So people are forced to install the vendor’s bloatware. Lovely. They just keep giving people new reasons to ditch Windows entirely.
I did.
Microsoft has noted that printer manufacturers no longer need to bundle their drivers with Windows updates. Instead, they can build their Print Support Apps by leveraging the UWP development framework and distribute them through the Microsoft Store to offer customized experiences.
I read this as drivers are not required in WHCP, put it in the MS store so we can force more account signups, and you can make them download your program filled with customer experiences like ads and useless bloatware.
2026 all new drivers will not be allowed on WHCP because custom experience.
To be fair, printer drivers are, have been, and always will be shit. So chances are very high that while malice is possible, incompetence is significantly more likely in this case (pushing towards a more stable option)
Bad printer drivers already require account signups and push ads and bloatware. Whether or not the drivers are obtained from bundled OS updates (gross) or a storefront is entirely irrelevant.
Just get printers that don’t require special drivers. That would be most printers that aren’t bottom of the barrel e-waste.
Remember, the reason stalman started oben source as a thing was because of printer drivers
Why do they need drivers ? They all do the same thing, just print dots, they don’t even have character ROMs anymore.
FFS, a printer is literally the simplest thing you can connect to a PC, its simpler than a mouse. And they are older than video screens !
Does Microsoft sell first-party printers? Even then this would seem shortsighted. Why would they remove a helpful platform feature that their industry position gives them an advantage in?
They are going to basically force printer manufacturers to use the Microsoft store. The goal I assume is to drive traffic to the Microsoft store so that people get more used to using it.
Thank god for AirPrint.
