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Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

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Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#21

Post by allenskd »

enitihas wrote: post #8
timwis wrote: post #3

So basically the android approach

Nope, windows phone took the Android approach. Anyways, android is usable without signing into a google account. You can use the Amazon app store (which has most of popular apps), or fdroid or download apk files yourself like windows of old. Windows is a paid product, Android is not. Apart from including ridiculous ads and telemetry some of which can't be disabled, Windows seems to be taking user hosting steps every…

I'd say it heavily depends as well, a year ago my father had one of those phones featuring Android One and it wouldn't let you use it unless you connected to wi-fi and logged in to your account. It's bizarre that functionality is blocking you for basic usage of making a call, etc.

I guess the manufacturer could have opted for that type of lock-in as well with their images, but seeing Android One is a near-stock as-is OS I don't know if by default Android forces you to log in and phone manufacturers remove that type of enforcement.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#22

Post by pjmlp »

enitihas wrote: post #16
jevgeni wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that you have to actively and deliberately fork over cash for Windows, but not for Android, where it's hidden -- that really seems to trip people up.

And it's not hidden in windows, where you have candy crush pre-installed and ads in the start menu. So in windows, you fork over cash, give your data, and then have to seem some ads.

Candy crush is not pre-installed, it is just a link to the store, easily removable with right mouse click.

Gee, I never saw people complain this way with Solitaire, Mineswepper, GNOME Games Suit, or the dump of floppies they would get on their Atari/Amiga/PC bundles.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#23

Post by enitihas »

allenskd wrote: post #21
enitihas wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, windows phone took the Android approach. Anyways, android is usable without signing into a google account. You can use the Amazon app store (which has most of popular apps), or fdroid or download apk files yourself like windows of old. Windows is a paid product, Android is not. Apart from including ridiculous ads and telemetry some of which can't be disabled, Windows seems to be taking user hosting steps every…

I'd say it heavily depends as well, a year ago my father had one of those phones featuring Android One and it wouldn't let you use it unless you connected to wi-fi and logged in to your account. It's bizarre that functionality is blocking you for basic usage of making a call, etc. I guess the manufacturer could have opted for that type of lock-in as well with their images, but seeing Android One is a near-stock as-is…

Just out of curiosity, which android one phone was this. I have used two android one phones, the Xiaomi A1 and the Motorola One Power, and both of them work fine without a google account.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#24

Post by pjmlp »

enitihas wrote: post #17
RaleyField wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what you can do, sometimes. Step around dozens of dark patterns. It's not what your less tech-savvy relatives can realistically do.

So with windows they are even more screwed, as they will have to pay for it, and then see ads. Worse that Android for sure.

With Android you don't get to uninstall factory packaged apps.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#25

Post by alxlaz »

pjmlp wrote: post #19
alxlaz wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not true. I have Win 10 Pro on my work laptop. It's very much "paid in full". Some of the things I paid in full for include Bubble Witch 3 Saga, Candy Crush Saga and Candy Crush Friends, and the Start menu came pre-populated with a bunch of ads for similarly useful apps (edit: among other things). Edit: if someone who's more Windows-savvy than this ol' Unix nerd knows what information I ought to edit out of a…

Apparently when a GNU/Linux installation shows messages to try out stuff, it is "spreading the good for the community", or has a modified motd, when one gets a couple of links on the start menu, easily removed by right clicking on them, it is "bloody Microsoft".

I'm not sure how that's relevant here. Does my post say anything about what Ubuntu does being excusable in any way?

Edit: also, FWIW, running apt-get upgrade doesn't re-enable the ads in the MOTD :-)

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#26

Post by vezycash »

Erlich_Bachman wrote: post #12
jevgeni wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if the software is paid in full, there are no ads.

What version of Windows do people need to buy for it to (right after the installation, with no additional tweaking) have the telemetry keylogger turned off and no ads in start menu and no adware or links to other Microsoft's products there? I've been looking for such a version for a long time.

The version with least telemetry is Enterprise Version. It's not sold to individuals.

Only way is torrent. Although some once wrote here that he got his off eBay.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#27

Post by enitihas »

pjmlp wrote: post #24
enitihas wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So with windows they are even more screwed, as they will have to pay for it, and then see ads. Worse that Android for sure.

With Android you don't get to uninstall factory packaged apps.

You do, you can literally disable gmail from app info. I just tried this on my moto one power and it is totally possible.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#28

Post by shakna »

pjmlp wrote: post #22
enitihas wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it's not hidden in windows, where you have candy crush pre-installed and ads in the start menu. So in windows, you fork over cash, give your data, and then have to seem some ads.

Candy crush is not pre-installed, it is just a link to the store, easily removable with right mouse click. Gee, I never saw people complain this way with Solitaire, Mineswepper, GNOME Games Suit, or the dump of floppies they would get on their Atari/Amiga/PC bundles.

> Gee, I never saw people complain this way with Solitaire, Mineswepper, GNOME Games Suit, or the dump of floppies they would get on their Atari/Amiga/PC bundles.

Strange. Especially as those didn't actively run analytics when you run them. Perhaps those two situations aren't completely comparable.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#29

Post by speedgoose »

pjmlp wrote: post #19
alxlaz wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not true. I have Win 10 Pro on my work laptop. It's very much "paid in full". Some of the things I paid in full for include Bubble Witch 3 Saga, Candy Crush Saga and Candy Crush Friends, and the Start menu came pre-populated with a bunch of ads for similarly useful apps (edit: among other things). Edit: if someone who's more Windows-savvy than this ol' Unix nerd knows what information I ought to edit out of a…

Apparently when a GNU/Linux installation shows messages to try out stuff, it is "spreading the good for the community", or has a modified motd, when one gets a couple of links on the start menu, easily removed by right clicking on them, it is "bloody Microsoft".

While some ads are just links, candy crush is actually installed and being updated regularly even though most people will never ever start it.

Re: Microsoft apparently removing ‘Offline Accounts’ for international Windows users

#30

Post by allenskd »

enitihas wrote: post #23
allenskd wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say it heavily depends as well, a year ago my father had one of those phones featuring Android One and it wouldn't let you use it unless you connected to wi-fi and logged in to your account. It's bizarre that functionality is blocking you for basic usage of making a call, etc. I guess the manufacturer could have opted for that type of lock-in as well with their images, but seeing Android One is a near-stock as-is…

Just out of curiosity, which android one phone was this. I have used two android one phones, the Xiaomi A1 and the Motorola One Power, and both of them work fine without a google account.

I think it was one of those cheap Alcatel phones with Android One. I don't remember well myself but I'm pretty sure it was Alcatel.

I ended up helping him getting a LG G6 and for his usage it's more than enough power for him. (plus cheap in 2019 when I bought it) All problems solved. Not sure what went wrong with his phone but I couldn't even do anything with the recovery mode and resetting to factory.

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