Microsoft Class Action Lawsuit and Microsoft sets stage for massive Windows 10 upgrade strategy

THE TITLE WILL ALL WAYS REFERENCE THE LAST POST

Microsoft 'Addresses' Windows 10 Privacy Concerns By Simply Not Mentioning Most Of Them

Since launch, Windows 10 has seen no limit of criticism for violating user privacy. Some of these concerns have been legitimate -- such as the fact that the OS keeps communicating with Microsoft when core new search services like Cortana have been disabled, or that users don't seem to have complete, transparent control over what the operating system is doing. But other complaints seem to have been based on false rumors that Windows 10 is embedded with a nefarious "keylogger" that tracks everything you type and say or is reporting your BitTorrent activity to Hollywood middlemen.

So far, Microsoft's been dead silent on these issues for months, which hasn't done much to defuse the situation. This week, the company decided to finally comment on user concerns in a blog post and both consumer and enterprise privacy documents that address at least some user worries. Microsoft's Terry Myerson starts by promising that Windows 10 user data is encrypted in transit, the company isn't scanning your files or e-mails to blast you with ads, and any data collection Microsoft is engaged in is simply the company trying to develop a "delightful" OS experience:
read more
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...oncerns-simply-not-mentioning-most-them.shtml

READ BACK POSTS LOTS OF GOOD DATA TO READ FOR WINDOWS 10
MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10
ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10
CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156593

 

Windows 10's growth slows dramatically

The previous set of usage figures released by analysis firm NetMarketShare showed users were upgrading to Windows 10 at an impressive rate. In August -- the first full month of availability for the new OS -- Windows 10 went from 0.39 percent to 5.21 percent share, leapfrogging Windows 8 (but not Windows 8.1) in the process.

Given how easy it is for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to upgrade to the new OS (the files get downloaded onto your hard drive in preparation), and the fact it’s free to those users too, you would no doubt have expected this pace to continue in September, maybe even accelerate a little. Unfortunately for Microsoft, interest in Windows 10 appears to have actually waned considerably in that month.

Eager upgraders were obviously behind the spike we saw in August, but the drop off in September is slightly surprising. While Windows 10 still grew its share, it only managed a gain of 1.42 percentage points which puts it on 6.63 percent.

Elsewhere, Windows 8 actually rallied fractionally in September, going from 2.56 percent to 2.60 percent, a minor increase of 0.04 percentage points. Windows 8.1 fell 0.67 percentage points, going from 11.39 percent to 10.72 percent. Combined, Windows 8.x currently has 13.32 percent of the market.

Based on the current growth/decline rates we can expect to see Windows 10 overtake Windows 8.x by January now.

As to the top dog, Windows 7’s share is declining, but at a gentle pace. Users are in no great hurry to abandon it for Windows 10 it seems. In August Windows 7 had a 57.67 percent share. In September it was on 56.53 percent. A drop of 1.14 percentage points.

Windows XP shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon either, and actually grew share last month, going from 12.14 percent to 12.21 percent.

If you’re wondering how Windows 10’s current rate of growth compares with that of past operating systems, I can tell you. When Windows 7 launched it took just one month to take 6.21 percent of the market, and it was at 8.30 percent by the following month. Windows 8 on the other hand was a disaster at launch, managing just 1.76 percent in its first full month, and hitting 2.53 percent in its second month.

Both of those operating systems launched at the end of October though, so had the holiday buying season helping them (which makes the scale of Windows 8’s failure to perform look even worse).

It will be interesting to see how Windows 10 does in October. Will upgrades pick up as the winter draws nearer, or will interest tail off further still? Place your bets...

http://betanews.com/2015/10/01/wind...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

MORE INFO
Windows 10's second month sees sluggish growth in market share
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...nd-month-sees-sluggish-growth-in-market-share

 

Microsoft’s official Windows 10 Activation Guide

Microsoft's Windows 10 Activation guide offers detailed information about how activation works on the company's newest operating system.

Activation on Windows 10 is not as straightforward as it has been in previous versions of Windows thanks to the addition of the free upgrade offer.

It comes as no surprise that most questions that users have are about activating free copies of Windows 10.

Microsoft distinguishes between digital entitlement and product key activation methods in Windows 10.

All free Windows 10 upgrade versions, versions of Windows 10 bought from the Windows Store, and Windows Insider versions use the digital entitlement activation method.

