[OFFICIAL] Windows 10 Insider Program

[Dot Matrix]

I think he means anti-competitive like the difficulties they've had in the past with IE, although in the past they got in trouble for having IE as the default browser without offering a choice, you could say they have a similar problem with media playing applications in the OS (both Video and Music)

How so? Plenty of music players can be found in the Store.

[BajiRav]

Like I said, the OS and other things take top right now, once they hit RTM then the apps can be quickly worked on, now that the new API changes are locked as well.

We have been hearing that since Windows 8 beta. The music is app nothing but a frankenstein monster made up of a music store and player.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

How so? Plenty of music players can be found in the Store.

 

Yes but they're not installed by default, that's, historically, been the issue with Microsoft's anti-trust problems.

[C:\DOS>]

Does anyone know if you can change the icon font like you could in Win7 (Window Color and Appearance dialog => Item drop-down)?

 

In Win7 changing the icon font also changed it in the start-menu and Windows Explorer.  I really depend on this when I setup Windows, because for me 8 or 9pt Segoe UI is too small for me to see comfortably, so I always change the icon font to 9pt Tahoma.  This is such a fundamental feature of Windows I can't believe they would take it out.

[Studio384]

How so? Plenty of music players can be found in the Store.

 

Doesn't matter. Availability of choise didn't stop Google, Opera, Apple and Mozilla from complaining about IE.

[Knife Party]

Like I said, the OS and other things take top right now, once they hit RTM then the apps can be quickly worked on, now that the new API changes are locked as well.

the same old windows phones, windows 8.1 and now windows 10 excuse. "Don't worry change is coming"....."3 years down the line you we are still waiting for competent metro apps. Its time to cut the BS and get realistic. The modern apps have sooo much lacking and guess what? its not coming anytime soon. MS has a bad track record for a reason. Its the same reason consumers don't trust their brand. they fall short on all the most basic promises which fails to deliver basic experiences. Nothing new....

[Dot Matrix]

Yes but they're not installed by default, that's, historically, been the issue with Microsoft's anti-trust problems.

Oh geeze. 1998 called, it wants its logic back.

[George P Global Moderator]

the same old windows phones, windows 8.1 and now windows 10 excuse. "Don't worry change is coming"....."3 years down the line you we are still waiting for competent metro apps. Its time to cut the BS and get realistic. The modern apps have sooo much lacking and guess what? its not coming anytime soon. MS has a bad track record for a reason. Its the same reason consumers don't trust their brand. they fall short on all the most basic promises which fails to deliver basic experiences. Nothing new....

 

You're free to not use them or switch to a different platform instead.  

[Knife Party]

You're free to not use them or switch to a different platform instead.  

you're free to accept reality. Don't come tell me that nonsense. I'll stick to windows if I want. MS has a bad rep for a very good reason. 

[xendrome]

Can we get back on topic with Windows 10 OS discussion, not politics/anti-trust crap please.

[George P Global Moderator]

you're free to accept reality. Don't come tell me that nonsense. I'll stick to windows if I want. MS has a bad rep for a very good reason. 

 

My grasp of reality is just fine, all you have is a different opinion and nothing more.   

[patseguin Global Moderator]

Amen. So, I tweeted Gabe but not sure he will reply. Running clean install of 10 right now. To get my free upgrade, can I reinstall 8.1 right now, upgrade to TP and then just wait for RTM and disable Insider? Or do I actually have to be running 8.1 still to get upgrade?

 

I get that it won't work on clean TP installs as they can't validate your license that way.

[Knife Party]

My grasp of reality is just fine, all you have is a different opinion and nothing more.   

All I have is basic logic and understanding of MS shortcomings windows for years now. This lackluster nonsense of software they release each version is complete tripe. I'm tired of waiting ages for half backed core apps, only to turn to 3rd party apps. When will MS get on Apple's level of producing quality apps that they source themselves? 

[TAZMINATOR]

Amen. So, I tweeted Gabe but not sure he will reply. Running clean install of 10 right now. To get my free upgrade, can I reinstall 8.1 right now, upgrade to TP and then just wait for RTM and disable Insider? Or do I actually have to be running 8.1 still to get upgrade?

 

I get that it won't work on clean TP installs as they can't validate your license that way.

