Microsoft just announced that all users running on current Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1, and Windows 7 PCs and devices will be upgraded to the Windows 10 operating system, but there’s a catch.
In a press conference, Microsoft says that the new OS will be available as an upgrade to qualified Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 hardware for free only during the first year after the OS is released to the public. A footnote in the Windows website suggests that the Redmond Giant is still figuring out pricing for the new platform once the first year free period expires. Several versions are excluded in the upgrade, such as the ill-fated Windows RT.
*It is our intent that most of these devices will qualify, but some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. ISP fees may apply. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise outside of this offer. We will be sharing more information and additional offer terms in coming months.
Windows 10 now features a more streamlined start menu and taskbar, UI overhauls to the settings and Control Panel, ability to expand the start menu to full screen, more security and privacy options, and deep Cortana integration on the PC. Project Spartan, the new successor to Internet Explorer, is also unveiled at the event.
In the version tailored for smartphones and tablets, you are now able to change the backgrounds, live tiles are now shown with more real-time information, and unification with the desktop OS is achieved in the form of universal apps such as Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar, and the integrated app store, bringing in a more seamless experience.
For its next-generation gaming console, Microsoft aims to make gaming on the XBOX One a more social and interactive experience. A new keyboard shortcut, Windows+G, will give users the function to record their games directly to share to their friends and followers in XBOX Live. Gamers can now enable XBOX game streaming to Windows 10 devices later this year.
The Redmond Giant also demonstrated its new Windows Holographic software, enabled via default on Windows 10, as well as a new hardware called Microsoft HoloLens. This enables the consumers to create and view objects and animations in 3D space.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes that Windows 10 can bring in their vision of consumers choosing Windows as an innovative experience and loving it, rather than needing it, and Windows 10 will be a key component in realizing that vision as it is the core to all software it will build. “Windows 10 is built for a world where there are going to be more devices on the planet than people,” he said.
The next Technical Preview for Windows 10 on the PC will be available for free to Windows Insiders in the next week and for the first time on phones later in February. Insider reports expect the new OS to be ready and arrive to consumers by late summer or early fall this year, along with the new Microsoft Lumia flagship devices.
Photos: Windows website, CNET
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guest says:
windows 10 is a flop it does play my dvs or music cds and it is crap and windows 10 menu is not windows 7 menu it is crap install a pc game and it say not in xbox format and it will not print from my new printer at all so it is i am sorry to say a crap do not put on your pc or download it it is crap
igniculus says:
and didn’t you know? Were you not informed? Haven’t you read the articles? That what you are using is a ‘Technical preview?’ LOL
igniculus says:
i’ll have to see it myself, come this september/october for the final build of windows 10…i will find out. For now chillax muna ako with windows 8.1 :)
Thristan says:
It is free for those who upgrade for the first year upon release…like a promo/early adopter thing. No subscription. Nothing happens after the 1st year. As long as you upgrade within a year of release.
http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/
“This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no cost. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet. “
reireirei says:
why am I not excited? I was excited when windows 7 was announced because that flop of an OS called Vista will finally be replaced… but now I was expecting something similar… but in vain.
Lucio says:
Who cares?!
I can get this in Greenhills for only 200.
TagalogNaItu says:
Para klaro sa lahat, tagalog na po ito. Hindi mag-eexpire yung “Windows 10” pag nag-upgrade ka sa loob ng isang taon pagkalabas/pagka-launch nung “Windows 10”. Magkakaron lang ito ng bayad kapag lumagpas na ng isang taon pagkalabas/pagka-launch nung “Windows10”
Catch says:
Catch! =))
readhere says:
see nyo nalang dito for clearer explanation…hopefully…
http://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-windows-10-will-not-be-sold-as-a-subscription/
fce says:
“i guess not a lot of readers here are dimwitted like the writer. agree on the early adopter policy by microsoft. this pushes the OS install base rise quickly than when they charge you. heading misleading because there is no catch.”
@ Ragu, @ Glass…. I think it is a click bait headline to grab the reader’s attention. The upgrade to Windows 10 is free and permanent, and no strings attached as long as it is done within a year of its release. There’s no catch in this.
The late comers who waited for over a year to upgrade will be the one paying.
Pogi says:
Tama naman yung title ng article.. Pero dito may mali —> Microsoft just announced that all users running on current Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1, and Windows 7 PCs and devices will be upgraded to the Windows 10 operating system, but there’s a catch.
