[Update: "Ads were for internal used only"] Microsoft tests Ads built into File Explorer

[rcmaehl]

Update (Source: The Verge)

 

Quote

 While the ads might have appeared for some Windows 11 users, Microsoft says it was a mistake. “This was an experimental banner that was not intended to be published externally and was turned off,” says Brandon LeBlanc, senior program manager for Windows. While the ads weren’t intended to be tested externally, it’s clear Microsoft is capable of running them inside Windows 11, and the company’s brief statement doesn’t rule out ads appearing in the File Explorer in the future.

 

Oh right, the ads, the ads for internal use, the ads chosen especially for convincing your own employees to use Microsoft products at Microsoft, internal use ads. Those ads? References aside, Pretty sure Microsoft is just covering their butts here. This idea likely went through various managers and even legal before they started adding it as it seems mostly fedged out. My original thoughts stand.

 

Summary

Windows Insiders have spotted Microsoft Testing Ad Banners in File Explorer.

 

Media

 

Quotes

Quote

Microsoft has begun testing promotions for its products in File Explorer on devices running 11 Insider. The new Windows 11 "feature" was discovered by a Windows user and Insider MVP who shared a screenshot of an advertisement. BleepingComputer also tried replicating this, but didn't get any File Explorer ads. This can likely be explained by Microsoft running an A/B testing experiment trying to gauge the success of such a feature. This is not the first time Microsoft has added promotional messages to various places within Windows  BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft with questions regarding the File Explorer ads, but we haven't heard back yet.

 

My thoughts

Microsoft keeps edging more and more ads in to Windows. I'm sure that this specific version won't be added but with their automatic installing of Apps in 10, adding Apps that aren't even installed to the Start Menu on 11, adding Edge ads everywhere, and even advertising Office in wordpad; it's just a preview of whar's to come. I'm sure they'll swap to something like recommending non-installed apps in the "How do you want to open this" menu instead.

 

Sources

Bleeping Computer (quote source)

[Thaldor]

Whoa, calm down, Satan. We know you want to destroy your #1 OS company just to get rid of it but there's limits to everything.

 

So far:

- We need to upgrade completely fine CPUs because some mumbo jumbo that doesn't even work all of the time

- UI is meant for touch screens that no one used a decade ago and no one will use in a decade to come

- Browser is tighter bound than a fist in a mouth, again

- Some very much wanted features have been cut out because "reasons"

- There's basicly nothing better or nothing really new from the previous version

and now

- Mandatory ads to inform how much "better" Microsoft products are than anything else on the Earth

 

Yep, Reason #[however much] to stay away from Windows 11 and rather go and hug a person with the plague instead.

[Needfuldoer]

 

It's bad enough they try to push OneDrive and Microsoft accounts on you. If this gets implemented in the shipping version of Windows 11, I'm switching to FreeBSD in 2026.

[da na]

jesus they really are tanking every possible reason you'd want to switch to 11

looks like I'll be riding out 10 until Wine gets good enough to run CAD software smoothly

[Arika]

If it gets pushed to production (because there is going to be a LOT of feedback from the insider program about this), there will be a regedit, or some sort of override within hours of it going live to remove it permanently if there's not a built in toggle switch

[Helpful Tech Witch]

I’d point out that this isn’t what the title suggests.

when someone hears ads I file explorer, they don’t think a tiny banner suggesting to use a product made by the company that makes it, they think like this

[Mark Kaine]

9 minutes ago, Helpful Tech Wiard said:

when someone hears ads I file explorer, they don’t think a tiny banner suggesting to use a product made by the company that makes it, they think like this

Nope, im thinking of exactly the thing in the OP, especially because im 100% sure i saw this in win 10 already a couple of years ago (i dont remember what it was exactly , but it was a Microsoft "product")  

 

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-10-stop-ads-from-displaying-in-file-explorer/

 

…

(mine didnt look like that, it looked like the one in the OP)

 

Also those arent ads, those are "suggestions"  surejan.gif

 

[TetraSky]

Linux / Steam OS looking more and more attractive by the day... Thanks Microsoft for shooting yourself in the foot to push forward Linux adoption for gaming.

