![]() ![]() The Windows API is so broad, so deep, and so functional that most independent software vendors would be crazy not to use it. In an internal memo for senior management Microsoft's head of C++ development, Aaron Contorer, stated: Microsoft software is also presented as a "safe" choice for IT managers purchasing software systems. Although the resulting ubiquity of Microsoft software allows a user to benefit from network effects, critics and even Microsoft itself decry what they consider to be an " embrace, extend and extinguish" strategy of adding proprietary features to open standards or their software implementations, thereby using its market dominance to gain unofficial ownership of standards "extended" in this way. It did so by providing development tools, training, access to proprietary APIs in early versions, and partner programs. Vendor lock-in įrom its inception, Microsoft defined itself as a platform company and understood the importance of attracting third-party programmers. In February 2019, some of Microsoft’s employees protested the company's war profiteering from a $480 million contract to develop augmented reality headsets for the United States Army. government on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border." Microsoft has stated it "is not working with the U.S. ![]() He went on to say the company is "proud to support" the work of ICE. Microsoft's relationship with the immigration enforcement agency was revealed by executive Tom Keane, through a company blog post that describes ICE's use of the company's high-security cloud storage product Azure Government. ![]() Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The action was in response to Microsoft's $19.4 million contract with U.S. On September 14, 2019, Microsoft's flagship store was shut down by protestors as part of a direct action organized by Close the Camps NYC. ![]() Commission case, and it received an 899 million euro fine. In 2004, the European Union found Microsoft guilty in the Microsoft Corp. The company has been the subject of numerous lawsuits, brought by several governments and by other companies, for unlawful monopolistic practices. Total cost of ownership comparisons between Linux and Microsoft Windows are a continuous point of debate. Microsoft was also accused of locking vendors and consumers in to their products, and of not following or complying with existing standards in its software. In the 2000s, a number of malware mishaps targeted security flaws in Windows and other products. Issues with ease of use, robustness, and security of the company's software are common targets for critics. Windows 8.1 is third with just 5.89 percent.Criticism of Microsoft has followed various aspects of its products and business practices. Windows 10 is currently the second most-used desktop operating system with a share of 29.09 percent, while Windows 7 continues to be the leader with 47.21 percent. Microsoft, however, has decided to close this loophole and now says on the upgrade page that “the accessibility upgrade offer expires on December 31, 2017.” This means the loophole will no longer be available beginning January 1, so if any user with assistive technology (or pretty much anyone else) still wants to move to Windows 10, they better do it sometime in the next 2 months. If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the upgrade offer.” Microsoft itself explained that “we are not restricting the upgrade offer to specific assistive technologies. In other words, there were no checks on the accessibility features running on a system, so the upgrade to Windows 10 was still completely free. While at first glance this seemed to be a welcome offer for those using assistive technology, it was no secret that many Windows 7 and 8.1 users turned to it to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge only because no verifications where being made. One year later, the firm ended this offer, but continued to allow users running accessibility features to upgrade to Windows 10 at no charge. Back in July 2015 when Microsoft rolled out Windows 10, the company offered the new OS free of charge to everyone running Windows 7 or Windows 8 as long as the upgrade was performed in the first 12 months. As we reported to you recently, the free Windows 10 upgrade offer for consumers using assistive technology was still available after the launch of the Fall Creators Update, with no end in sight.īut as it turns out, Microsoft is finally planning to end this offer, basically closing the only loophole that allowed users to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge.įirst, some context. ![]()
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