea.

"Can be disabled easily" misses the point. Why is something like this there in the first place? Why is it bundled with a security patch? Why can't it be removed (which is not the same as disabled)?

When setting up this tablet there were a lot of these "Can be disabled easily.", "Can be uninstalled.", "Can be stopped." things. It was horrible. Candy Crush Saga in start menu. A lot of useless applications that were there uncalled for and couldn't be simply removed. Xbox apps. I forgot how many of these were there. Running debloating scripts. Disabling telemetry. It took days. And each time there is an update it becomes a gamble what settings get reset and what new crap gets installed.
 
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Minox
I was also not too impressed when I noticed this new 'feature' but at least it can be disabled in a few clicks just like the search bar and Cortana is.
 
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RaptorDMG
I like this new feature as it tells me the weather and temperature although I don't plan on using the rest of the program
 
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G
This is exactly why i don't use Windows 10. If i don't want telemetry or ads Microsoft has to respect this specially considering Windows is a paid product. They won't however and keep resetting your settings after updates in the hope you give up.

Now i do use Linux 99% of the time but i don't care about OS wars. I do recommend it to friends or people i know occasionally.
 
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KleinesSinchen
Found a machine wide solution with regedit:
Create a key Windows Feeds in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

and then a new Dword value in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Feeds\ named Enable Feeds with the value 0

After a reboot this policy is enforced for all accounts. This doesn't remove the crap component though.
 
Sono
I'm not at all protecting M$ here, I'm just mentioning that Windows 10 is not sold as a product like previous versions, but is sold as a service. And as part of the service agreement is that you behave a good citizen and keep updating and installing the crapware and clicking ads, and don't try to disturb any of that. So it's in their *legal* right to do all this crap. Is it morally right? I think we all know the answer to that.

Funnily enough I tried to decrapify 1703, and WOW, it runs FAST! I can't believe how remotely good it can be made with some decrapifying work. It's REALLY snappy, even snappier than 7 ever was. And decrapified Edge on top of that, Edge is amazing and blazing fast!

Too bad all is ruined by default.
 
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AncientBoi
"discussions are simply stupid"............................. Really? Then why would you post this? Seems totalitarian to me.
 
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KleinesSinchen
@Sono Mind if you sent you a reply in PM tomorrow? Goes to far here.

@OldBoi
The power of selective quoting. I find certain discussion pretty stupid, not discussions in general. Unsure if this is supposed to be a joke or if this is a misunderstanding.

And yes, I stand by this opinion: Discussions about which OS is better are stupid, useless and go nowhere.
 
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G
@Sono
"I'm just mentioning that Windows 10 is not sold as a product like previous versions, but is sold as a service."

That's what Microsoft says but at the same time they expect you to pay for the license (if you don't have one bundled with your device). So basically nothing changed except the OS.
 
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Y
My desktop PC runs windows only for games. I had to disable automatic updates and also updates from the store because they were downloading and installing every time I ran a game....... After editing several policies on the group policy editor I stopped that behavior and my PC ran stable with only notifications for required updates (optional and latest features disabled). But yesterday I noticed that new addition to the taskbar and disabled it for good (I still need to check on the policy editor), kind of pointless for me if you ask me because I get news from my cellphone, not while I try to launch a game that runs fullscreen....
Windows 10 is basically software as a service so we are going to see those "features" getting installed without our consent, that is how if is supposed to be, they do not even care if you paid for the license because that is not the point, it is ad revenue and big data analysis. I read on an article that next updates are going to be tied to Windows 11 (if that is going to be called) so I would expect more surprises in the future. Pro users have some flexibility to opt out for some updates and latest features but we will see how it turns out when they release a new windows version or major updates.
I do all my work on a laptop running Linux, and I suggest other to do the same but it is their choice (home pcs usually have no choice, business pcs are more flexible when running other OS).
 
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