[Newsbot]

Title: A look at the black underbelly of Windows 8.1 'Blue' | Microsoft windows
Category: Tech
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2013-07-09 07:06:19

[DrCaleb]

$1:

Unless you make Smart Search dumb, you not only hand Microsoft a complete history of all of your local computer search terms, you open your machine up to even more lovely ads, doled out on the Search results pane. If you search for "flugelhorn" on your local computer -- not on the Web, mind you, but on your own computer -- the results that Windows 8.1 shows you will include advertisements for flugelhorns on eBay and Amazon (no, I'm not joking -- try it), local flugelhorn manufacturers, flugelhorn party consultants, and no doubt some day flugelhorn addiction services.

I, for one, am getting pretty tired of companies that decide they are going to use the hardware and software and electricity that *I* pay for, and use it for their own purposes. This is one reason I don't use anything Android related, and will most likely be the thing that makes me switch from Microsoft for good. Even if that means giving up many games I play.

[Public_Domain]

[saturn_656]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

$1:

Unless you make Smart Search dumb, you not only hand Microsoft a complete history of all of your local computer search terms, you open your machine up to even more lovely ads, doled out on the Search results pane. If you search for "flugelhorn" on your local computer -- not on the Web, mind you, but on your own computer -- the results that Windows 8.1 shows you will include advertisements for flugelhorns on eBay and Amazon (no, I'm not joking -- try it), local flugelhorn manufacturers, flugelhorn party consultants, and no doubt some day flugelhorn addiction services.

I, for one, am getting pretty tired of companies that decide they are going to use the hardware and software and electricity that *I* pay for, and use it for their own purposes. This is one reason I don't use anything Android related, and will most likely be the thing that makes me switch from Microsoft for good. Even if that means giving up many games I play.

Ditto. I've about had it with them. What makes it worse is that with what's happened in the past month or so, Microsoft's commitment to user privacy has been proven to be sketchy. At best.

The straw that breaks the camels back is approaching.

[DrCaleb]

Public_Domain Public_Domain:

Oh Microsoft... Why do you still exist...

To keep people like me employed.

And XBox.

[Public_Domain]

[jeff744]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

$1:

Unless you make Smart Search dumb, you not only hand Microsoft a complete history of all of your local computer search terms, you open your machine up to even more lovely ads, doled out on the Search results pane. If you search for "flugelhorn" on your local computer -- not on the Web, mind you, but on your own computer -- the results that Windows 8.1 shows you will include advertisements for flugelhorns on eBay and Amazon (no, I'm not joking -- try it), local flugelhorn manufacturers, flugelhorn party consultants, and no doubt some day flugelhorn addiction services.

I, for one, am getting pretty tired of companies that decide they are going to use the hardware and software and electricity that *I* pay for, and use it for their own purposes. This is one reason I don't use anything Android related, and will most likely be the thing that makes me switch from Microsoft for good. Even if that means giving up many games I play.

There'll be a program that blocks all that out within a month of launch.

[Freakinoldguy]

Public_Domain Public_Domain:

Oh Microsoft... Why do you still exist...

This activity reminds me of some other famous organization but for the life of me I just can't put my finger on it?

Although, I would have thought that with your admitted political bent you would have loved these features that tracked people without their knowledge, logged all their activities and gave this information to some giant organ that decides what you should eat, drink, think and do.

[Public_Domain]

[commanderkai]

Does Microsoft want to go bankrupt? Or was Bill Gates the only sane man in that company? Seriously, I don't want Ebay and Amazon results of any search on my computer, which...generally is me trying to find a specific video or two. *Cough*

[DrCaleb]

commanderkai commanderkai:

Seriously, I don't want Ebay and Amazon results of any search on my computer, which...generally is me trying to find a specific video or two. *Cough*

Do they have "Wilford Brimley Addiction Services"?

[BartSimpson]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

Public_Domain Public_Domain:

Oh Microsoft... Why do you still exist...

This activity reminds me of some other famous organization but for the life of me I just can't put my finger on it?

Although, I would have thought that with your admitted political bent you would have loved these features that tracked people without their knowledge, logged all their activities and gave this information to some giant organ that decides what you should eat, drink, think and do.

Good point. The Soviet Union would've loved this.

[Public_Domain]

[BartSimpson]

Public_Domain Public_Domain:

You've got nothing to worry about, unless you're a dissident terrorist

No, you had it right the first time because the official terrorists have nothing to worry about.