 

If you are on Preview since day one...  then you can upgrade to RTM without rolling back to old version... once upgrade completes, you are able to do the clean install anytime. Your data is stored to your account/device ID.

 

If you are talking about reservation app that notified you about Windows 10, you are able to reserve it and on 29th, you can upgrade to RTM then do the clean install anytime. But this method, we will find out about keys but I feel that we don't need it since installation is taking care of it and send the data to the server to update your activation status based on your same device as long as you keep it. If you get a new device, you might want to buy a copy unless you get a new device before the year ends after the RTM release.

[George P Global Moderator]

All I have is basic logic and understanding of MS shortcomings windows for years now. This lackluster nonsense of software they release each version is complete tripe. I'm tired of waiting ages for half backed core apps, only to turn to 3rd party apps. When will MS get on Apple's level of producing quality apps that they source themselves? 

 

What's a quality app and what works well is up to each user to decide, all you have is opinion on what works good and what doesn't from your point of view.     I still use the Zune client for my local music and mpc for videos because that's what I just like, others have been using WMP for years because they like that best. 

[spaceelf]

What's a quality app and what works well is up to each user to decide, all you have is opinion on what works good and what doesn't from your point of view.     I still use the Zune client for my local music and mpc for videos because that's what I just like, others have been using WMP for years because they like that best. 

 

And I've loved the new built in apps since win8 (well not at launch, but soon after)

[patseguin Global Moderator]

If you are on Preview since day one...  then you can upgrade to RTM without rolling back to old version... once upgrade completes, you are able to do the clean install anytime. Your data is stored to your account/device ID.

 

If you are talking about reservation app that notified you about Windows 10, you are able to reserve it and on 29th, you can upgrade to RTM then do the clean install anytime. But this method, we will find out about keys but I feel that we don't need it since installation is taking care of it and send the data to the server to update your activation status based on your same device as long as you keep it. If you get a new device, you might want to buy a copy unless you get a new device before the year ends after the RTM release.

Forgive me for being dense but I am only getting more confused, haha. I've been an insider since the very first TP. However, with one of the later builds, 10159 maybe, I did a clean install to see if it fixed a particular issue. So, right now I am running 10162 that has been upgraded a couple times from a clean install of 10159 (or whatever build it was). Seeing as how I am on a clean 10 installation, how will MS know that I am upgrading from Windows 8.1? If everyone did it like me, could ANYONE just get it for free by clean installing a TP?

 

To make it a little more confusing, my Windows 8 license is from TechNet before they changed their download policy. So, I have that Windows 8.1 license and although I am sure I am not supposed to, I can install it on more than 1 computer in my home. I plan on changing my OpenElec media center to Windows 10. By the way you explained it, I could just clean installed Windows 10 on both PC's and then just get the upgrade when it's out?

 

Also, off topic. I used that theme hack once just to try it out but decided to revert to my synced theme and deleted the files. Everything is fine, but when I open Mail, I get a blue title bar not white like everything else. Is it supposed to be blue or did the hack mess something up?

[George P Global Moderator]

Some build 10163 screenshots have leaked, but I haven't noticed anything new.

 

http://www.winbeta.org/news/windows-10-build-10163-screenshots-leak-july-29th-release-date-nears

[TAZMINATOR]

Forgive me for being dense but I am only getting more confused, haha. I've been an insider since the very first TP. However, with one of the later builds, 10159 maybe, I did a clean install to see if it fixed a particular issue. So, right now I am running 10162 that has been upgraded a couple times from a clean install of 10159 (or whatever build it was). Seeing as how I am on a clean 10 installation, how will MS know that I am upgrading from Windows 8.1? If everyone did it like me, could ANYONE just get it for free by clean installing a TP?

 

To make it a little more confusing, my Windows 8 license is from TechNet before they changed their download policy. So, I have that Windows 8.1 license and although I am sure I am not supposed to, I can install it on more than 1 computer in my home. I plan on changing my OpenElec media center to Windows 10. By the way you explained it, I could just clean installed Windows 10 on both PC's and then just get the upgrade when it's out?

 

Also, off topic. I used that theme hack once just to try it out but decided to revert to my synced theme and deleted the files. Everything is fine, but when I open Mail, I get a blue title bar not white like everything else. Is it supposed to be blue or did the hack mess something up?

