Microsoft recently stuck an ad in the lock screen of Windows 10, meaning many of the 200 million users who upgraded from previous versions were greeted by an advertisement over the past 24 hours.
The ad in question was for the Windows Store version of Rise of the Tomb Raider, and for some users it took up the entire screen with a picture from the game. The new Tomb Raider installment was added to the Windows Store last month, bringing a AAA game to a platform that doesn’t have many of them.
This isn’t a surprise: Microsoft discussed using the lock screen for ads last spring before Windows 10 was widely released. But this is the first time actual ads have shown up.
If you want to disable these unwanted guests, you’re not alone — and there’s an option to do so, as explained by HowToGeek. To summarize, you need to hit Start, then Settings. Head to Personalization, then Lockscreen settings. If “Windows Spotlight” is selected, pick either a “Picture” or “Slideshow” instead. Then uncheck the option that says “Get fun tips tricks and more on your lock screen.” This should disable such ads from showing up on the lock screen entirely.
When we talked to Windows Store developers recently about sales, one developer told us visability is a key problem. Basically, people don’t look at the Store very often, so sales come from outside press instead of exposure within the Store itself.
Microsoft told us it was hoping to increase visibility for Store apps, and lockscreen ads certainly accomplish that. The question is at what cost.
https://twitter.com/lunatrius/status/702553285962633216
Windows 10 is well regarded among technology journalists and many Microsoft fans, but many Windows users were annoyed with the persistent pop-ups to upgrade that have been pushed to Windows 7 and 8 users. Ads showing up in the operating system certainly aren’t going to endear Windows 10 to those folks, to say the least.
The question is whether most users will care; there is an option to disable the ads, after all. It will be interesting to see how users react, especially if such ads become more common.
Google DeepMind's AI world model Genie 4 can now build interactive worlds that you can explore and reshape as they run. It also generates ambient sounds, music, and dialogue that respond to your actions.
The new world model builds on Genie 3 with improved realism, more natural human movement, and better simulations of real-world physics. It could eventually help with everything from game development to training robots.
Apple has an incredible talent for making me admire its products while simultaneously questioning what on earth it's thinking with the pricing. This isn't even something as bizarre as a monitor stand, but the audacity for starting a new laptop lineup from $2,000 doesn't surprise me.
The newly announced 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 is just the latest to showcase this. The funny thing is, I already know that it's going to be a reliable workstation. You get a powerful new 2nm M6 processor, a gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display, and up to 24 hours of battery life. We were impressed by the M5 MacBook Air, so the high-end M6 powered MacBook Pro definitely won't let us down.
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Mini PCs have become an increasingly practical alternative to traditional desktops, especially if you're trying to save desk space without giving up the Windows experience. Whether you need something for everyday work, a home entertainment setup, or more demanding creative tasks, there's a surprising amount of hardware packed into these compact machines.