Karamjit Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Microsoft launched Windows 10 with much fanfare in July 2015 and the company offered the new operating system as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8.1 in the first 12 months of availability. Shortly after this promo came to an end, it was revealed that Windows 7 and 8.1 users with accessibility features activated were still capable of upgrading to Windows 10 free of charge, and Microsoft said that it allowed the upgrades on purpose because it wanted these users to benefit from the new operating system too. Redmond, however, promised to block the free upgrades for those using assistive tech, as this was obviously a loophole that allowed pretty much anyone to get Windows 10 free of charge by simply enabling accessibility features. And yet, here we are today with the same free upgrade offer still available, no less than seven months after Microsoft announced that it would block the trick. No change just yet Nothing has changed about the free upgrades offered to users with assistive technology, and just like it happened before, there’s absolutely no verification system in place that would prevent someone from benefitting from the offer. Although the promo is specifically targeting people with disabilities, pretty much everyone can upgrade to Windows 10 if they claim they’re using assistive tech. “We are not restricting the free upgrade offer to specific assistive technologies. If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the free upgrade offer,” Microsoft says. “We have not announced an end date of the free upgrade offer for customers using assistive technology. We will make a public announcement prior to ending the offer.” Microsoft is yet to update the page with a target date for ending the upgrade promo, but we’ve reached out to the company to ask for more information and we’ll update this article to let you know when an answer is offered. In the meantime, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft needs more users to upgrade to Windows 10 and keeping such a loophole available is one of the ways to make sure this goal is achieved. And in the end, the company can’t be accused of anything, as the main purpose is to give people using assistive tech the chance to upgrade to Windows 10 without a fee. Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitorio Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 It is good for them and us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorty6100 Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Microsoft WANTS you to install Windows 10-that's why there's this "loophole". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quachnam Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 2 hours ago, shorty6100 said: Microsoft WANTS you to install Windows 10-that's why there's this "loophole". absolutely! That is reason MS wants to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luisam Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Windows 10 intalled itself in the computer of my son in November, replacing his Windows 7, without any warning or notification! and certainly he never use any "Assistive Tech Trick" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 LOL finaly then adds will be on the free version in the future... and spying etc etc they need computers with the same software to properly synchronize the spying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1v1n3D Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 they have been spying for at least a decade where were you when bush jr hit office of USA he started the massive data collecting with NSA CIA and other entities we don't even know exist besides that Microsoft, Apple and Linux all have mandatory back-doors request via by all major governments as in world government as in United Nations, European Union and the likes, that is the real reason the Internet was given access to the public almost 30 years ago. It is in every bit of software including your so called protective firewalls, vpn's, and anything else you think you are secure behind from the government No never will be it is their invention from average hackers sure but advanced hackers if they want in they will get in, there is no such thing as perfectly secure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyyahblah Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 On 2/16/2017 at 3:55 PM, D1v1n3D said: they have been spying for at least a decade where were you when bush jr hit office of USA he started the massive data collecting with NSA CIA and other entities we don't even know exist besides that Microsoft, Apple and Linux all have mandatory back-doors request via by all major governments as in world government as in United Nations, European Union and the likes, that is the real reason the Internet was given access to the public almost 30 years ago. It is in every bit of software including your so called protective firewalls, vpn's, and anything else you think you are secure behind from the government No never will be it is their invention from average hackers sure but advanced hackers if they want in they will get in, there is no such thing as perfectly secure. That's the way it is man. Back in the 80's or 90's no one cared when we had our C64's and Amiga 500's and 386/486 computers with modems. Just play games alone or use a modem to play a game with friends if you were lucky to have one. I remember playing Doom, Descent multiplayer with a 4800 baud modem and dial into BBSes. Now a days we are so mind controlled by the internet that if your modem goes offline, people go insane and turn off the computer as it seems installing a computer without being connected to the internet feels totally useless. Back in 94 we didn't care as long as we had software, games, basic, lots of things to do. Now its mostly porn, social media, and trolling people, nothing more. Sad times. Oh and don't forget the spying of course. Each new version of Windows and software gets worse and worse. From Windows to Browsers to everything collecting data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humble3d Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 This is also to comply with The Americans with disabilities Act, et seq. ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1v1n3D Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 You hear that Samsung has been telling all who own their smart TV's, that they are advised to not talk about important/sensitive information in the same room as the television, because it is always listening. I bet this is for all smart devices including desktops, laptops, smartphones and anything with net connection and a microphones.https://www.cnet.com/news/samsungs-warning-our-smart-tvs-record-your-living-room-chatter/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beamslider Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I have a Samsung smart TV....not one with voice recognition so as it doesn't have the mic it can't be listening. I don't need any TV that takes voice commands. Remotes work just fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davmil Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Did the Win 10 accessibility upgrade today. Ran without a hitch or any nosy questions. Recommended if you want Win 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moricka Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Thanks for sharing, could update a PC for W10 with this method! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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