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Windows needs a change in priorities

den.dev

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Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#241

Post by Silhouette »

userbinator wrote: post #230
Silhouette wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yesterday I had to open Microsoft Edge for something that would only work in Edge, and lo-and-behold, Microsoft had taken my Xbox Game Pass sign-in and applied to Edge, then informed me they are syncing all my browser history to their servers for my benefit.. I'm not sure how that sort of behaviour isn't a clear violation of all kinds of privacy laws in 2022.

I'm sure it was specified somewhere in the EULA that you were forced to agree to long ago while installing the OS. It's been a while since I've looked at it too, but I believe there's a clause in there that also permits them to change it at any time without telling you.

One of the few really good things about some modern privacy laws is that this kind of defence carries almost zero weight. You don't get to do scummy things and then claim that the user "consented" because of some small print on page 50 of some document no-one ever reads before clicking the button they have to click in order to use the software they just paid for.

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#242

Post by wincy »

MereInterest wrote: post #232
artificialLimbs wrote: post #190

I stopped playing Minecraft recently again. I first quit a few years ago, but wanted to show it to my young son. Trying to go back and EVEN JUST INSTALL it now is filled with Microsoft-ian circles of login catastrophe and "upgrade your account" nightmares. The installation process was so difficult, I will never play again.

As somebody who started playing back in alpha, it's amazing how many user-hostile changes have been made. Needing to transfer accounts multiple times, finding the cross-platform Java version among all the various Windows-only or mobile only versions, finding out that the account had been archived years ago. And that's not even getting into the mess that is the licensing that was Minecraft Alpha. That was changed even…

I lost my Minecraft alpha account apparently because I was allowed to “activate” Minecraft VR in the oculus store rather than the Microsoft Store. I sold my oculus and it’s impossible to launch Minecraft in the Oculus store without a VR headset, despite it being the full game!

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#243

Post by kingcharles »

hnthrowaway0315 wrote: post #152
kingcharles wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can also get it free with a Visual Studio subscription, that's where I got mine.

Just checked VS subscription page and didn't find it, maybe it's kinda hidden? I'm chatting with a sales representative regarding this.

The Visual Studio web site is impossible to decode. I think this is the page:

https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/subscriptions/#software-a...

Basically they give you every version of Windows so you can test your code. So 10 LTSC is in there. I run it in my VMs because it uses so little memory and CPU compared to the regular one.

I don't know which flavor of subscription you need to get it. I got my sub free as an MVP.

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#245

Post by martinmakesgame »

artificialLimbs wrote: post #190

I stopped playing Minecraft recently again. I first quit a few years ago, but wanted to show it to my young son. Trying to go back and EVEN JUST INSTALL it now is filled with Microsoft-ian circles of login catastrophe and "upgrade your account" nightmares. The installation process was so difficult, I will never play again.

Use multimc.org. When the launcher changed to a microsoft app we moved to using the multimc launcher. It has far more predicatable and reliable behaviour than what microsoft is offering

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#246

Post by UnpossibleJim »

segphault wrote: post #22

Like every Windows user, I have had a lot of frustrating experiences with the abusive behavior and dark patterns that have taken over the platform. Like when they started having Skype silently run in the background logged in with the user's Microsoft account without any notice or human intervention, and removed the setting to disable it from launching at startup so that it couldn't be prevented. I had to completely u…

As far as the Skype thing is concerned, isn't that the exact thing they got sued for with Explorer for in the 90's?... or somewhat similar?

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#247

Post by userbinator »

robertwt7 wrote: post #115
anon1900 wrote: post #28

As an engineer working at Microsoft in Windows, I 100% agree...it's just as frustrating seeing these from inside as well (edit: from throwaway as a protective measure)

just wondering 1 thing.. is there anyone in microsoft that looks at the feedback hub or forum at least? They never seem to listen to ANY feedback..

They do look at it. Just not to do what you'd expect with what they see... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29954266

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#248

Post by wussboy »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #214
the_snooze wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bingo. All these posts that say "oh just use Linux, it's compatible!" must be from naive junior devs who never have had to to deal with external organizations (especially governments) that require you to use their Word templates and share PowerPoint slides on their Teams calls.

Teams works on Linux now. It's a pig of an app especially on Mac (haven't tried Linux enough to verify) but it runs. On my Mac it takes a minute to start (fast M1 system), randomly crashes or hangs and often uses more than half my memory. But it is supported :)

That's not terribly different to my Teams experience on Windows 10.

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#249

Post by Nextgrid »

Silhouette wrote: post #241
userbinator wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure it was specified somewhere in the EULA that you were forced to agree to long ago while installing the OS. It's been a while since I've looked at it too, but I believe there's a clause in there that also permits them to change it at any time without telling you.

One of the few really good things about some modern privacy laws is that this kind of defence carries almost zero weight. You don't get to do scummy things and then claim that the user "consented" because of some small print on page 50 of some document no-one ever reads before clicking the button they have to click in order to use the software they just paid for.

But the problem is that in practice I still don’t see those laws being enforced in any meaningful manner. Case in point, Microsoft is doing this - they’re not stupid, they’ve reviewed the legal implications that and rightfully decided that they’ll benefit more than the penalty from enforcement if it ever happens. Same with Google, Facebook, etc.

Re: Windows needs a change in priorities

#250

Post by ficiek »

shp0ngle wrote: post #238

Well, what are you going to do. Not use Windows? Linux still barely works in 2022 (and if one distro will become really popular, with a big investment of money like Ubuntu did once, they will ad ads, like Ubuntu added Amazon), and MacOS works just on Apple HW (and has ads for Apple services baked-in too, just less obnoxious). You can use ChromeOS! Which is literally ad tech. Pick your poison.

>Linux still barely works in 2022

I have had zero problem running linux as my daily driver for the last 10 years, care to explain your comment? The only problem that I have is that video games don't always work because the developers don't care.

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