Windows

Ed Bott has called B.S. on the Forbes reporter that claimed Microsoft was gonna allow us to fully control Win10’s privacy options.
Geeze. I reckon only time will tell.
Here is the real gem from Microsoft’s statement to Ed:
“Executives believe that existing privacy controls are reasonable for consumers and there’s no need for a drastic change.”

As I sat for 2 and 1/2 hours waiting for the local tire guys to put 2 new fracking tires on my wife’s car, reader Dave sent me the link to:
Ed Bott: When it comes to Windows 10 privacy, don’t trust amateur analysts
The article discusses the article I linked to Sunday. Some random dude took a stab at trying to figure out who/what Win10 was connecting to. Apparently that post has been deleted. I didn’t talk too much about it except to say I had made a similar attempt last September. I was hoping my readers would see that my results were almost totally opposite from his. I don’t know if anyone saw it or not.
Anyway, Ed completely dismantles this guys test and takes folks who were doing “I told you so’s” to task. I think Ed may have been a tad hard on the guy in the original post. He was just making an attempt at some Geekery. He didn’t ask for half the tech world to read it. The reporters sourcing the story deserve the blame for sensationalizing it. Ed does give it to them with both barrels.
Agree with him or not, it is a must read.

***UPDATE, 14:15hrs
The guy that Ed takes to task above has learned from Microsoft that:

Contacting me again a Microsoft spokesperson explained the company now wanted to speak about the issue. In short: Microsoft is taking action. It has decided to release updates “later this year” which will enable users to fully control all background telemetry and data tracking and, if desired, disable it completely. Microsoft also asked me to stress that disabling these background operations is something it would “strongly recommend against”.

My takeaway is that our incessant bitching to and about Microsoft on this issue has produced the second caving in by Microsoft in the last week. One button to shut it all down is what we asked for and it looks like we will get it.
Congrats to us!
and
Congrats to Microsoft!

Holy cow! We bitched and Microsoft has caved. Win10 will now have release notes for updates.
“In response to this feedback, we’re providing more details about the Windows 10 updates we deliver through Windows Update. You’ll see a summary of important product developments included in each update, with links to more details. This page will be regularly refreshed, as new updates are released.”
Mary Jo Foley – Microsoft starts providing release notes for Windows 10 updates
Windows 10 update history

Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 (KB3124262)
“This update includes improvements to enhance the functionality of Windows 10 Version 1511.”
Oh, OK that is real helpful.

This brings the Windows 10 build # up to 10586.71.

There are 3 sides to the Win10 debate. There are those who:
1 – think it’s a problem.
2 – don’t think it’s a problem.
3 – don’t care.
[Read more…] about Win10 Privacy………………..