Windows 11's 'February 2024 Moment' update is bringing new AI and accessibility features - plus no more Bing blackmail (for some people)

Date:
Thu, 08 Feb 2024 17:50:41 +0000

Description:
Windows 11's Moment 5 update, slated for February, promises EU users freedom from Bing and Microsoft Edge, alongside AI features.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

The next major update for Windows 11 is expected to arrive at end of
February, and what awaits users includes artificial intelligence (AI) tools for organising your desktop, being able to disable Bing in Windows Search (if youre in the EU), the ability to uninstall Microsoft Edge (again, EU only), Notepad updates, and more.

This Windows 11 update has been dubbed Moment 5 and February 2024 Moment (the latter being the name that Microsoft uses internally).

While this update will deliver some new features and tweaks, this update is primarily aimed at making Windows 11 compliant with new legislation from the European Union, the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Mozilla recently published a report accusing Microsoft of using dark patterns and bad market competition practices with regard to browser choice, so at least in the EU, this
situation will slightly improve. What Windows 11 users can look forward to
and when

Some of the updates that are coming with Moment 5 update include improvements to Windows 365s Cloud PC integration, built-in accessibility features in Windows 11, an option to remove news from the Widgets Board , and the capability to remove Bing from the Windows Search pane (if you're in the EU). These features are expected to be previewed in late February 2024 or the beginning of March 2024.

This is all we know about Moment 5 at the moment, according to Windows
Central , and we will continue to watch and report new information about the upcoming update as we have it. Going by the internal name given to the
update, "February 2024 Moment, its not expected to stretch into March, and Windows Central suggests that users will be able to install this update as of February 27, 2024.

You can try out this update out for yourself (if its available on the forecasted date) by doing the following:

1. Go to your PCs Settings app.

2. In the left-hand menu, select Windows Update .

3. In the resulting menu, click on the Check for updates button .

This will prompt Windows to search for any freshly released available
updates. If it finds them, itll automatically download and install them on your device. (Image credit: TechRadar) EU-phoria for certain Windows 11 users

This update is good news for users in the EU, with them now being able to disable Bing in Windows Search and choose a different search provider in its place, and uninstall preinstalled apps like Microsoft Edge . Its certainly a win for Windows 11 users in the EU and a cause for envy from the rest of us - theyre getting more choice and theyre gaining more control over their computers.

Its not just Microsoft thats being accused of anti-competitive practices. Mozilla and Google also recently called out Apple for not going far enough with its new rules and regulations that have come about as a result of the DMA, and, somewhat similarly to Microsoft, in engaging in poor browser market competition practices.

Users have been complaining about Microsofts persistent and annoying efforts to try and get them to switch to its browser Edge, and at least for EU users, this will now hopefully end - or at least become less aggressive. The rest of us, however, will have to wait and hope for our governments to follow. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... Windows 11 update makes Copilot AI better in small but meaningful ways Windows 11 users cant get enough of Copilot, apparently
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11s-february-2024-moment-u pdate-is-bringing-new-ai-and-accessibility-features-plus-no-more-bing-blackmai l-for-some-people


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