intrusive prompts Archives

Winsage

August 9, 2025

Microsoft’s New Windows Warning—Pay $20 To Save All Your Data

Microsoft is intensifying its efforts to integrate its services into users' daily lives, promoting its products like Copilot, Edge, and Bing over competitors. Persistent notifications in the Start menu urge users to back up data to OneDrive, indicating that a Microsoft 365 subscription is required for those exceeding the complimentary 5GB of storage. The backup solution is priced at a specified amount per year for individual users and businesses. Clicking “continue” leads to the OneDrive backup setup, which is viewed as an upsell tactic. Users, including those with Microsoft 365, express frustration over constant reminders and intrusive prompts regarding data backup preferences. Notifications are persistent for Windows 11 users, while Windows 10 users are encouraged to upgrade for better security. Microsoft offers support for up to 10 devices under a single account, though the target audience for this option is unclear.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

You know the drill: Avowed’s default waypoint and UI settings are way too handholdy, so you should change them ASAP

Avowed allows players to customize their gameplay experience through an extensive settings and accessibility menu. Key modifications made include switching the quest tracker mode to "Show on Update," turning off objective markers, and disabling interaction icons. These changes enhanced immersion by reducing intrusive prompts and allowing for more organic exploration. The game includes a compass for active quest objectives, which can also be disabled for a more challenging experience. The UI and navigation options in Avowed blend old-school challenge with modern convenience, catering to different player preferences.

Winsage

November 22, 2024

Bing Wallpaper app arrives on Microsoft Store in Windows 11, and it’s free – but there could be hidden costs here

Microsoft has introduced the Bing Wallpaper app to the Microsoft Store, which automatically updates Windows wallpaper with daily Bing images. The app is free but may have hidden implications, including the installation of additional components like Bing Visual Search and the ability to access and decrypt cookies from browsers. It prompts users to install the Microsoft Bing Search extension for Chrome and includes a background process called 'BGAUpsell' that encourages switching the default search engine to Bing. Users have raised privacy concerns, and there has been no official response from Microsoft regarding these issues. Windows Spotlight offers similar functionality without the potential drawbacks of the Bing Wallpaper app. Feedback indicates that the app has become more aggressive in its prompts for Bing in recent months.