Copies of Windows 10 bought from authorized retailers (either digital or physical), that are pre-installed on OEM machines, or provided through volume licensing agreements or MSDN use product keys as the activation method.

read more
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/29/microsofts-official-windows-10-activation-guide/

 

The Control Panel may soon disappear in future Windows 10 builds

The existence of two applications for changing system settings, the familiar 'Control Panel' and the touch-friendly 'Settings' app, was a point of major contention in Windows 8 and drew many negative reviews, criticising Microsoft's UI design for making things unnecessarily complicated. While Microsoft has made the Settings app much more capable with Windows 10, the two still remain part of the OS. That might soon change.

read more
http://www.neowin.net/news/the-control-panel-may-soon-disappear-in-future-windows-10-builds

Kiss goodbye to the Control Panel in Windows 10, its days are numbered
read more
http://betanews.com/2015/10/09/kiss...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

 

I had to help my dad uninstall Windows 10 over the phone

Yesterday I received a phone call from my mother asking to book a telephone appointment with my father. Being the computer literate member of the family has long meant offering computer support, not matter where I am or what I am up to. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to guide dad through the process of installing a piece of software or changing a setting. The problem this time? Windows 10.

Talking to my dad on the phone is not always easy. Firstly, while he can use a computer, he's never really got to grips with the jargon and it can be hard for him to explain what's happening at his end, and equally hard for him to quickly grasp my instructions. Things are further hampered by the fact he has been plagued with throat cancer, and endless surgery on his neck has affected his speech a great deal. Still... he had a serious problem with Windows 10 and needed my help...

The problem, specifically, was that he didn’t want it. Since the 90s he has worked his way through most versions of Windows since Windows XP and has settled nicely into Windows 8.1. But he was caught out by Windows 10. He was recently offered the chance to reserve a free copy of Windows 10 and accepted without really thinking about it a great deal. And then promptly forgot about it.

As we know, Microsoft caused a good deal of upset by automatically downloading the Windows 10 setup files to people's computers regardless of whether they had expressed interest. But dad had reserved a copy, so rather than a forced download, the subsequent arrival of Windows 10 was at least justified, if not necessarily really wanted. The installation files downloaded and at some point in the last few days, Windows chucked up a message asking if dad was ready to install Windows 10.

He clicked Yes.
read more
http://betanews.com/2015/10/10/i-ha...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

 

Now you can activate Windows 10 with your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key

The release of Windows 10 has been a rollercoaster ride of excitement, frustration, and disappointment. But with the Insider program Microsoft has given itself a unique opportunity to address issues and try out new features, testing them out on hardcore users.

With the release of Windows 10 Build 10565 we see not only the introduction of a number of new features, but also a change to the way the activation process works. Some people have experienced problems activating Windows 10 after performing the free upgrade. A Windows 10 product key may no longer be needed, but this latest Insider build introduces the option of activating Windows 10 using a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key.

The new process means that anyone who finds that Windows 10 complains about not being activated is now able to change their product key. It is also possible to use an old product key when performing a clean installation, but the same checks will be carried out to ensure that a qualifying device is being used.

Writing on the Windows Experience blog, Gabe Aul said:
read more
http://betanews.com/2015/10/13/now-...th-your-windows-7-or-windows-8-1-product-key/

All versions of Windows affected by critical security flaw
http://www.zdnet.com/article/october-2015-patch-tuesday/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10
ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10
CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156593

 

Microsoft now uses Windows 10's Start menu to display ads
We've all become used to the idea of ads online -- it's something that has become part and parcel of using the internet -- but in Windows? If you've updated to build 10565 of Windows 10, you're in for something of a surprise: the Start menu is now being used to display ads.

We're not talking about ads for Viagra, porn, or anything like that, but ads for apps. Of course, Microsoft is not describing them as ads; 'Suggested apps' has a much more approachable and fluffy feel to it. Maybe. This is a 'feature' that's currently only being shown to Windows Insiders, but it could spread to everyone else. Will it be well-received?

read more
http://betanews.com/2015/10/15/micr...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

 

Windows 10 upgrade installing automatically on some Windows 7, 8 systems

For the first year of its availability, Windows 10 is available for free to most Windows 7 and 8 users, and Microsoft has been trying to coax those users to make the switch by delivering the operating system through Windows Update. Until now, the OS has been delivered as an optional update; while Windows Update gives it prominent positioning, it shouldn't be installed automatically.

This system has already generated some complaints, as Windows Update will download the sizeable operating system installer even if you don't intend to upgrade any time soon, but, over the last couple of days, the situation seems to have become a little more aggressive. We've received a number of reports that people's systems are not merely downloading the installer but actually starting it up.

Our own testing shows that, yes, the optional update is getting chosen by default, and that's not supposed to happen to optional updates.

For those not wanting to make the switch to Windows 10 just yet, all is not lost; the installer does require human intervention to actually proceed, so you won't run the risk of waking up to find your PC running a different operating system. If you're not paying attention, though, you may find yourself upgrading sooner than you expected.

