“Despite the fact that I’ve been using Windows 8 for the past three weeks, I somehow managed to overlook a rather stark feature in the OS: ads,” Rob Williams reports for HotHardware. “No, we’re not talking about ads cluttering up the desktop or login screen (thankfully), but rather ads that can be found inside of some Modern UI apps that Windows ships with. That includes Finance, Weather, Travel, News and so forth. Is it a problem?”
“On previous mobile platforms, such as iOS and Android, seeing ads inside of free apps hasn’t been uncommon. It’s a way for the developer to get paid while allowing the user to have the app for free. That’s where the first big difference comes in,” Williams writes. “While people can expect ads in a free app, no one expects ads in a piece of software [for which] they just paid good money. I actually can’t think of another immediate example where a piece of paid software shows ads.”
Williams writes, “The biggest mistake here on Microsoft’s behalf is that no one is made aware of these ads until they happen to stumble on them. No one is going to expect ads to be loaded in their paid-for OS, so a notification of that at first boot would be appreciated. Further, no one is given the option to disable them (though I’m sure it’d take little more than an editing of the hosts file). Finally, there’s also the fact that these ads haven’t decreased the price of the OS, else that’d be a point Microsoft would no doubt flaunt.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft. Forever shooting themselves in their big clown feet.
Rather than just smirking and rolling our eyes, as usual when we see the odd PC laptop sufferer in public, we’re just going to laugh right in the mouth-breathing face of anyone sporting a Surface.
Nooo, we’d never do that. Too boorish. Instead, we’ll just sell each of them a nice new share of the Brooklyn Bridge.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “zmarc” for the heads up.]
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XBox does this too. Thank goodness I have a PS3.
The cheap, freetards, iHaters won’t care and love it.
Not sure what he is talking about Microsoft and it’s partners have had adds in the way of bloated crapware installed with every new computer for years. The fact that you could pay to have computer that did not have them supports the notion they are advertising use to reduce the price of the system.
They just PROVED that they have no taste
…or class.
The only way MS and ‘class’ can appear in the same sentence is as an apposite of opposites.
How about “class-action”, as in what will happen when the teeming masses discover this unrequested “ad”-on?
Here’s a nice scenario. Your boss is giving a tour of your work area to potential clients and an ad for your competitor comes on the screen….Ooops!
just my $0.02
…or better still an Apple ad comes up during Sinofsky’s next Surface presentation (that’s providing the sodding thing don’t crash again…)
Microturd, purveyors of fine crap. We will ship no crap before its time.
You mean – Microsoft: “We will anticipate no trend until way after it’s time.” D’Oh!
Adding insult to injury.
The Microsoft way. Hey!
I’m tired of this name micro…
like I commented yesterday (titled : I Wish Apple will Panic A Little — http://macdailynews.com/2012/11/08/analyst-on-apple-dont-panic/ )
apple is letting the looming Win 8 Vistaness go without cashing on it.
where the Mac PC guy type ads? (No generic Mac ads except aborted Olympic ads since 2009)
There hasn’t been a single mountain Lion Ad telling people OSX and Macs are better. (Most PC users don’t even know OSX is better or why, or that Apple has made a new OS since 2008 or something)
New Mac Mini, No TV ads (none in my area anyways)
No iMac ads (haven’t seen them for years. PC users wanting to switch say they don’t want an imac as they want to keep their monitors. They have NO CLUE that mac mini exists as Apple doesn’t advertise them)
sales staff at Best Buy etc are near clueless and not charged about macs (sales staff in big box retailers find it very hard to sell stuff where TV ads don’t do half the work. ). Most do not even know a Mac Pro EXISTS. They obviously will NEVER tell a shopper OSX is BETTER than Windows (so apple should do it by marketing!).
it is great chance to gain some market share but Apple marketing seems bored by macs.
Depending on one thing iOS (iPhone alone makes 50% of apple’s profits) means one hiccup (maps, supply chain and assorted b.s) and the stock tanks. (that’s why big investors say they don’t invest in apple and why the PE is silly low).
c’mon apple, you’ve got great macs.. go SELL them.
like I argued yesterday if Apple could afford many many Mac PC guy ads when they were selling FEWER macs surely they can advertise macs a bit now? With only 5% worldwide marketshare there’s room to grow and bucks to be made.
don’t let Msft fix their Win 8 like they ‘fixed’ Vista with Win 7 without really cashing in and gaining serious market share.
I don’t think you’ve been paying attention to what Steve Jobs said repeatedly. Apple’s goal, according to Steve, is to create amazing products that they would be proud to recommend to their families. They do not set out to corner a market or clobber a competitor. To shift their focus to those kinds of concerns would dilute the stated focus. Death to Android notwithstanding 😉
“Apple’s goal, according to Steve, is to create amazing products”
But, but but… to my mind they DO HAVE amazing products in Macs and OSX Mt. Lion!
even the Pc magazines give Mt. Lion a win over Windows (“editorts choice” etc.)
YET apple doesn’t really market them!!
like I said countless times they haven’t had generic Mac ads (like the many Mac PC guys) since 2009! (except for the few aborted Olympic ads) and they don’t market Mt. Lion…
or are you saying Mt . Lion, iMacs (designed by Ive) are NOT amazing products?
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Reblogged this on P@ssioneMobile.
Shit Sandwich.
You mean Shark Sandwich. Great album.
This is nothing new. PC hardware makers preload a ton of crippleware on hardware, along with Windows. That is essentially unwanted “advertising” for a piece of software, and developers are paying hardware makers to put a crippled piece of software on their products, as promotion. But this may be the first time Microsoft is doing it themselves – the entire OS is now like crippleware.
True That Steve!
Window 8 is doing pretty well. Consumer love it. New and fresh…….