[OhioYJ]

43 minutes ago, Mel0nMan said:

until Wine gets good enough to run CAD software smoothly

I cringe a little every time someone brings up Wine. It's a good way to bring Windows vulnerabilities into Linux.  All you need is a Windows Ransomware program working in Linux because you had Wine installed. I'm not sure many people think of it from this angle.

[sof006]

If they do this I think this will be the nail in the coffin for me. If they do this, I’ll switch to Linux. 

[da na]

52 minutes ago, Helpful Tech Wiard said:

I’d point out that this isn’t what the title suggests.

when someone hears ads I file explorer, they don’t think a tiny banner suggesting to use a product made by the company that makes it, they think like this

Leaked File Explorer

[poochyena]

Eh, its a microsoft ad, so i'd hardly even call it an ad since its on their own platform.

[NumLock21]

I like how they purposely have the folder Audacity shown along with the ad in the screenshot, even though it's an program.

This isn't the worst place for ads. I think their was places way worst.

[da na]

10 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

I like how they purposely have the folder Audacity shown along with the ad in the screenshot, even though it's an program.

This isn't the worst place for ads. I think their was places way worst.

Audacity generates that folder in your documents folder when you install but yeah strange they'd feature it over say OneDrive or some other ms product

[Zodiark1593]

2 hours ago, OhioYJ said:

I cringe a little every time someone brings up Wine. It's a good way to bring Windows vulnerabilities into Linux.  All you need is a Windows Ransomware program working in Linux because you had Wine installed. I'm not sure many people think of it from this angle.

Have any better ideas of running Windows-only games?

[NumLock21]

1 minute ago, Mel0nMan said:

Audacity generates that folder in your documents folder when you install but yeah strange they'd feature it over say OneDrive or some other ms product

IMO it was more of them trying to say, Microsoft now has the audacity to put ads in File Explorer.

 

Audacity - a willingness to take bold risks, fearlessness, bravery, courage.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

What irks me the most is that ad isn't even displaying on an application that's applicable. Microsoft Editor is for Office apps and Edge... why is it showing in a File Explorer window. Come on guys, at least make the ad show in the right app... 

[NumLock21]

5 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

What irks me the most is that ad isn't even displaying on an application that's applicable. Microsoft Editor is for Office apps and Edge... why is it showing in a File Explorer window. Come on guys, at least make the ad show in the right app... 

But some may not have say right app, so they put in File Explorer.
Once they get the right app, then MS places add in there. follow by many other ads.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just now, NumLock21 said:

But some may not have say right app, so they put in File Explorer.

Edge comes preinstalled so everyone has at least one. If for whatever reason people didn't have the right app, that's even worse because it's the worst type of bloatware. Bloatware that you can't even open. 

[NumLock21]

1 minute ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Edge comes preinstalled so everyone has at least one. If for whatever reason people didn't have the right app, that's even worse because it's the worst type of bloatware. Bloatware that you can't even open. 

So I delete say bloatware that cannot be open, but when I want to empty recycle bin. I'm forced to watch a 30 second ad!

Microsoft next place for ads, the recycle bin. hahaha

[AndreiArgeanu]

Is this why this is showing up now in W10 explorer? I'm about to upgrade to Windows 7 at this rate.

[NumLock21]

1 minute ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

Is this why this is showing up now in W10 explorer? I'm about to upgrade to Windows 7 at this rate.

That's been there for quite some time and it has nothing to do with what's going on now.

[atxcyclist]

Dang, looks like I'll be on Windows 10 for a while...

[Dabombinable]

I smell more future anti-trust lawsuits.

[suicidalfranco]

hey, hey!

Rule n.1 in the LTT forum:

THEIR PLATFORM, THEIR RULES

 

You have no saying on the matter other than deciding to stay or leave