The Recall debacle is a prime example of why people distrust tech companies. But Microsoft is unique in having a history of adding confusing and unnecessary features to its OS.
Microsoft is on the run. After announcing Recall as the big feature of its new Copilot+ PCs, the company seemed ill-prepared for a backlash. But many people just don’t trust a feature that takes screenshots of their PCs every five seconds, despite Redmond’s promises about privacy.
Now, after announcing various changes to Recall that promised to make it more secure, Microsoft says it’s delaying Recall and will be testing the feature with Windows Insiders before it launches publicly. In other words, Copilot+ PCs won’t have their big flagship feature when they arrive next week.
It’s a big mess for Microsoft. The only shock is how surprised company representatives seem by the public reaction. But it’s a glaring example of how people don’t trust tech companies, especially Microsoft.Microsoft Wants You to Love Windows
Back in 2015, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella laid out his big goal for Windows: “We want to move from people needing Windows, to choosing Windows, to loving Windows. That is our bold goal with Windows.”
More than nine years later, most people still don’t love Windows. And when I say people, I mean PC users—the people who use Windows every day!
Many people love the PC hardware and software ecosystem. They rely on Windows. They may love parts of Windows—that trusty old desktop, the powerful keyboard shortcuts, the excellent window management, and the amazing backward compatibility with so much software.
But do they love Windows as a product? Let’s be honest. Most PC users are not excited for new features. After so many years of strangely intrusive updates to Windows 10, which saw all kinds of features that went nowhere (My People, Paint 3D, Windows 10 S, I could go on), people have tuned out. In fact, they’re wary when Microsoft unveils a big change to Windows. What will Microsoft break this time?
In fact, when Microsoft announced it would add its Copilot AI to the Windows 11 taskbar, many Windows 10 users were happy that it would be limited to the newer OS. Months later, when Microsoft said it would add Copilot to Windows 10, the reaction was a deep groan.
Microsoft just added another new “feature” to Windows 10: sports scores and stock price movements on the lock screen. Want to get rid of them? Sorry! Then you can’t see the weather on your lock screen anymore! Very few PC users “love” that sort of thing.People Don’t Trust Microsoft
Microsoft has lost the trust of PC users over the years. It’s hard to even begin to explain all the reasons.
For one thing, Microsoft has added more and more advertisements to Windows. It really ramped up starting in Windows 10, which famously came with Candy Crush Saga pinned to its Start menu. Today, Windows comes with an obnoxious feed of viral stories, pop-ups for Edge and Bing, nags to set up OneDrive, and other nuisances.
When Microsoft pushes a new way of doing things, the company often seems more focused on the stick rather than the carrot. Take local accounts, for example. Microsoft keeps blocking workarounds that let you set up Windows with a local user account.
