Unlocking a User-Friendly Experience: MICROSOFT Bids Farewell to Lock Screen Ads

Microsoft removed ads from Windows 10’s lock screen. It’s a small thing really, but the fact that they chose to do it is encouraging. That’s because in the modern computing world, nothing matters more to users than the user experience. And the user-experience factor is the only thing that is increasingly important to computing overall. Suddenly, in a world where it seems like everything is a battle between users and corporations, Microsoft has chosen to make Windows 10, the world’s most popular operating system, a better choice for users.

A Breath of Fresh Air for Windows 10 Users

Windows 10 users have long been annoyed by ads that marred their lock screens with intrusive and irrelevant advertisements. Microsoft’s decision to get rid of the ads from lock screens is a big win for users; it shows the company is taking user experience and user-centred design seriously.

Microsoft Hears Its Users

Reducing the number of times that the lock screen is turned into an ad screen is another response that shows that Microsoft is finally listening to the users. It is not difficult to see where they have been coming from. Users have made it clear that they found the in-your-face ads on the lock screen to be intensely annoying. By taking away these in-your-face ads, Microsoft has stepped up their efforts to make Windows 10 yet another time as palatable as it can be to its user base.

Streamlining the User Experience

Microsoft’s move isn’t just about getting rid of lock screen ads; it belongs to a larger pattern of attention to tiny details, a pattern meant to make Windows 10 easier and better to use than any other operating system currently available to people around the globe. Microsoft’s emphasis on the little stuff – the intrusion of unnecessary notifications – will give the operating system an identity as an optimised, reliable, user-centred platform.

Ads Still in the Mix, but with Limitations

That said, while lock screen ads are out, Microsoft will still be showing ads in other parts of the Windows 10 experience, like the Start menu, and this decision reveals the difficult (if not impossible) task Microsoft has ahead in offering a free operating system model that meets the commercial pressures of software development. But by stripping out the lock screen ads, in all their brash, off-putting glory, there’s no denying who the bigger winner is here.

The Catalyst Behind the Change

Although Microsoft has not officially stated exactly why it came to this significant decision, it is generally assumed that it responds to user feedback. By altering its approach to better serve the desires of its user base, Microsoft is creating a precedent in terms of being responsive and agile, and therefore keeping Windows 10 at the pinnacle of user contentment.

A Look at Microsoft: Innovating for a Better User Experience

Fundamentally, Microsoft is a company that innovates and leads technologically, bringing user-centred software to existing consumers and new ones. This move to abandon the lock screen ads in Windows 10 is another demonstration of that user-centred leadership that puts users first. Microsoft wants its software to be as engaging and user-centred as possible.

Since its founding, Microsoft has been a dynamic and innovative company that continuously improves on its products to better satisfy users. The decision to disable ads on the lock screen in Windows 10 reflects this company's commitment to listening to its fellow community members, always trying to build a product that helps the user, and never gets in his way.

Now that Windows 10 is up and running, each of those improvements will continue to be created as Microsoft iterates on its development – on the road to better updates that truly improve the user experience for our benefit. This will be a user-friendly world, after all.

All in all, Microsoft's decision to remove the lock screen ads for Windows 10 is a milestone when it comes to their evolution in the user experience. By putting the user first and accommodating their wants and needs, Microsoft is not only making Windows 10 more appealing to the end user, but is also reiterating its position as an innovator, a reactionary, and most importantly, a company that's out to offer the best product for the end user.