Windows 10 users are experiencing a notable change with the ‘News and interests’ panel, which has expanded significantly, regardless of individual preferences. This development was highlighted by Windows Latest, which reported that the panel, accessible via an icon on the taskbar, has grown to approximately 50% larger than its previous size. In some configurations, it may even occupy up to 60% of the screen.
According to the findings, the panel’s dimensions vary based on the user’s screen resolution and desktop settings. For instance, on a laptop with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 and 150% scaling, the panel can dominate nearly two-thirds of the display. This panel primarily showcases news stories from the MSN feed, while also featuring widgets for weather, stock updates, and traffic information, all of which redirect users to Microsoft’s Edge browser and Bing for further details.
Analysis: Breaking news – Windows 10 user switches off sprawling MSN panel
Upon re-enabling the News and interests feature on our Windows 10 PC, we confirmed the accuracy of Windows Latest’s observations. The panel indeed occupies around 50% of the desktop space when activated, a significant increase from its previous footprint of approximately 20%. However, the actual coverage can vary; on our setup with a 1440p resolution, it did not exceed half the screen, although a screenshot provided by Windows Latest illustrates a scenario where it consumes about 60% of the available space, raising eyebrows regarding its practicality.
Unfortunately, users have no option to adjust the size of the News panel, as it is fixed at Microsoft’s discretion. On a brighter note, there is a straightforward method to disable the feature entirely. Users can simply right-click on an empty area of the taskbar or directly on the News icon. From the menu that appears, selecting the ‘News and interests’ option reveals a flyout menu where the Turn off option can be chosen, effectively removing the News icon from view. Alternatively, users can opt for a less intrusive experience by selecting Show icon only or disabling the hover function by unticking Open on hover, allowing them to retain access to news without overwhelming their desktop space.
The decision ultimately lies with the user, and as long as options remain available, the impact of Microsoft’s changes may be mitigated, even if the panel itself undergoes further transformations.
<h3 class="article-bodysection” id=”section-you-might-also-like”>You might also like…
