Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Microsoft Experiments with Ads in Windows Email

posted by chromas on Saturday November 17 2018, @12:45PM   Printer-friendly
from the dot-dot-dot-for-now dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/16/18098855/microsoft-windows-10-email-mail-app-advertising-pilot-program

Do you use the default Mail client on your PC, the one that comes with Windows 10, to read your email? How would you feel if Microsoft decided to throw in a few ads right at the top of your inbox?

These aren't rhetorical questions — as Windows news site Aggiornamenti Lumia noticed today, Microsoft is already testing that exact idea in a number of countries around the world. According to Microsoft's FAQ, what we're seeing is a pilot program, an experiment, a test that'll theoretically help the company decide if it should actually roll out the feature for real.

Update, 11:52 AM PT: Microsoft comms head Frank Shaw tells us the company has decided to turn these ads off. He also says the experiment was never intended to be tested broadly, which doesn't quite jibe with the existence of a FAQ about a pilot program taking place in several countries around the world, but either way the ads should be gone.

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Microsoft Experiments with Ads in Windows Email | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 47 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @02:55PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @02:55PM (#763108)

    [citation needed]

  • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @03:21PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @03:21PM (#763116)

    Install Windows 7 or 8.1 with or without a proper license, activate 7 with Windows Loader 2.2.2 or 8.1 with Microsoft Toolkit, run gatherosstate.exe from the Win10 install media, copy GenuineTicket.xml somewhere, install clean Win10, copy the file back to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket (IIRC) and run clipup with the appropriate option (can't recall if it's -d or -o) and then slmgr.vbs /ato to activate with the genuine ticket.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @03:34PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @03:34PM (#763120)

      That is actively breaking the activation mechanism. Hilarious, so "free" is just stolen by your definition. Great morals there.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @07:44PM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @07:44PM (#763181)

        You wouldn’t download a car, would you?

        • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Saturday November 17 2018, @10:11PM

          by MostCynical (2589) on Saturday November 17 2018, @10:11PM (#763226) Journal

          You wouldn’t download a car, would you?

          Dunno - can it be registered?

          This is the problem with copy vs take original. Copying something only removes the ability of someone to charge for something, that is, intrinsically, free.

          Microsoft has always known the value of their software was zero, and that they wouldn't be able to convince people to pay for it forever. That is why most companies love the cloud/lease model: revenue forever.

          --
          "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

        • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @10:11PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 17 2018, @10:11PM (#763227)

          You wouldn’t download a car, would you?

          I would if I had a 3d printer.