Dapat “….and devices CAN be upgraded to windows 10 OS for free, but there’s a catch.”. Option naman kase ng user kung mag uupgrade sya so hindi dapat gamitin yung “will be”. Di rin ako magaling mag-english pero dapat double check din pag may time para hindi nalilito mga readers. Peace!
christian says:
It seems there’s still confusion. It is very clear from this post that for the first year it’s available, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free if you have Windows 7 or 8. You will not pay for it. After that year is up, nothing will happen to your Windows 10 license. If you do not upgrade within that year, however, you will have to pay for an upgrade. The offer expires after a year, not the upgrade.
kusina101 says:
pano kung nasira hdd mo? reinstall ulit ng win7/8 then upgrade ulit sa win 10?? what if nasira after 1 year??
WHEN says:
Ive been reading all this confusion and stuff at a ton of sites including microsoft’s but i have never read anything about the release date.
SO
WHEN IS THE RELEASE OF WINDOWS 10?
boo says:
is it “free for a year” or “free within the first year” or “free trial in one year”.. baka yung catch eh iintidihin muna kung ano ibig sabihin ng free bago maka-libre. haha
Nick says:
I watched the keynote. Microsoft never mentioned that they’ll be going to a subscription-based OS. So, what MS apparently means is that it’ll be free within a year of the release. After that time period, one has to pay to upgrade or acquire the OS. No mention of trials either.
simmer down says:
Update: It seems there’s still confusion. It is very clear that for the first year it’s available, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free if you have Windows 7 or 8. You will not pay for it. After that year is up, nothing will happen to your Windows 10 license. If you do not upgrade within that year, however, you will have to pay for an upgrade. The offer expires after a year, not the upgrade.
info from: http://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-windows-10-will-not-be-sold-as-a-subscription/
eric jay says:
Yan din pagkaintindi ko eh. After a year and you have not upgraded your W7 or W8 you will pay to get W10, that’s the catch when you haven’t availed the free upgrade in the first year of W10 release. Bat pa kasi ginagawang komplikado.
As Ragus says
“Reader, don’t just read. Understand what you are reading.”
Also Read Between the Lines.
oona says:
ang dami dito namromroblema kung free ba yung upgrade samantalang ndi muna nila problemahin kung original ba yung gamit nilang Windows 7/8.1. LOL!!
drasil says:
Lol it doesn’t make any sense that the free upgrade will only last for a year. But still if that is the case then better not to upgrade at all and have your full windows 7/8 forever rather than a 1 yr trial Win10
ragu says:
it was not mentioned the 1 year is trial. duh! basa basa at isip isip naman…
Jograt says:
No
wired_boy says:
just no.
Cool says:
Nice nice, super nice!!!!!
a says:
daming magaling dito sa comment section. gumawa na lang kaya kayo ng sarili nyong site. mga simpleng bagay pinapalaki.
wired_boy says:
mganagmamagaling.com lol
ralph says:
so ibig sabihin within one year, kapag nag upgrade ka, free forever? tapos pag di ka nagupgrade within the time ng release up to a year, magbabayad ka na, kasi tapos na promo?
eh paano kaya kung na corrupt system mo tapos free mo nakuha yung OS and need mo reinstall? free pa din kaya reinstallation? dami mga katanungan pati MS di pa sure sa mga sagot :)
Wala says:
Meron kang makukuhang product key.
Ew says:
I think merong customer service ang microsoft… na try mo dun mag tanong?
john says:
Parang wala ngang catch eh. Kasi free to upgrade talaga siya once it is released to the public eh. Those who plan to upgrade after the 1st year of releasing the OS will have to pay though.
ragu says:
i guess not a lot of readers here are dimwitted like the writer. agree on the early adopter policy by microsoft. this pushes the OS install base rise quickly than when they charge you. heading misleading because there is no catch. catch will be if you do not upgrade within the 1 year allowance. reader, don’t just read. understand what you are reading.
oona says:
@igniculus – they need to think about the pricing scheme for those who will upgrade after the first year and NOT what they need to do to those who already upgraded.
igniculus says:
actually you have a point, but why do they still have to think about the terms and conditions in the coming months, well maybe that is after the 1 year free upgrade. Engadget.com also used these phrase, and quite ambiguous also, anyway we’ll see in the coming months :)
wow says:
edi wow!
oona says:
Sa mga confused, mas detailed sa windowscentral ang info. Microsoft wanted to give the upgrade for free like how Apple has been doing it with OSX since Maverick. So may bayad lang if you upgrade after the first year.
