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THOSE UPGRADING TO Windows 10 will get it for free, but Microsoft is planning on tackling piracy by offering those who downloaded an older version illegally the chance to upgrade as well.
Microsoft will make its upgrade available to anyone who has a device running Windows 7 and up in China, regardless of whether the version they’re using was acquired legally or not.
In an interview with Reuters, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson said the plan was to “re-engage” with the hundreds of millions of users who use Windows in the country. It’s believed that three-quarters of all PC software there is not properly licensed.
Microsoft has also signed deals with different companies like Lenovo, Tencent, Qihoo 360 and Xiaomi to help roll out the upgrade to devices.
In the case of Xiaomi, Mi 4 users will be able to test out Windows 10 on their Android device. Lenovo will also make phones running Windows 10, and it expects to release them in mid-2015.
No specific date was given for the launch of Windows 10, but it arrive in the summer in 190 countries and 111 different languages. The upgrade to Windows 10 is free to all users in the first year it launches.
Instead of charging for the upgrade, Microsoft is hoping that sales from products like OneDrive and Office would help make up for this as it gets all users on the same platform.
The upgrade will also include a new feature called Windows Hello which will use biometric authentication – your face, iris or fingerprint – to unlock your device. The cameras use infrared technology to help identify a face or iris and are able to recognise you in different lighting conditions.
Microsoft says it uses a “combination of special hardware and software to accurately verify it is you – not a picture of you or someone trying to impersonate you.”
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Windows 8 was terrible …..windows 7 is much better …..
I didn’t much like 8.0 but 8.1 was a nice improvement.
For sure took some getting used to but once you do it’s grand.
You download classic start menu 3 mbs , bingo its windows 7 but better. I have it on this pc and I forget its windows 8 and I’m always changing parts and installing software.
A lot of people give out about windows 8 but it is very very stable and is actually a very good OS. Sadly it looks like something that was puked up( excuse the expression)
Now wheres my motor boat.
I will wait for the year just up..then Maybe get it…probably full of bugs…
HATE windows 8….
Can’t be worse than Win 8 Bunter
I’ve just upgraded last month to windows 7, not too shabby.
7 is ok, 8 is horrible.
yep, have to agree with you there, Vista was a bit of a stinker when it came out too.. it was eventually a really stable OS towards the end though.
The worst thing for me in windows 8 is the start bar. I used classicshell.net if you want something like the windows 7 start bar back.
This reminds me of the time where the multi-channel offered free t-shirts to everyone with a dodgy box.
Man the amount of arrests that time.
Microsoft is smart giving it free; presume you register and then they have you for further upgrades. No free lunch.
I’d say they are just trying to buy out the market. dominance is their game, always has been
Teresa, isn’t that what microsoft have always done with the exception of the free upgrade ?
Microsoft is for people who are too poor to buy apple products
Apple is for people who are too stupid to think for themselves.
I have an Iphone but would never get an mac or ipad….
Apple is for people who like the design of the box…..and the colour.
apple products are for people who think that an expensive price tag means a better product. unfortunately apple are usually last to bring out new technology.
Apple products are for people who base their self worth and self esteem on the things they own.
People are too apple to have stupid for themselves.
Apple products are for people who like Apple products, Android products are for people who like Android, Windows is for people who like Windows, getting this angry at an obvious troll is for people who need to take a chill pill.
I have the right brand: therefore, I am wonderful.
Not so true David. there is a certain status with apple products. some people will buy any apple product they produce just because its supposed to be seen as superior, like you know when you’ve arrived when you own an iphone,
I personally won’t own any apple products because I don’t agree with their ethics, they are also one of a only major companies that give nothing back to humanity. they just take take take, and increase the balance sheets.
Even the marketing ploy of cheering people as they walk out of their shop after buying a product just makes my skin crawl.
Must agree with david, mindless trolls everywhere
That’s what I said, they perceive them to be superior. Why does anyone buy anything? Because for them it’s superior, it’s in the best thing in their budget. If you’re buying something you deem inferior then you’re not a very good consumer.
Ethics? Like how they’re working to remove conflict material from all their products? Or how they’re regularly the only company seen to be actively trying to improve the workplaces at factories like Foxconn? And you’re angry at a company for making money?
I’ve never been cheered after walking out of an apple store, where the hell did you hear that? Apple stores are some of the most profitable stores in the world, it would be a constant applause at the door if they did that.
I use all 3 different types devices, for different purposes. However, as I have young children, my devices are getting long in the tooth, my Windows 7 laptop is 7 years old (I was one of those who got a free upgrade to Windows 7). My PowerBook is 10 years old. My Android phone is 3 years old. Giving away Windows 10 is a nice gesture from Microsoft, however if they think they will use it to upsell me other software, or if my pre-existing software won’t work with it- I’ll go right back to Windows 7.
The only reason I use Windows over Apple is because it’s way easier to do illegal stuff with it.
Actualky, i used to live in brisbane Australia where they have a few genuine Apple stores and have seen the staff cheer when somebody walks out with an Imac or similar. I agree its cringeworthy but harmless. The Apple stores tend to be the most crowded stores in the shopping centres and it has been proven they are the most successful stores on a profit per sq. m basis in the world
Rob is just trolling. He does this all the time when an article about any kind of tech comes up.
He’s not even an apple fanboy, he’s just having a laugh.
