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Ben Funk over on TechReport has linked to a Terry Myerson blog post where he states that in early 2016, the "Windows 10 Upgrade" update will be changed in status from "Optional" to "Recommended". Therefore, if you haven't changed your Windows 7 system from automatically installing updates to manually notifying, but not installing, now is a good time to make that change, and audit every single "patch" you see. There have already been reports of users unknowingly experiencing ISP bandwidth overages due to downloading a massive 3 GB file due to the "Optional" update that was not requested, but Microsoft seems to be throwing caution to the winds.
In the blog post, Myerson has this statement: "Depending upon your Windows Update settings, this may cause the upgrade process to automatically initiate on your device. Before the upgrade changes the OS of your device, you will be clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue. And of course, if you choose to upgrade (our recommendation!), then you will have 31 days to roll back to your previous Windows version if you don't love it." Historically, Windows has been far cleaner to install on a blank disk than to upgrade in place, so this sounds like a recipe for many support calls. There also seems to be no backtracking on any of the privacy concerns, or perhaps taking the "zero telemetry, selective update install" functionality promised (but not yet delivered) to Enterprise customers, and extending it to consumer licensees who value their privacy.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Dunbal on Saturday October 31 2015, @10:35AM
Windows 10 is free for the FIRST YEAR. After that, Microsoft plans to charge a "subscription" for it. Now how many laws are they breaking by forcing you to update and then forcing you to subscribe (or risk losing all your stuff).
(Score: 3, Insightful) by anubi on Saturday October 31 2015, @11:36AM
Now, what they will do is release the latest development tools to business, which will begin releasing software that won't run on anything less than windows 10.
Businesses, afraid of being called "behind the times", won't use the older tools that made compatible executables.
Soon, we will not be able to read documents or run apps needed to communicate with the executive layer of a corporation unless we also buy into this.
Microsoft has already announced discontinuing Zune. After all these units have been deployed. Would you trust building any sort of Microsoft product into an embedded application? Say I had designed an embedded Microsoft operating system in a Coke machine. I would not be pleased at all on having to redo all those machines in the field every time Microsoft changed their mind.
As it is, I try like the dickens to put an Arduino in, as I know its gonna work till the cows come home.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 3, Informative) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday October 31 2015, @11:55AM
Windows 10 is free for the FIRST YEAR. After that, Microsoft plans to charge a "subscription" for it.
False - or at least poorly worded. Upgrade within the free upgrade period and it's yours forever.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2, Troll) by Dunbal on Saturday October 31 2015, @01:18PM
Not according to my daughter. Since she's a Microsoft employee in a management position I think I'll trust her word over yours. It's "free" for a year.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday October 31 2015, @04:05PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @08:20PM
What makes you think there is an NDA on already launched products?
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday October 31 2015, @10:11PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @08:26PM
By saying that some unspecified daughter of his told him all this? How are they going to magically figure out her identity?
And NDAs should be completely unenforceable.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Sunday November 01 2015, @03:33AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 05 2015, @01:44AM
If they can match his SoylentNews account to his real identity, and if he only has one daughter that works for Microsoft, then it probably won't be difficult.
But I think he is either talking out of his ass, or his daughter is mistaken. Microsoft probably have thousands of employees in management positions, and I doubt all of them know the future plans that haven't been publicly disclosed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @04:06PM
When do the subscription costs start? 1 year after the install or 1 year after the 1st day of the release and option to accept the offer?
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday October 31 2015, @09:32PM
It's not my word; it's every pronouncement Microsoft has made on the subject so far.
This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no cost.
- Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group, Microsoft.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday November 01 2015, @02:30AM
And how are they defining the "supported lifetime of the device" ??
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday November 02 2015, @05:10PM
I would say probably as long as the "Limited Warranty" is good for your device, so maybe 3 years.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday November 02 2015, @06:07PM
Probably a good guess. And therefore highly-variable, since devices have warranty spans of zilch to infinity.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday October 31 2015, @01:35PM
Or until they 'Zune' the whole thing. :)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday October 31 2015, @09:36PM
What was that? Sorry, I zuned out for a second.
Hah! The things I do with words...
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @05:40PM
They could charge a "subscription" to NOT install Windows 10.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @07:26PM
A "subscription" to NOT install? I think the proper term is "extortion". " Nice Windows 7 machine ya got there. Be a shame if something were to happen to it."