Francis Alincastre says:
No catch at all. Free for early adopters. Yung mga 1 year after ng release nagdecide magupgrade, sila na yung mga magbabayad.
Edgar Lucero says:
Free sa early adopters para marami agad mag_upgrade.. Syimpre lifetime ng machine na yon.
geez says:
The only confusing thing here is what will happen after the 1 year passes after the launch.
“It’s still unclear what will happen after that one year passes, as Microsoft itself doesn’t yet know.”
Apart from that. NIL.
After the launch, there’s a 1 year period where you can upgrade for free, if you’re a 7,8,8.1 user. But the upgrade is only free for that 1 year period, as Microsoft ITSELF doesn’t yet know what decision it will take.
Of course if you upgrade after 13 months then it is no longer covered by the free upgrade.
GEEZ.
oremor_a1 says:
Sort of confusing but if you check microsoft’s site it says the uograde will be free if you do the upgrade within one year. If say you do it in 13 months, you need to purchase it. I think the reason for this i to improve adaption of users immediately.
then what? says:
what happens after the 1 year “trial” period expires?
can you still use and revert back to your old OS? or
Wala says:
I think, it is NOT trial for 1 year.
Parang windows 8 dati. You get the upgrade for a discounted price within 1 year, then after that, if you didn’t upgrade, you will have to pay the full price.
Sa windows 10 naman, free upgrade within 1 year. Then after that, kung hindi ka pa nakapag-upgrade, magbabayad ka na kung mag-uupgrade ka.
yowza says:
I’m pretty sure the free upgrade will expire after the 1 year period.
What i don’t know is if Microsoft will “force” you to buy the “real” upgrade by “invalidating” your previous OS, which i hope they won;t do since that will infuriate their customers and they will face a backlash.
I’m predicting that you can revert back to your old OS after the 1 year “trial” period expires.
C says:
Or do they mean you’re getting a free Windows 10 (not trial, not temporary) if you upgrade within 1 year after the commercial launch of Windows 10 ?
C says:
Lupet ng Microsoft HoloLens
glass says:
no catch at all. noob writer!
paqpaqpaq says:
tanga ka kasi kung tingin mo walang catch. you need to have the correct windows 7 or 8 OS para makakuha ka ng libreng windows 10 upgrade.
nocatchatall says:
Walang catch here. It is free to upgrade within a year of Windows 10 launch. The license will not expire after a year. jusmiyo.
honeybunch says:
“During today’s unveiling of Windows 10 for consumers, Terry Myerson executive vice president of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group, revealed that the company will allow users of its most recent operating system, Windows 8.1, to upgrade free to its upcoming operating system in perpetuity. The 600-million-odd users of Windows 7 will have a year to take advantage of the full upgrade.” https://www.yahoo.com/tech/windows-10-will-be-a-free-upgrade-for-people-1087481*****.html
so yung “catch” ay sa win7 lang daw. yung win8.1 walang catch. yan dapat linawin sa article na ito.
Tech Junkeez says:
simple naman intindihin mga tol. ewan ko ba if sobra kayong matalino o sobrang bobo. libre sa isang taon pagkatapos mag upgrade. yung “catch”, sisingilin na kayo ni kuya bill pagkatapos nun. ibig sabihin, mageexpire na yung FREE 1 year. o tagalog yan ha. kaso may konting inglis. naks.
no says:
there’s NO WAY it can be misinterpreted.
“free TO ALL… but there’s a catch…”
you interpret it is as
1. free but some features are disabled or crippled.
2. free but for a limited time, then you pay.
etc.
ragu says:
the catch mentioned in the heading is too vague. it can be interpreted as “if you upgrade within the first year, you get it for free”. in this case, there’s no catch. saying there is a catch but not really explaining makes it confusing. i have to agree, this is poorly written.
glass hole says:
noob reader!
rape says:
@rockafella palibhasa sa piso net nagbabasa ng yugatech eh. tsk.
Rockafella says:
Really? Did you read the article at all? It’s free…for a year. You dimwit.
fritz says:
“free for the first year”. you will understand the title if you actually read the article. noob commenter