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Windows-10

Ever since Microsoft launched Windows x, the visitor has come under fire for controversial update and deployment policies. Microsoft has been caught deploying a 6GB file download to consumers who didn't want to download the operating system and inadvertently forced some users to upgrade before this year subsequently information technology downloaded the files and began the installation procedure. The outcry from users who either didn't want to upgrade or couldn't, due to software incompatibilities or other W10 problems, has been pregnant — but that hasn't taught Microsoft annihilation. According to a new blog post, the company volition exist shifting Windows 10 into the "Recommended" update category, which means that users who have automated updates enabled will receive the software, well, automatically.

From the blog mail service:

Early on next year, we expect to be re-categorizing Windows 10 as a "Recommended Update". 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 volition exist clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue. And of form, if you choose to upgrade (our recommendation!), and then you will have 31 days to roll back to your previous Windows version if you don't dearest it.

If you lot are on a metered connection on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, then you accept the option of turning off automated updates. Nosotros strongly discourage this in today'southward connected world considering of the constant risk of internet threats.

This is illogical well-nigh to the point of absurdity. Users on metered connections who may non be able to afford to download Windows 10 have to choose betwixt manually controlling updates and paying overage charges. Meanwhile, customers who aren't interested in the operating system will accept to jump through hoops to disable the upgrade after Microsoft goes to the trouble of downloading a 6GB file for them. While the company claims users will have the selection to opt-out, people who don't know this is coming will simply get socked with it.

I'm willing to admit, at that place's a personal reason I dislike this alter. I've long relied on Windows' Automatic Update to handle security patching for friends and family who aren't particularly computer savvy. Obviously I'm far from the only person who does this, and it'due south why I've long said that automatic security updates aren't the problem I have with Windows 10's other patching behaviors.

With this change, I have to choose betwixt reconfiguring systems to leave these users unprotected or waiting until the OS actually drops and and then walking them through the rejection process. The one-time is a bad thought, the latter is a potential minefield, particularly with people who have a trend to click showtime and simply phone call for assist in one case something goes wrong.

Windows-Update-Security

Microsoft is also adding a program to permit people who are running illegitimate copies of Windows to upgrade to a legitimate, licensed copy — simply not for free.

Larn a lesson from Google Plus

The larger trouble is that Microsoft is pushing their "Windows 10 is amazing" mantra in much the aforementioned way that Google tried to push Google Plus on people. When Google unveiled Google Plus, it won early accolades for being notably different than Facebook and easier to use in several ways. It may non have gear up sign-up records, only I knew people who used it and didn't mind signing upward for an account myself.

In the months and years that followed, Google began aggressively positioning Google Plus as the one-stop shop for everything. First it was Google Plus results in search. Then YouTube integration. Then Google Reader and other services were shut down or integrated into G+. At every footstep, Google declared that users were choosing to love G+, that these new requirements and features were for our own expert, and that the end result would be amend service.

The more Google pushed Thousand+ on people, the harder people pushed dorsum. If Microsoft isn't conscientious, it's going to destroy the positive fizz around Windows 10 through similar means.