Microsoft Expands Windows Anti-Piracy Program

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When it launched its "Windows Genuine Advantage" pilot program in September, Microsoft Corp. was hoping 20,000 customers would opt into the voluntary program, via which Microsoft checks whether customers are running counterfeit copies of Windows. But by a little over a month later, 828,000 customers had opted in, Microsoft officials said Wednesday. And they did so with no real incentives, admitted David Lazar, director of Microsoft's Windows client product management group.

What led to the unexpected boon? "People want to know if they are running genuine software," Lazar said. "And people really were interested to find out if there were any benefits for opting in." Until Thursday, there were no tangible benefits to participating in the Microsoft Genuine Advantage program. But now, users who agree to participate in Microsoft's program will be offered up to $390 worth of software for free or reduced prices.

News source: eWeek

What's New in This Release:

· - New TIF save option: Save all pages from original image
· - New batch option: Apply changes to all image pages (if TIF saving)
· - New TIF option: Edit multipage TIF (Menu: View->Multipage images)
· - Option to sort thumbnails using EXIF date (Thumbnails menu)
· - Option to sort thumbnails using image width/height (Thumbnails menu)
· - New image menu: Custom Rotation (Fine rotation)
· - New JPG Transformation dialog option: Auto rotate (according to EXIF info)
· - Option to show full file path in the title bar (Properties->Misc 1)
· - New HTML dialog option: Choose folder with templates (for changed templates)
· - Option to paste Text from Clipboard as image
· - Several PlugIns are changed/updated, please install the newest versions
· - Some minor bugs/features fixed/added (crop, MS PNG bug, print dialog)

(3 replies) #1 MyServerGuy on 28 Oct 2004 - 18:57

OK so what dummy's going to try this with his XP Corp version

#1.1 ecvogel on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:05

I nealy lost it when I went to download PhotoSotry 3 and it wanted me to lift the stuff on my laptop keyboard and lift it up with all the wires conencted to it to get the PID for the COA. I told it to use another method, after saying Toshiba is the brand and not a company I got it. At work I did not need to go through this.

#1.2 alerosenfeld on 28 Oct 2004 - 21:25

I did, and it works

#1.3 Lokheed on 28 Oct 2004 - 22:44

Thats preciesly why the numbers are so high and Microsoft cant see this. I bet the average is drastically skewed towards pirated copies...what a delicious satire. All this proves is that their system DOESNT work and that I affiliate myself with "pirates"...arrr.

#2 gameguy on 28 Oct 2004 - 18:58

Wow, I didn't see this coming

#3 905punk on 28 Oct 2004 - 18:58

so ...what happens if your software isnt 'genuine'

(1 reply) #4 kcbnac on 28 Oct 2004 - 18:59

Hell, if I can get $390 of free software for letting it check...I've got *counts* like machines, all legit. Where's the freaking link?

EDIT:

Nevermind. Here's what's included (c&p from article)

Microsoft is offering English-speaking Genuine Advantage participants a free copy of Photo Story 3 for Windows; five MSN Zone games for half price; a free trial version of its OneNote note-taking product; a free copy of the Microsoft Holiday Fun Pack; a hosted version of SharePoint for half-price; and a subscription to the Microsoft List Builder service for less than $10 a month.

So you get:
Free copy of Photo Story 3
Discounts on MSN Zone Games
Free TRIAL of Onenote (I've already GOT two legit copies)
Free copy of the MS Holiday Fun Pack (Yay! More useless HD wasters! We all love those!)
SharePoint for 1/2 price....ummm....okay. Whatever.
Microsoft List Builder? Never heard of it. Don't think I'd use it, else I'd probably know of it.

#4.1 Foub on 28 Oct 2004 - 23:37

Find the more recent keygen which makes "valid" or '640' serials.

(1 reply) #5 eRad on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:02

does it check just windows or various software on your system?

#5.1 Glatz on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:03

There is an avtiveX program that checks your product ID, so windows only. Mine checks out.

#6 Glatz on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:02

Hmm it looks like the free stuff is on this site
Free Stuff

So far, nothing too interesting.

#7 DOGglee on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:14

already downloaded photo story 3 after validating

#8 Mav Phoenix on 28 Oct 2004 - 19:39

Wish it was a full version of Onenote.

(2 replies) #9 teste on 28 Oct 2004 - 20:14

I really, really, really want Linux to take more of the desktop market. Hopefully there can be a bit more unification among the community to 'standardize' the WM/UI/desktop to ease the transition of users that are tired of paying the Microsoft tax when buying a new PC.

Windows should be optional, not required.

#9.1 todd` on 28 Oct 2004 - 20:30

I really fail to see where Linux comes into play in this discussion.

BTW, Windows is optional, but it's default as well

#9.2 tapo on 29 Oct 2004 - 04:28

QUOTE

I really fail to see where Linux comes into play in this discussion.

Same here

But I agree with teste, I'd like Linux to be the default on desktops one day, getting rid of the "Microsoft tax", and if you wanted to do so, you could buy Windows and run that instead.

(3 replies) #10 /dev/null on 28 Oct 2004 - 22:06

#10.1 kingius on 29 Oct 2004 - 08:10

You idiot.

#10.2 Kracal on 29 Oct 2004 - 11:10

Yes I agree. What a ****ing fool you are

#10.3 nookadum on 29 Oct 2004 - 13:25

Yes, he may be a fool to you tight asses, but this is really funny.

(3 replies) #11 imtoomuch on 28 Oct 2004 - 22:37

This is a good idea. Giving people rewards just for simply proving that your copy of Windows is a cool idea. I don't care what anybody says.

#11.1 Lokheed on 28 Oct 2004 - 22:46

Then you must also understand that pirated copies that use keygens check out just fine aswell...hence why the numbers are so high. People with pirated copies checking out just fine.

#11.2 SquareSoft0 on 29 Oct 2004 - 00:13

Do you mean keygens or... 'keygens'? As far as I can see I've found ONE actual keygen, the rest are a bunch of mediocre programs that spit out prewritten keys. The only REAL keygen for Windows will let you choose the PID and generate actual seeds for the algorithm.

#11.3 todd` on 29 Oct 2004 - 19:08

Do you mean keygens or... 'keygens'?

What's the difference?

As far as I can see I've found ONE actual keygen, the rest are a bunch of mediocre programs that spit out prewritten keys. The only REAL keygen for Windows will let you choose the PID and generate actual seeds for the algorithm.

I think everyone has that keygen

#12 paulhaskew on 28 Oct 2004 - 23:15

clean, due to the MSDN license

#13 greg098 on 28 Oct 2004 - 23:21

i done this to see if my windows version was legal lol...lucky it was lol

(1 reply) #14 ben_b on 29 Oct 2004 - 00:14

Alright where's the link?

#14.1 Jaded on 29 Oct 2004 - 18:04

Read the article, the link is there

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