Live data from Hacker News

Samsung disabling Windows Update?

bsodanalysis.blogspot.com

71–80 of 149 posts

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#71
I don't quite understand why this is fucked up. Could someone elaborate? (I'm not doubting that it is fucked up at all. I would just like to understand it)

Is it that the developer of the OS is offering users a free better version and the OEM is preventing its users from benefiting? Why would Samsung do this? What could their incentive be?

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#72
post #56
post #13

I don't understand, why is Samsung pulling stunts like this all the time? It would make sense if they were trying to get up the ladder but they are already there, they hold an unquestionably large market share of Android. Things like these won't do any good in the long run but only prompt consumers to actively avoid the brand. Some of the things that really surprises me: [1] http://gizmodo.com/samsung-rigged-the-s4-t…

The gamepad is a complete non-issue. It is as similar to the xbox controller as the xbox controller is to the dreamcast controller, which in turn is similar to... It is the rounded rectangle all over again.

I agree with this. I can't fathom how the controller looks similar, except that the buttons are the same colour, or close.

The shape is totally different. I don't get it.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#73
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's really hard to find the correct middle-ground. Would you prefer if Windows worked like iOS where there are serious limitations on what apps can do in the background and where every application has to go through a central authority for vetting? Or do you propose a solution that gives both freedom to the user while also not allowing something like this to happen? Yes, there are whitelisting solutions (built into t…

Or you know, place the ability to disable Windows Update behind policy restrictions and UAC rather than being openly editable in the registry? With policy restrictions, corporate installations could deny all attempts to disable the service. In non-corporate environments, this should at least require a UAC prompt. While too many users would likely click through without understanding, at least knowledgeable users would…

Changing the windows update policy requires admin rights and UAC prompting. The Samsung installer would also run as admin (either started from a service running as admin and deployed by the samsung initial image, or by the user allowing UAC when launching the samsung installer), so it can change the registry.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#74
post #10

If Samsung blocks the Windows 10 "important" nagware patch KB 3035583 that installs autimatically on Windows 7-8.1 (except on PC with Domain/AD) than it's a service to the user. It replaces the Windows Update dialog with an Windows 10 advertisement and it adds a second start button to the startmenu that lauches an advertisement app. If you click the wrong button it will automatically download Windows 10 in the backgr…

I don't know why this is getting downvoted - it raises a good point. What Samsung has done is definitely Bad News, but Microsoft has set a precedent recently that they will abuse the Windows Update app's special place on Windows installations to serve up advertisement to users. If Samsung also sets the precedent that OEMs will disable Windows Update - even if the reason for it here is poor - we might be better off.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#75
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's really hard to find the correct middle-ground. Would you prefer if Windows worked like iOS where there are serious limitations on what apps can do in the background and where every application has to go through a central authority for vetting? Or do you propose a solution that gives both freedom to the user while also not allowing something like this to happen? Yes, there are whitelisting solutions (built into t…

> Would you prefer if Windows worked like iOS where there are serious limitations on what apps can do in the background and where every application has to go through a central authority for vetting? I've thought about this for a while, and honestly, for desktops/notebooks/tablets? Yes. Maybe not just one App Store like iOS, but at least sandbox all possible non-os code similarly to ChromeOS, in a way that's on by def…

> he had so much spyware on his computer that it was easier > to just buy a new one than going through the hassle of > cleaning up his old one...

I don't understand. Why not just reinstall the operating system from blank media? If you get a new machine, you'll have to reinstall your user-applications and data anyway?

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#76
post #13

I don't understand, why is Samsung pulling stunts like this all the time? It would make sense if they were trying to get up the ladder but they are already there, they hold an unquestionably large market share of Android. Things like these won't do any good in the long run but only prompt consumers to actively avoid the brand. Some of the things that really surprises me: [1] http://gizmodo.com/samsung-rigged-the-s4-t…

Samsung hardware is top-notch.

But they're a hardware company first and foremost. Most hardware companies tend not to be great software companies. The company culture just isn't designed for producing great software. See also: Sony.

I can't think of a single piece of software made by Samsung that gave me anything other than a thoroughly negative experience. Even their phones function best when they are not burdened with a Samsung ROM.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#77
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their new PR line is they've changed and they are sorry, but they have certainly NOT changed and they are NOT sorry: http://techrights.org/2015/05/29/microsoft-vs-india/ Their recent "good moves" (open sourcing .NET, etc.) are simply an attempt to maintain relevance in the face of declining market share. If it results in regained market-share, they will likely bait and switch, and of course, they might as well get so…

First, why would you expect Microsoft to not lobby against laws that prevent it from effectively competing? Second, Why is Microsoft lobbying for non-restrictive purchasing standards bad? It's very clear to me that this has little to do with weather the competition is FOSS - and more to do if the competition can only be indian made software. Buy $country First laws have long been recognized as anti-competitive, prote…

>FOSS of more often then not superior on its merits alone, why does it need a protectionist anti-competitive law to help it compete?

Because people generally don't choose the superior product?

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#78
TL;DR: Samsung's software is meant to install device drivers for your laptop. Because there are also drivers in Windows Update that Samsung considers conflicting, they disabled all of Windows Update to prevent those drivers from being installed.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#79

I don't quite understand why this is fucked up. Could someone elaborate? (I'm not doubting that it is fucked up at all. I would just like to understand it) Is it that the developer of the OS is offering users a free better version and the OEM is preventing its users from benefiting? Why would Samsung do this? What could their incentive be?

The OEM is disabling all updates. Security patches and better drivers (that are published through windows updates from the ODM). not just new features.

Would you like winodws xp blaster boxes to return.

Re: Samsung disabling Windows Update?

#80
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their new PR line is they've changed and they are sorry, but they have certainly NOT changed and they are NOT sorry: http://techrights.org/2015/05/29/microsoft-vs-india/ Their recent "good moves" (open sourcing .NET, etc.) are simply an attempt to maintain relevance in the face of declining market share. If it results in regained market-share, they will likely bait and switch, and of course, they might as well get so…

First, why would you expect Microsoft to not lobby against laws that prevent it from effectively competing? Second, Why is Microsoft lobbying for non-restrictive purchasing standards bad? It's very clear to me that this has little to do with weather the competition is FOSS - and more to do if the competition can only be indian made software. Buy $country First laws have long been recognized as anti-competitive, prote…

>First, why would you expect Microsoft to not lobby against laws that prevent it from effectively competing?

I wouldn't expect Microsoft to not lobby because I don't believe their PR that says that they've "changed" and are now "pro open source".

>It's very clear to me that this has little to do with weather the competition is FOSS

So which part of the Indian policy that (briefly) favored open source was not about favoring open source software?

>FOSS of more often then not superior on its merits alone, why does it need a protectionist anti-competitive law to help it compete?

This should be made policy because this is a long-term strategy to prevent lock in, and because it's much harder to bribe a high level official than it is a low level official.

Post reply on HN