Windows 10?

[beutelwolf]

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

Vista was a big resource hog.

You can say that again. I remember our Uni had put Vista on all its PCs and when in the first week of term the thing was deployed via the Uni network 🐢 the whole thing came to a complete standstill. Login times of 45 minutes plus.

I ended up photocopying powerpoint slides onto acetates in order to deliver my lectures...

The IT department got this eventually under control, but a year on they jumped at the chance to move on to Windows 7. So far, they have stuck with it, and I somewhat doubt they'll ever use Windows 8/8.1. Regarding 10, they'll probably wait till it consolidates a bit before taking that jump - don't think they've the guts to move to Linux, too much legacy stuff around.

[Rick Danger]

Amit Chowdhry, writing for Forbes.com comments on the November update for Windows 10.

While there were improvements, there were also three head-scratching problems.

The article, which also discusses Microsoft's "confession" concerning forced Windows 10 upgrades, the new Xbox One Experience, improvements to PowerPoint, the release of Windows 10 Mobile, and other items can be found here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchow...-improvements/

Windows 10 November Update

On Thursday, Microsoft released the first major update for Windows 10 — which is known as the November Update. The November Update comes packed with several new features. Some of the new features includes improved Microsoft Edge bookmark syncing and media casting. But there are several features that are not as obvious. Here is a list of some of those features:

- Better App Snapping: When Windows 7 was introduced in 2009, it had a feature that let you snap windows by dragging it to the edge. Windows 8 included improvements to this feature by filling in space as snapped windows are moved around. And now the November Update for Windows 10 includes a slider option for snapped windows.

- Find My Device: The Windows 10 November update includes a “Find My Device” in case you lose your laptop or PC. This feature is powered by your Microsoft Account and can be enabled from Settings > Update & Security > Find My Device.

- Cortana Enhancements: Cortana has been updated to show you missed call notifications on your PC and it lets you respond to text messages using your Windows Phone number from your PC. The updated version of Cortana also lets you request and schedule Uber rides directly from within the app.

- Skype Integration: As part of the November Update, Skype has been directly integrated into the operating system. The Messaging, Phone and Skype Video apps are included in the November Update, which arguably makes Skype simpler to use.

- Automatic Time Zone Adjustments: Now when you travel somewhere that is in a different time zone, the time showing on Windows 10 will be able to automatically adjust. You can turn on this feature by going to Settings > Time & Language > Set Time Zone Automatically. This feature should be turned on by default.

3 Nasty Surprises

Following the November Update, several Windows 10 users have been reporting problems that came up. Three of the problems that Forbes contributor Gordon Kelly spotted over the weekend included a 44% bug, installed programs getting deleted and forced delays for users that recently upgraded.

The “44% bug” is an issue where software update downloads were stalling at 44%. Microsoft forum moderator Anannya Podder noticed that devices with an SD bus with an SD card inserted were mostly affected by the issue. Removing the external storage is a recommended workaround.

Some Windows 10 users on Reddit noticed that installed programs were deleting without warning. Some of the programs that were deleted included 8gadgetpack, SpyBot, HWMonitor, etc. Fortunately, the programs can be reinstalled. Another issue is that many of the default app choices have switched to Microsoft’s own applications. You may have to change the defaults again by going to System > Default Apps.

In the Windows Update FAQ, Microsoft said that new Windows 10 users are being pushed to the back of the update queue for the November Update. If it has been under 31 days since you upgraded to Windows 10, then you may not get the November Update right away. After 31 days pass, then your PC will automatically download the update.

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

Microsoft as a champion of your security and privacy? As my best friend would say ".....SAY WHAT???!!"

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday detailed Microsoft's new focus concerning product, cloud, and cybersecurity. This includes the creation of a new Cyber Defense Operations Center that will bring together security response experts from across the technology giant in a new “state-of-the-art” facility. The unit will be staffed around the clock by security professionals, data analysts, engineers, developers, program managers, and operations specialists.

Workers at the facility will work closely with a Microsoft Enterprise Cybersecurity Group. The business unit will offer security assessments and provides ongoing monitoring, threat detection, and incident response capabilities. Regular infused consultants and vendors offer similar service, but Microsoft aims to distinguish itself through the experience of delivering cloud-based services to both consumers (XBox Live) and enterprises (Azure, Office 365).

Given the recent criticisms and bad press leveled at Microsoft concerning Windows 10 privacy intrusions, the idea that Redmond is suddenly concerned with customer security seem almost comedic. Jim Kerstetter, writing for the New York Times "Bits" blog, had this observation, which is probably more funny to a long suffering New York Knicks fan such as myself:

On Tuesday, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, plans to discuss security in a speech to government technology workers in Washington, D.C. To some, the thought of Mr. Nadella discussing good computer security is akin to the owners of the New York Knicks discussing winning basketball.

But Mr. Nadella and Microsoft have made big changes in their technology and their organization in order to keep hackers out and data safe. Mr. Nadella meets monthly with top security officials inside the company and has centralized what was generally a fragmented response effort when problems were discovered. This week, security specialists are also moving into the same physical space.