 

If you are on 8.1 right now, you can upgrade to RTM then do the clean install afterwards which your data is being sent to activation/data server for up to date on your account.... you can not do the cliean install from 8.1 for the first time, it may not work that way unless you have a valid key for Windows 10 clean install..  if you upgrade, you will have valid key on MS server as long as you have valid 8.1 key that is stored.. If your 8.1 key is piracy, you may be notified and your installation won't activate unless you have a valid key. No need key for the rest of lifetime on your same device.  MS use your MSA and/or device ID so they make sure it's matched, otherwise you will be notified to get a new key. something like that.

 

Once you upgrade to RTM, feel free to do the clean install anytime... the installation will check to make sure the data is matched between your device and MS server. 

 

We will find out on the 29th and see what happens... if we get the keys via email after 29th, then we can stop worrying about missing keys.  If not, they will tell us what to do in case your PC is screwed up and plan to do start over or reset without the key. We will see.

 

Anyone who are on preview build (old or latest), we can upgrade to RTM for no charge.... then after that, we can do clean install anytime.

[indospot Veteran]

I don't get what people want from their Music app. I barely use mine on the computer, but it seems to have whatever you might want from it.

[Eric Veteran]

I don't get what people want from their Music app. I barely use mine on the computer, but it seems to have whatever you might want from it.

 

It has no ripping or organization ability for a start. You also can't tell it whether you want your music files renamed or moved. There also no longer seems to be any way to turn off the "cloud" music, which is where it throws half of my albums even though I ripped them from my own discs.

[neufuse Veteran]

It has no ripping or organization ability for a start. You also can't tell it whether you want your music files renamed or moved. There also no longer seems to be any way to turn off the "cloud" music, which is where it throws half of my albums even though I ripped them from my own discs.

 

I'm starting to get the feeling that companies that sell music don't want ripping abilities or try to hide them now as good as possible... and since you know the CD died like a million years ago too right?  </s>

[Dot Matrix]

It has no ripping or organization ability for a start. You also can't tell it whether you want your music files renamed or moved. There also no longer seems to be any way to turn off the "cloud" music, which is where it throws half of my albums even though I ripped them from my own discs.

There is also no way to edit metadata or album art should the app pull in the wrong data.

[patseguin Global Moderator]

If you are on 8.1 right now, you can upgrade to RTM then do the clean install afterwards which your data is being sent to activation/data server for up to date on your account.... you can not do the cliean install from 8.1 for the first time, it may not work that way unless you have a valid key for Windows 10 clean install..  if you upgrade, you will have valid key on MS server as long as you have valid 8.1 key that is stored.. If your 8.1 key is piracy, you may be notified and your installation won't activate unless you have a valid key. No need key for the rest of lifetime on your same device.  MS use your MSA and/or device ID so they make sure it's matched, otherwise you will be notified to get a new key. something like that.

 

Once you upgrade to RTM, feel free to do the clean install anytime... the installation will check to make sure the data is matched between your device and MS server. 

 

We will find out on the 29th and see what happens... if we get the keys via email after 29th, then we can stop worrying about missing keys.  If not, they will tell us what to do in case your PC is screwed up and plan to do start over or reset without the key. We will see.

 

Anyone who are on preview build (old or latest), we can upgrade to RTM for no charge.... then after that, we can do clean install anytime.

 

OK so it sounds like I can't be running Windows 10 TP then, I have to be running 8.1.

[TAZMINATOR]

OK so it sounds like I can't be running Windows 10 TP then, I have to be running 8.1.

 

Yes you can.. read my last paragraph. Gabe said you don't have to rollback...  unless you have a device that has 8.1 which you can reserve Windows 10 via reservation app.

 

To be clear:

 

Anyone who have a TP/preview build (no matter what build number you are on), upgrade to RTM without rollback to 8.x or 7.  Clean install anytime after upgrade.

 

Anyone who have Windows 7 or 8.x, you can reserve a copy of Windows 10 to be upgraded on 29th for free... after upgrade, you can do the clean install anytime.

 

Anyone who want to upgrade after July 29, 2016, you will have to buy a copy depends which edition you want.

 

Anyone upgraded before July 29, 2016, you get free updates for life on that device you use.

 

 

Understand now?