We've asked Microsoft what's going on, and the company tells us that enabling the update was done accidentally:

As part of our effort to bring Windows 10 to existing genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers, the Windows 10 upgrade may appear as an optional update in the Windows Update (WU) control panel. This is an intuitive and trusted place people go to find Recommended and Optional updates to Windows. In the recent Windows update, this option was checked as default; this was
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/10/windows-10-upgrade-installing-automatically-on-some-windows-7-8-systems/ a mistake and we are removing the check.

Microsoft has forcibly upgraded some computers to Windows 10
http://betanews.com/2015/10/15/micr...n=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

Microsoft now awfully pushy with Windows 10 on Win 7, 8 PCs – Reg readers hit back
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/15/pushy_windows_10/

Your PC may update to Windows 10 if you don't pay attention
Microsoft really, really wants you on Windows 10. We noticed last month that it was downloading the optional Windows 10 updater whether you asked for it (and had space for it) or not

READ MORE
http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/windows-10-update-pre-checked/

Windows 10 Upgrade Become More Creepy, No Option to Opt-Out
READ MORE
http://thehackernews.com/2015/10/windows-10-upgrade.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheHackersNews+(The+Hackers+News+-+Security+Blog)

DO NOT TRUST MICROSOFT
SURPRISE WINDOW UPDATE 10 SCREEN WAS REMOVED 10-16-15
LOOK AT WHAT I SEE TODAY
AT THE WINDOWS UPDATE SCREEN
BELOW IN THE PICTURE
VIEW THE PICTURE TO UNDERSTAND

 

How to Train Siri, Cortana, and Google to Understand Your Voice Better

No two people sound exactly alike. Different people have different accents and ways of pronouncing words, and computer voice recognition systems like Siri, Cortana, and Google’s voice search aren’t as good as actual human beings at understanding every voice. Train your voice assistant and it’ll be better at understanding you.

Traditionally, computerized voice recognition systems have required some training before they understood you. Modern voice assistants are designed to “just work,” but you can still make them recognize the words you say more often by training them.

Siri on iOS 9
Apple added some voice training features to Siri in iOS 9. Activate the “Hey Siri” feature — which allows you to say “Hey Siri” and start talking to Siri from anywhere — and you’ll be prompted to perform some voice training.

(On most iPhones, this only works while your screen is on or while your phone is plugged in. If you have an iPhone 6s, you can also say “Hey Siri” while your screen is off to start a voice search.)

To activate this feature, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the “General” category, and tap “Siri.” Activate the “Allow “Hey Siri”” option and you’ll be prompted to train Siri.

Siri will have you say “Hey Siri”, “Hey Siri, how’s the weather today?”, and “Hey Siri, it’s me.” This will improve Siri’s ability to understand you.

READ MORE
http://www.howtogeek.com/231329/how...a-and-google-to-understand-your-voice-better/

 

Hey ireland, I haven't had any trouble training Siri. It's Shirley (my wife) I'm having problems with.. I say "Hey Shirley, bring me a beer." and she says "Hay is for horses, get it yourself! I'm not your dam bar maid!"

 

That's debatable... The working legs part, that is.

 

They are not older... I'm in my second childhood....

 

How to manage a smooth Windows 10 migration

New releases of Microsoft’s flagship operating system are typically greeted with a combination of angst, curiosity, confusion, and dread in equal measure. However, I believe that Windows 10 is Microsoft’s next big achievement.

Breaking the cycle of numbered releases and device specific upgrades every few years, Windows 10 is giving modern IT users what they want, where they want it. With the upgrade strategy change, Microsoft is moving away from Windows as a product to Windows as a service. This makes complete sense on paper, but migration becomes a wholly different proposition to what many organizations have experienced before.

READ MORE
http://betanews.com/2015/10/19/how-to-manage-a-smooth-windows-10-migration/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed+-+bn+-+Betanews+Full+Content+Feed+-+BN

In Windows 10 Build 10568, Microsoft wants users to give its built-in apps a second chance
http://www.neowin.net/news/in-windo...ers-to-give-its-built-in-apps-a-second-chance

MICROSOFT WINDOWS AND DATA 10 LINKS
DO NOT TRY TO REGISTER ITS ONLY A INFO PAGE
SELECT THE DATA LINK YOU WANT TO READ About WINDOWS 10

ALWAYS MORE DATA POSTED HERE ON WINDOWS (TEN) 10
CLICK HERE
http://shawnee2.proboards.com/thread/8097/windows-10-irelands-page?page=2&scrollTo=156593

 

How You Could Have Upgraded to Windows 10 by Accident & What to Do

Windows 10 hit the ground running. With an estimated 110 million installs completed since the July 29 release, Microsoft is well on its way to achieving the one billion devices milestone the company has set itself.