Apple products are from the devil, look at that serpent offering you that tasty apple
Sent from my iPhone
david. it happens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlspgmHeaZc
and working conditions at the foxconn factory is apualing, they know full well what is going on there an do very little about it. BBC did an undercover documentary on it., not sure if you;ve seen it. but it’s worth a watch.
They are not an ethical company, and unlike other big players like Intel, Microsoft, Google, IBM they have given nothing back to humanity. they only take, are only interested in their pockets. their profit margins are huge and they avoid so much tax.
sometimes the truth hurts, it’s not a company i would associate with , but that’s just me.
Denis, that’s someone buying the first iPhone, that’s all for the cameras, I assure you that doesn’t normally happen (Except apparently in Brisbane…I feel a little cheated now…)
Foxconn is terrible, Apple have worked hard in the past few years to fix it and improve it. I haven’t really heard anything from any of the other companies (Microsoft, Amazon, Sony, Nintendo and Blackberry among them) working to improve conditions. Apple have moved production for certain high end products to America in the past few years actually.
You still haven’t explained what you mean by giving back to Humanity, Apple gave everyone a free U2 album, what more do you want?!?!?
You seem to be a bit behind the times, so maybe you’re thinking back to when Apple didn’t encourage charitable donations, that’s changed and they match all employee donations.
Also, did you seriously compliment those companies for being ethical and giving back then complain about Apple not paying taxes? They didn’t set up in Ireland for the weather you know.
That’s up to you, personally I’m happy to support the company that makes products I like. Although I’m not going near the Apple Watch, I’ll stick with the Pebble Time Steel for my smart watch needs.
It happens every time they have a new product launch and is all for show.
Google has x lab to develop technology that will further humanity. wifi to africa via blimps and the space race
IBM created watson to develop artificial intelligence
Most the big players do something different with their profits.
They are not making money out of these projects, although there might be money to be made of it at a later date.
Most of the big players in the world diverge and progress humanity, give something back what else are they supposed to do with all that money. Apple is a huge player but all they do is make phones or PC’s to sell for profit. Apple will not advance humanity, they have invented nothing that was not there already.
and if you haven’t seen the BBC documentary I suggest it as a good eye opener. It shows how they know exactly what’s going on and only show improvements on paper. when you cut to the chase though nothing has really changed. For such a big player with all the money then have squirrelled away, they should be doing a hell of a lot more.
Where can we get these pills?
Sure lucky them they have a job, bet you would be giving out if they weren’t working too.
Also Apples computers are far superior to most commercially available windows or Linix device.
Now have an apple and sit quiet like a good little boy.
I’m just going to leave this here
Go see how they treat their workers in China, a real eye openerfor such a big company even in this day n age
Dennis, apple dont employ workers in china, foxconn do. Foxconn makes products for many, many electronic type companies as well as Apple. And, by the way, foxconn are taiwanese not Chinese. Apple are doing all they can to ensure conditions improve for foxconn workers, far more than foxconn want to do and far more than other electronic companies want yo do. Check your facts otherwise your just another troll
did you see the documentary where they sneaked in to the apple production line. Apple deny this is happening. It’s their supply chain so they are ultimately responsible to ensure they source ethical products and working conditions. , to say that apple are doing all they can is very far off the mark. Apple know full well what is happing as many reports have been sent to them and they refuse to make any real comments on it. they are though very happy to keep taking in all the profits and give nothing back to humanity. They are a take take take company with no etthics
Dennis, the documentary is a bit dated now, check the latest Apple initiatives they are doing far more to improve workers conditions in foxconn than any other company. Check your facts, keep up to date
Is that on paper or real life. as that documentary showed how on paper it looks good but once you get cameras in there nothing had really changed. and why should it take publicity like that to force a huge company like apple to sort out their supply chain. If no one had investigated it then nothing would be done. The are a for show company only.
And just cause someone has an opinion different to yours or does not believe info coming directly from apple dose not make them a troll, I’ll wait till I see the next undercover documentary before I believe anything that apple press release
The solution is really quite simple. If you are unhappy with the way your supplier operates, you move your multibillion dollar order somewhere else. I do suspect though that their business is where it is for a reason, and that reason is cost. Why would they really want to upset a nice little profit by looking into the human rights issue too deeply? Anyone who has worked in big business knows full well that ethics is no more that a thin veneer kept in place to placate the gullible and the naive. These corporations will drown their own mothers for the extra buck. Follow their tax dodging shenanigans and it is clear that they have little or no ethics. Who cares about the poor Chinese or Taiwanese sod who works for 3 beans a day as long as the money keeps rolling and the hypnotized masses keep breaking the doors down just to be first to have the next overpriced piece of junk. All those who are so deeply concerned about the plight of these workers should immediately bin their new Iphones or whatever else helps to fuel the throw away madness that has become an integral part of our sad lives. Ultimately, we, the consumers hold the power to stop the insanity. Will it happen? Not in a million years.
The documentary was this year, 2015, on the BBC. I reckon that’s recent enough for anybody Steve.
Get a room girls
I hear very promising news about Window 25 which is to launch in 2025.
Don’t try IOS 8 except on a very recent iPad. On older iPads, IOS 8 is slow and unstable.
I’m thinking of a Microsoft Surface 4, Windows Phone 10 and a mini Surface later this year.
I don’t want to get locked into the Apple ecosystem despite the elegance and simplicity of its products.
have your say