Windows 10's taskbar is getting another feature that you may not need
It is 2021, and Microsoft released a first new build of the upcoming version of Windows 10 to the Insider channel. Build 21286 introduces a new feature that Microsoft calls "news and interests on the taskbar".
As the name suggests, it is a new addition to the Windows Taskbar that displays news and weather information when activated. The content that is displayed is updated throughout the day according to Microsoft.
Users may personalize the feed to get information and news displayed that cater to the interest of users according to Microsoft.
Microsoft displayed sample screenshots of the feature on its Windows Experience blog. The first screenshot shows news headlines, sports, weather, and finance information. A button to "see more news" is provided, as are buttons to reload the data and open the menu.
The taskbar button displays weather information that are visible while the taskbar is visible.
Microsoft highlights the key features of "news and interests" on its blog:
- Stay up to date with access to more than 4500 news sources and live weather maps. Selecting an article opens a streamlined reading view of it.
- Personalize the feed by "telling" Microsoft about stories that you like or don't like. Microsoft promises that its algorithm will get better at providing stories of interest if the feature is used regularly.
- Users are in control, it is possible to turn off the feature with two clicks.
The feature is being rolled out gradually to Insider devices. It is regionally-limited to systems in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and India at the time. Microsoft notes that it does require the Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge installed on the PC as well.
Windows 10 users can hide the new icon with a right-click on it and the selection of the remove option that is displayed in the context menu that opens.
Who is it for?
Microsoft continues to add new items to the taskbar, including the Meet Now icon as a Skype shortcut, the People icon, and others. News and weather information is available in Start as well, but it is possible that Microsoft is going to remove these from Start to make them appear on the taskbar instead. The information that is provided appears to be identical to the news and weather information that users of the new Edge get on the browser's New Tab page, at least the sources are. The page displays advertisement.
Weather information on the taskbar may be useful to some users who like to have the data visible all the time. The news part may be of interest to some as well, but it restricts news access to global news brands only with no option to add news sources to the mix that are not in Microsoft's curated list of sources.
Most Windows 10 users may have reservations regarding the feature because of potential privacy implications. The feed in its initial form is not very useful; this means that users need to train it, and that is providing Microsoft with lots of data on user interests.
Now You: Weather information on the taskbar, and a news widget as well, useful addition or not?
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help