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LG's defense of installing adware on Windows 11 proves the company is hopeless
LG got caught showing ads for McAfee to people who dared to plug in a monitor. An investigation by Gamers Nexus revealed that plugging in certain LG monitors triggered Windows Update to automatically download the LG Monitor App Installer without user consent. This wasn't just a display driver; it was a utility app.The saga required Microsoft to step in and pressure LG to stop putting adware onto people's computers. "We’ve connected with the team at LG and as an i
31 juillet 2026 à 12:47

LG's defense of installing adware on Windows 11 proves the company is hopeless

Windows Central - News, Forums, Reviews, Help for Windows 10 and all things Microsoft.

31 juillet 2026 à 12:47

LG got caught showing ads for McAfee to people who dared to plug in a monitor. An investigation by Gamers Nexus revealed that plugging in certain LG monitors triggered Windows Update to automatically download the LG Monitor App Installer without user consent. This wasn't just a display driver; it was a utility app.

The saga required Microsoft to step in and pressure LG to stop putting adware onto people's computers.

"We’ve connected with the team at LG and as an immediate next step, they have agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up from their app," said Windows chief Pavan Davuluri. "We appreciate LG working with us toward a shared goal of a better experience for our mutual customers."

LG has since stopped shoving adware onto people's PCs, but the company's official statement on the matter makes me question if any lessons have been learned.

"LG Electronics reiterates that McAfee is not installed automatically and is never installed without the user’s explicit consent," said LG in a statement shared with Windows Central and other outlets.

The company added, "During a limited period in the United States, a McAfee trial offer was also presented as an optional recommendation. McAfee was never installed automatically and always required a separate user choice and consent."

LG was never accused of installing McAfee without user consent, at least not by any reputable outlets I've seen. The company was accused of installing the LG Monitor App Installer without permission. That app is essentially a portal to other LG apps. It also controversially showed ads for McAfee.

I argue that no software should be installed without permission. Even more relaxed users would expect a monitor to install an app that's actually related to the monitor, not a showcase for other apps such as McAfee.

I chuckled at the part of the statement that read, "After reviewing customer feedback, LG removed the McAfee recommendation." I suppose that's one way to refer to the backlash and Microsoft intervening.

In case anyone from LG is still confused about definitions, installing an app without permission that shows ads for McAfee is adware. You don't have to install McAfee without consent for it to be adware.

Below is LG's full statement with emphasis provided by the company.

LG's full statement

"LG Electronics reiterates that McAfee is not installed automatically and is never installed without the user’s explicit consent.

The LG Monitor App Installer was designed to help monitor owners discover optional LG applications that enhance productivity, customization and monitor performance.

When compatible LG monitors are connected, the Installer can make related software available to help customers access monitor-specific features and functionality.

During a limited period in the United States, a McAfee trial offer was also presented as an optional recommendation. McAfee was never installed automatically and always required a separate user choice and consent. After reviewing customer feedback, LG removed the McAfee recommendation.

The LG Monitor App Installer does not collect personal information from customers' devices. Its function is to identify compatible monitor models and present applications supported by those models."

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Angled close up of an LG PC monitor displaying an on screen menu for Picture Mode presets including Custom, Vivid, HDR Effect, Reader, Cinema, sRGB, and DCI-P3 over a purple cityscape background.

Yanko Design
LG’s World-First 1Hz Panel Gives the Dell XPS 48% More Battery
Battery life has been one of the laptop industry’s most persistent design headaches, especially among Windows notebooks. Despite significant gains in chip efficiency, the display consistently ranks among the biggest power consumers in any portable computer. Most laptop screens refresh at a fixed rate regardless of what’s actually on them, which means the panel keeps drawing full power even when you’re sitting completely still, reading a document with nothing on screen changing at all. LG Displa
25 mars 2026 à 06:07

LG’s World-First 1Hz Panel Gives the Dell XPS 48% More Battery

Yanko Design

Par : JC Torres

25 mars 2026 à 06:07

Battery life has been one of the laptop industry’s most persistent design headaches, especially among Windows notebooks. Despite significant gains in chip efficiency, the display consistently ranks among the biggest power consumers in any portable computer. Most laptop screens refresh at a fixed rate regardless of what’s actually on them, which means the panel keeps drawing full power even when you’re sitting completely still, reading a document with nothing on screen changing at all.

LG Display’s new Oxide 1Hz panel is the first mass-produced LCD laptop screen that doesn’t work that way. Rather than holding a fixed rate, it reads what’s on screen and drops to 1 Hz when the content is static, then scales back up to 120 Hz for video or gaming. LG began mass production on March 22, 2026, claiming the first-ever achievement of this at scale.

Designer: LG, Dell

The technology relies on custom circuit algorithms and a new oxide material applied to the panel’s thin-film transistor. That oxide holds an electric charge longer than conventional LCD materials, letting the screen maintain a still image without continuously refreshing it. LG claims the result is up to 48% more use on a single charge versus existing solutions, which is a significant number if it holds up in everyday use.

In practice, this matters most during the parts of a workday you spend the bulk of your time in. Checking emails, reading through documents, and sitting on a static slide during a meeting are all moments where a 60 Hz or 120 Hz screen burns power for no real benefit. The Oxide 1Hz panel handles those scenarios at a fraction of the usual draw without any visible difference.

When you do pull up a video or launch something that demands smooth motion, the panel doesn’t hesitate. It detects the change and jumps back up to 120 Hz automatically. There’s no mode to switch into, no setting to toggle, and no trade-off to manage. It just adjusts based on what’s happening on screen, which is how this kind of feature should work in the first place.

The first laptops to ship with this panel are the Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16 for 2026, both unveiled at CES 2026 in January. The LCD option on both models runs at 1920 x 1200 pixels and 500 nits of brightness. Dell’s OLED option only drops as low as 20 Hz, which means the more affordable LCD configuration actually wins on low-power behavior.

Here’s where it gets interesting from a design standpoint. The display is one of the biggest power consumers in any laptop, so a screen drawing significantly less power during typical use creates real headroom for designers. They can use that headroom to maintain battery size and gain extra runtime, or to trim the battery slightly for a lighter, thinner chassis without giving up the battery life buyers already expect.

Of course, LG is already planning a 1 Hz OLED version of this technology for 2027, which is when things could get more interesting. OLED handles contrast and color in ways LCD can’t match, and pairing that quality with proper low-refresh-rate behavior could push portable laptop design further than it’s been able to go. For now, the Oxide 1Hz LCD is in something you can actually go out and buy.