Windows 11 Preview Adds Better Passkey Support, Rolls Back File Explorer Changes (arstechnica.com) 23
The latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build includes improved support for passkeys, a new standard for passwordless authentication, as well as support for Unicode 15 emoji, changes to Windows' location-based time zone setting, and a handful of bug fixes. Microsoft has also rolled back proposed changes to the File Explorer that would have removed several relatively obscure settings from the Folder Options window. Ars Technica reports: Though the Microsoft Edge browser has supported passkeys for a while now, this week's Insider build expands support to "any app or website that supports passkeys," which can use built-in Windows Hello authentication (either via a PIN, fingerprint reader, or face-scanning camera) to sign you in without requiring a password. You can also view the full list of passkeys that have been created on your device and delete individual passkeys if you no longer want to use them. If your browser natively supports passkeys and has its own user interface for handling them, you'll need to select "Windows Hello or external security key" to use the built-in Windows UI instead.
The new Insider build also adds support for Unicode 15 emoji, a few changes to Windows' location-based time zone setting, and a handful of fixes. But most notably for people who complained about last week's Insider build, Microsoft has rolled back proposed changes that would have removed several relatively obscure settings from the Folder Options window in the File Explorer. "As is normal for the Dev Channel, we will often try things out and get feedback and adjust based on the feedback we receive," wrote Microsoft's Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc in a post detailing the new build's changes.
The new Insider build also adds support for Unicode 15 emoji, a few changes to Windows' location-based time zone setting, and a handful of fixes. But most notably for people who complained about last week's Insider build, Microsoft has rolled back proposed changes that would have removed several relatively obscure settings from the Folder Options window in the File Explorer. "As is normal for the Dev Channel, we will often try things out and get feedback and adjust based on the feedback we receive," wrote Microsoft's Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc in a post detailing the new build's changes.
What about the right-click menu? (Score:4)
Have the people who thought it a good idea to dismantle a process which has been in place for decades and it replace it with something so obtuse it could only have been dreamt up in a drug-induced fevered dream been taken out behind the chemcial sheds and shot?
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Are you talking about systemd?
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Not sure what you're talking about. I right click on things and a menu still comes up. Are you upset that they moved the garbage that is rarely used into a submenu making the right click menu simpler overall?
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Not sure what you're talking about. I right click on things and a menu still comes up. Are you upset that they moved the garbage that is rarely used into a submenu making the right click menu simpler overall?
Explain how hiding the most useful parts of the menu is making things "simpler".
About those file explorer changes (Score:2)
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And to disable thumbnails. And to hide drive letters. And...
I am somewhat appalled at the Ars writer for pretending these options somehow constitute obstruction of progress. No, expecting a prompt before merging folders does not cause random outdated Windows 95 interface elements to burst out of every corner of the OS.
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But the writer isn't wrong. Even if 100% of the functionality remained users will complain. Even now as I look through the comments here the only current +5 comment is one complaining about the right click menu, even though it retains 100% of the functionality and features it had previously.
When users start complaining about meaningless bullshit it reduces their credibility when they complain about things which are actively used.
The new right click menu does suck (Score:2)
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Who uses File Explorer these days (Score:2)
Theres lots of better alternatives
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That might actually be the problem.
The features that power users depend on are usually better served by alternative shells. (For example I use TotalCommander).
Normal users don't use them at all. So the telemetry in Windows records:
- normal users don't use these features
- power users don't use these features inside Explorer
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The telemetry is junk anyway. Anyone with a modicum of knowledge sabotages it to the point where it either returns no information or bogus information.
In other words, the only telemetry MS gets is from clueless people who of course never use any advanced features.
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"who uses file explorer these days" is an incredibly stupid question. touch grass, my friend.
I do! (Score:2)
I can't install an alternative on my work computer. Work computers make up the vast majority of computers in use on a daily basis so to answer your question: the overwhelming majority of people, even powerusers such as myself who use Directory Opus at home uses "File Explorer these days" at least during business hours.
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Yeah, like Linux. :)
At Least they thought again... (Score:2)
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They will never please everyone, but at times they make choices that seem to please no one.
People invariably hate change so all UI changes seemingly please no one, even if they are for the better.
Oceangate connection? (Score:2)
MS have obviously hired a guy from Oceangate to manage their UI. A guy who has the courage to not listen to the grumbling of a few 50-year-old guys, but instead cater to the preferences of younger, inspirational low-power users.
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Can't wait to see MS implode as well.
Musician album (Score:1)