Microsoft has perhaps not shown as much interest in news aggregation as Google and Apple. That has been changing over the last two years with Microsoft News, which has plenty of interesting features. This week, Microsoft has rolled out a new application called News Bar, a native tool for Windows 10.
With this app, Windows 10 users can place a news ticker on their PC desktop. The app is available now from the Microsoft Store although it is only currently in beta testing. Furthermore, it seems as though the app is now available globally.
According to Microsoft, News Bar acts as a notification taskbar for news items. You can see the latest news stories and get added information such as stocks. Users can customize the bar, such as being able to hide it behind other windows.
“The News Bar brings you the latest news from the Microsoft News network of over 4500 of the world's most respected journalism brands. In addition, you can configure it to provide you with up to date information throughout the day on your favorite stocks,” Microsoft explains in the description of the app.
“Microsoft's Windows News Bar works just like the Windows Taskbar. It's there when you need it, where you need it and how you need it. Customize its appearance in settings to find the experience that's just right for you. If you want to focus, don't worry, you can minimize the News Bar at any time and then bring it back when you're ready for it again.”
Availability
While News Bar is in beta, it is available for all users provided it is in their region. Another caveat is that machines must be running Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update) or newer to support the app.
