- Windows 10 has a new update that adds a few features
- Unfortunately, one of these is focused on promoting bing and edge
- Microsoft pushes its search engine and browser via the calendar panel out of the taskbar
Windows 10 has a new update and it actually introduces a new feature – though you may want it not to do it when you discover what this latest addition is.
That said, the freshly released update comes to June (which is KB5060533 for Windows 10 22H2) with a fine tuning that can raise a smile, namely that the clock in the taskbar now shows the seconds when you click to see the time in the calendar panel.
Quite why Microsoft Grifted that it is initially outside me, but still, although it may be a pleasant return of a feature for some, there is a sting in the tail further down in the said calendar flyout – namely that Bing has crept into the mixture here.
Not obvious, mind, but as Windows latest explains, there has been a change in the lower part of the calendar panel where you usually see your own events or reminders – if you have anyone, that’s it. If you don’t, this used to be empty but from the June update you see popular public events and their dates.
Of course, pretty much every day is now dedicated to something – for example, today, June 11, ‘National Corn on the Cob Day’ (apparently) – and reminders to these events now appear in the calendar panel.
How does Bing appear in this? If you click on the mentioned event, you will get information about it fired up in … Wait for it … Yes, Bing Search Machine. And which web browser will appear in? Microsoft Edge, of course. Why promote a favor when, after all, you can promote two?
Analysis: Why risk Bestmirchment?
This is a little sneaky as it is far from clear that you call Bing and Edge when you click something on the calendar’s flightout of curiosity. In addition, this is done despite Windows 10 preferences you have chosen for your default search engine or browser, which in turn is an unwelcome twist.
This is the kind of behavior that adversely affects Microsoft’s reputation, and it does not help that the fine tuning is not mentioned in the update notes. We are only told that June -Patchet gives a “rich calendar experience” (yes, it makes someone rich or at least a little richer, possibly – but not you).
The kicker here is that Windows 10 is only four months from being declared a dead operating system with its life support removed (unless you pay for additional security fixes for an extra year). So why even bother to make changes like this when Windows 10 faces its final curtain? Why take any risks at all that can cause reputation?
One thought arises: Maybe Microsoft is not convinced that flooding of people will leave Windows 10 when the deadline for the end of life rolls around October 2025. After all, an alarmingly fierce number of Diehard’s still clings to the older operating system. In which case, Microsoft may see the value and worth still abounding Windows 10 users to clear while either staying around and paying for support or risking their upon PC being compromised while refusing (or unable to upgrade to Windows 11.
Well yes. At least we’ve got seconds left on the calendar watch, Hurray.
