Microsoft is adding more ads to the Windows 10 Start menu

The Verge ^ | May 16, 2016 | Tom Warren

[Dalberg-Acton]

Microsoft is planning to double the amount of promoted apps in the Start menu with the upcoming Anniversary Update to Windows 10. The software maker revealed at its WinHEC conference last week that the amount will increase from five currently up to 10 in the Anniversary Update that's due to roll out in July. Promoted apps are typically used on new PCs as links to encourage Windows 10 users to download Store apps, and different apps are promoted in different countries.

Some promoted apps are pre-installed, but Microsoft notes that they can be fully uninstalled and any promoted items removed from the Start menu. Microsoft has not revealed exactly why the number of promoted apps is doubling, but it's likely that the company is using it as another method to attract developers to its Windows Store. 300 million devices are now running Windows 10, and Microsoft is planning to issue a free Anniversary Update in July that will include a number of new features and improvements.

[dennisw]

Hi
Do you use classic shell? How much of a memory hog is it? A few times a month I miss that up button (using win7) on windows explorer. XP was last to have it? Windows ten does bring it back? Thanks!

[dayglored]

Yeah I started doing just that on WinXP, do the same on Win7.

I only use the Start Menu directly when I do something unusual -- or I'm fixing someone else's computer that's still at the defaults.

[newfreep]

My history...

Win7 and XP were not very stable - the infamous BSOD
Upgraded from Win7 to Win8.1 - huge improvement in stability and speed
Win10 - another improvement...and significantly faster

The “Start” menu is small and concise
I have 7 “tiles” of my most used apps - very quick access

I have never seen an ad on the start menu

[zeugma]

Besides being memory hogs, they are intrusive and have no place in an OS.

But ... the Ads a critical part of the operating system. Without them it won't work!

(for those who remember Microsoft's claims regarding Internet Explorer back in the day.)

[dennisw]

great minds......etc etc

Between quick launch and “pinning” to taskbar I have all my commonly used programs covered... Then I auto-hide taskbar too, so out of sight, out of mind until I want “my” programs.

[daniel1212]

Do you use classic shell? How much of a memory hog is it? A few times a month I miss that up button (using win7) on windows explorer. XP was last to have it? Windows ten does bring it back? Thanks!

Sorry i missed your reply. Classic shell is only using 2.71mb of Private Bytes (refers to the amount of memory that the process executable has asked for - not necessarily the amount it is actually using - but a reasonable approximation of the amount of memory your executable is using). And yes, it enables you to have the Up arrow in folders.