Microsoft Launcher beta adds Start banner in continued revamp of News feed
Don’t have the Start app installed? Get ready for a banner.
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What you need to know
Heads up: A new version of Microsoft Launcher (beta) is live, version 6.211203.0.1025841. It doesn’t pack anything in the way of major content, but it contains a few small items worth noting. Chiefly, a promotional banner was added to the News feed page for those who don’t have the Start app installed.
Beyond that, general bug fixes were included in the update, as were UX improvements. Also, the Microsoft Rewards widgets now offer support for Spain and Italy. Here’s the official changelog:
In case you’re not familiar with the circumstances leading up to the inclusion of this new promotional banner, here’s the scoop: Earlier in January, a Microsoft Launcher beta updateremoved the built-in News feed, seemingly in an effort to move people toward Microsoft’s Start app’s News widget. Now, Microsoft is doubling down on its Start push with a promotional banner to remind people to give the app a shot.
That’s it for the Launcher update, though. There were no major features or overhauls this time around, but that could always change in the future, should Microsoft run out of digital promotional banners.
Microsoft Launcher
This Android launcher plays ball with a number of Microsoft products, such as Microsoft To Do and Microsoft 365. In the latest update, expect a promotional banner as well as useful additions such as UX tweaks, bug fixes, and a little love for Spain and Italy.
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Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He’s a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author ofCold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.