Times have changed for Microsoft. As for the Knicks, the jury is still out.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/11...rity_strategy/

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/1...gs&region=Body

Je Suis Paris

[Rick Danger]

Microsoft has been hyping security improvements available in Windows 10, both to the general public in it's TV ads ("Imagine. These kids won't have to remember passwords, or obsess about security....") and especially to enterprise customers.

But like so much of Windows 10, this improved security is at present long on hype but short on delivery. Hence, Paul Thurrott writing for his "Thurrott" tech blog, offers this review of Windows 10 biometric security.

Windows 10 Tip: Give Windows Hello the Finger
Posted on November 16, 2015
by Paul Thurrott in Windows 10

Having experienced everything that Windows Hello has to offer, I’ve come to a surprising conclusion about Windows 10’s biometric sign-in. You may want to just give it the finger.

That is, while tech enthusiasts are always busy racing off to embrace The Next Big thing, I’ve come to understand over the years that the tried and true, well-tested and well-understood, solutions of the past often work better than the shiny new bauble. And so it is with Windows Hello, where the lowly fingerprint reader is in fact your best option.

As you may recall, Windows Hello supports three forms of biometric identification: a fingerprint reader (which can be swipe- or press-based), an LED facial recognition camera or an iris scanner. The latter two are camera-based, and work similarly (for the end user) in that you’re signed in to Windows as you appear in front of your PC.

And that is part of the problem. When configured correctly, camera-based Windows Hello authentication is so fast that many people feel like they’ve made some kind of mistake, and perhaps had forgotten to properly lock their PC previously. Worse, you may not want to sign-in to Windows, but if you appear in front of your PC, it happens automatically.

Perversely, the other issue with camera-based Windows Hello sign-ins is the exact opposite problem. And this is one I’ve now encountered on more than one occasion: Despite having gone through the Windows Hello enrollment process several times, Windows Hello can’t “see” you properly and refuses to let you sign-in that way. So you end up typing a PIN anyway after frustratingly bobbing your head around hoping it will recognize you.

(That second issue has to do with the position of your head relative to the camera at enrollment. On one occasion, I had configured Windows Hello while lying on a couch, so when I sat in front of the laptop used normally on a desk, the camera couldn’t recognize me unless I scrunched down.)

To avoid unintended sign-ins—and worse, publicly embarrassing moments of increasingly silly-looking head-bobbing—my advice is skip out on camera-based Windows Hello schemes and use a fingerprint reader instead. Don’t have a fingerprint reader? Then just use a PIN.

The nice thing about a fingerprint reader—and, for that matter, a PIN—is that the act is purposeful. When you intend to sign-in to your PC, you press (or swipe) the reader. Intent is followed by action, and that action is very quick and, as iPhone users and those with fingerprint readers on PCs know, works very reliably.

This is doubly true of purchases and other instances in which Windows Hello would invoke. Remember, Windows Hello isn’t just about signing in.

So I say give Windows Hello the fingers. Using a camera to sign-in to your PC is just as dumb as using a Picture Password. Actually, it may be even dumber.

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/win...llo-the-finger

Je Suis Paris

[rlg118]

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

If you really do need to keep some pristine Windows 7 PCs on hand by then, you might just be the kind of person who also keeps freeze-dried food and similar supplies in the basement already.

...Along with my Brown Bess musket and my Rheingold Beer churchkey.

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

By the time the PC supply dries up, Windows 10 will also be more than a year old and Microsoft's Windows-as-a-service will likely be upon us. If you really do need to keep some pristine Windows 7 PCs on hand by then, you might just be the kind of person who also keeps freeze-dried food and similar supplies in the basement already.

So Windows 7 will make its last stand... among the Mormons?

[m100]

in terms of christmas sales you can only obviously compare like for like so eg windows 7 first christmas period, windows 8 first christmas period. If there is a huge drop MS will be forced to address the issue but i think they could go as far as hiding or trying to hide even a 40-50% drop behind the increasing use of phones/smart tv's etc to access the internet. if there are still significant christmas sales of windows 8 products then they have a major problem as what is/will be going on would then be seen to have got as far as the casual users.

[rlg118]

http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/...st-big-update/

[Faceman675]

This may have already been addressed but has anyone had trouble with software compatibility? I have a few photo editing programs that are less than registrable ( sounds so much nicer than pirated ). I use these quite a bit and am concerned if I upgrade from 7 to 10 will they be functional? I have never done an upgrade before will I need to reload all the programs when I upgrade to 10?

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by Faceman675

This may have already been addressed but has anyone had trouble with software compatibility? I have a few photo editing programs that are less than registrable ( sounds so much nicer than pirated ). I use these quite a bit and am concerned if I upgrade from 7 to 10 will they be functional? I have never done an upgrade before will I need to reload all the programs when I upgrade to 10?

One of the claimed "features" of Win10 is that it will check for and disable "unsanctioned" (i.e. unregistered or pirated) software.