But some users have reported issues with the somewhat aggressive tactics deployed by Microsoft during the lead-up to the Windows 10 release, and those issues haven’t stopped there. Microsoft is dogged by rumors and confirmations that Windows 10 silently installs in the background without permission, and the latest twist has seen Windows 10 attempting (and succeeding in some cases!) to install itself by eliminating other updates from the standard Windows Update window.

So what is going on with Windows 10 and Microsoft?

How the Auto-Installation Happened
Windows 10 has been offered as a free upgrade to Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users. Those users have until July 29, 2016 to accept the upgrade, after which the new operating system will become a retail purchase. Nonetheless, some users have found Windows Update starting the installation process without their consent. Microsoft said:

As part of our effort to bring Windows 10 to existing genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers, the Windows 10 upgrade may appear as an optional update in the Windows Update (WU) control panel. This is an intuitive and trusted place people go to find Recommended and Optional updates to Windows. In the recent Windows update, this option was checked as default; this was a mistake and we are removing the check.

Which seems to be fair enough, and mistakes do happen. Having said that, when I opened Windows Update this evening, I was met with this delightful screen:

read more
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/upgraded-windows-10-accident/

 

5 Reasons Why Windows 10 Might Make You Switch to Linux

Windows 10 has been out for a few months now, and although it isn’t quite as bad as Windows 8 was, there has still been plenty of criticism for Microsoft’s new everlasting operating system.

Here are five top reasons why Windows 10 might irk you enough to make the switch to Linux.

The Spying

Soon after Windows 10 was released and tech geeks like ourselves combed through the new available settings, it was apparent that Windows 10 tracks you — a lot. In fact, it’s fairly safe to say that Windows 10 tracks just about everything you do on your computer.

What’s Really Running On Your Computer?
Do you really know what’s running on your system when you use Windows 10? Sure, you can say, “I’m running Windows 10!” But you probably can’t go into many more specifics than that. So you can’t be sure what kind of code is running on your computer.

READ MORE
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/reasons-windows-10-make-switch-linux/

 

How to disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 permanently

Windows Defender is the default antivirus solution of Windows 10 just like it has been on Windows 8. The program is enabled by default and will turn itself off if another antivirus solution is installed provided that it is recognized by the operating system.

One core difference between the implementation on Windows 8 and 10 is that you cannot turn off Windows Defender completely anymore using the preferences provided in the application.

A click on Settings in Windows Defender opens the control panel for the program in the new Windows Settings application. While you find options to toggle the program's real-time protection there, it is indicated right on the page that this is just a temporary state change.

read more
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/25/how-to-disable-windows-defender-in-windows-10-permanently/

 

well it may well be temporary but i havent seen defender in over 2 months.ive shut it off the same way in 8 so dont know what the relevance of this article is.

 

Windows 10 will be made an automatic “recommended” update early next year

The Windows 10 free upgrade program has so far concentrated on those Windows 7 and 8 users who reserved their copy in the weeks leading up to the operating system's release. Over the coming months, Microsoft will start to spread the operating system to a wider audience. The Windows 10 upgrade will soon be posted as an "Optional Update" in Windows Update, advertising it to anyone who examines that list of updates.

Then, early next year, it will be categorized as a "Recommended Update." This is significant, because it means that systems that are configured to download and install recommended updates—which for most people is the safest option—will automatically fetch the upgrade and start its installer. The installer will still require human intervention to actually complete—you won't wake up to find your PC with a different operating system—but Windows users will no longer need to actively seek the upgrade.

This mirrors an accidental change that Microsoft did earlier this month. The Windows 10 upgrade was showing up for some people as a recommended update and the installer started automatically.
read more
http://arstechnica.com/information-...automatic-recommended-update-early-next-year/




Updategate: Microsoft is about to make it even harder to opt out of Windows 10

MICROSOFT HAS FINALLY admitted that it intends to enforce an automatic download of Windows 10 on customers, who can then choose to opt out of installing it. Lucky them.

The news ends months of speculation and sneaky behind-the-scenes tactics by the company as it pushes customers towards the new operating system in subtle ways.

READ MORE And the COMMENTS

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...lling-windows-10-by-default-in-windows-update




Control Windows Update

To verify the current update preferences on Windows 7, do the following:

1. Tap on the Windows-key.
2. Type Windows Update and hit enter. This should open the Windows Update interface.
3. Select "change settings" on the left side.
4. Uncheck "give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" under "recommended options".
5. If you want, you may also switch from "install updates automatically (recommended)" to "check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" to be on the safe side.

On Windows 8, you need to do the following instead:

1. Swipe from the right edge of the screen, click on Settings, then Change PC Settings and finally on Update and recovery.
2. Select "choose how updates get installed".
3. Uncheck "give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates".
4. Optional: Change how updates are delivered under "important updates".

READ MORE
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/30/be...dows-10-on-even-more-windows-7-and-8-systems/