[BrockSamson]

This is my problem with Windows 10. It is no longer an operating system it is an advertising platform.

[kristianc]

This isn't massively new either:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Desktop

[gurkendoktor]

Active Desktop was always optional, wasn't it? And was it really used for advertising by default? I thought it was mostly arbitrary browser windows that you could attach to the desktop.

[kristianc]

Active Desktop was on by default in Windows 98 and had channels from content partners that pushed to the desktop.

[tjoff]

No. This was something that your PC manufacturer might have done after an install but not by default when installing from scratch.

Also, a completely different thing entirely.

[roryisok]

It's both. Having ads on some apps doesn't make it not an OS anymore. I won't deny it's an advertising platform, just like android or ios or television or radio or the internet. And while it's equally annoying on all those media/systems, it doesn't lessen their or usefulness

[psyc]

There are ads in the Windows UI. I've been an iOS user for 9 years and can't recall seeing an ad in the OS. So it does not seem "just like" iOS, at all.

[gurkendoktor]

Music has started showing Apple Music ads, and Apple has also advertised its News app with a push notification on one of my devices.

The fact that Apple Watch has its own pre-installed app feels like an ad to me as well.

And don't get me started on App Store ads... https://twitter.com/nuthatch/status/879783700279418881

[roryisok]

I've heard this but I've not yet seen these UI ads people keep talking about. Are they in pro?

[yjftsjthsd-h]

Not sure iOS belongs on that list.

[roryisok]

I'm not a user, but I assume ads exist in some IOS apps?