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Microsoft drew the ire of users before this year with its increasingly desperate attempts to go users to upgrade to Windows x. Regardless of whether or non the new Os is an comeback, people don't similar their computers to get so pushy. Information technology seems that Microsoft has not learned its lesson, and is now pushing what are essentially ads for its browser to some Windows users. That'southward not gonna fly with people.

Microsoft's Edge browser is the replacement for Internet Explorer, but it was a flake of a mess when Windows 10 launched. The change in browsers hasn't stopped users from flocking to alternatives like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Evidently Microsoft thinks it can finish that with some needling in the grade of taskbar popups. PC Globe editor Brad Chacos spotted one of these and grabbed a screenshot before dismissing the ad.

The advertising is reminding users they tin can sign up for Microsoft Rewards and earn points while they utilise Edge. The ad—and let's be honest, that'south what information technology is—won't announced if you're already a regular user of Edge or Microsoft Rewards. Too, there'due south nowhere for the popup to announced if you don't have the Edge icon in your taskbar.

What's particularly abrasive nigh this advert is that Microsoft doesn't seem to consider it an ad. It'due south non governed by the "suggestions" in personalization, which has its own history of corruption. The Edge ad is part of Microsoft'due south tips and tricks. To turn that off, yous demand to go to Settings > Organisation > Notifications & Actions and turn off the "tips, tricks, and suggestions" toggle. That's pretty misleading, I remember.

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That'due south not the just attribute of Microsoft's new Edge advert blitz. People have reported seeing "tips" in the activeness centre that tell them Chrome is bad for their battery life, and Edge would be much improve. This is just an ad under the guise of a helpful suggestion. Cluttering upwardly notifications is mayhap even worse. On Android, Google actually fabricated a dominion that developers tin can't put ads in the notification area.

No one is saying Microsoft shouldn't be able to promote its products—you might even feel compelled to give Microsoft a little more than elbowroom this time, as Windows 10 was a gratis upgrade. Even so, there needs to be a happy middle between promotion and nagging. A proficient start would exist to truly respect the user's ad settings and not pretend these popups are anything else.

At present read: Windows 10: The all-time hidden features, tips, and tricks