Microsoft Can’t Decide If Windows 10 Has 700 Million Active Devices Yet
We’re coming up on three years since the launch of Windows 10, which was intended as Microsoft’s comeback after the abysmal performance of Windows 8 and 8.1. While Windows 10 does fix a lot of what was wrong with Windows 8, uptake isn’t as robust as the company originally hoped. After months of waffling on install numbers, Microsoft says Windows 10 is still running on less than 700 million devices, according to CEO Satya Nadella.
So, 700 million computers with Windows 10 sounds like a lot. And indeed, that’s objectively a sizeable user base. However, the way Microsoft describes the total number of Windows 10 devices has been suspicious all through 2018. It has backed off the 700 million number several times, which could indicate slowing uptake among consumers and businesses.
Going back to March of this year, former Windows chief Terry Myerson stepped down and published an open letter that noted that Windows 10 was closing in on 700 million devices. Then at Build in May, Microsoft said it had crossed the 700 million device threshold. Champagne and high-fives all around, right? Not so fast. Microsoft corrected itself and said Windows 10 was still under 700 million active installs.
This stagnating install number should not come as a surprise. Microsoft squandered much of its early goodwill with aggressive upgrade pushes, mandatory updates, and the bizarrely hobbled Windows 10 S build. Microsoft has systematically overestimated the number of Windows 10 devices it would have by now. In 2015, Microsoft predicted it would have over one billion devices in two or three years. With just a few days to go until the third anniversary, Microsoft has backed off that promise.
There have been a number of third-party reports on Windows 10 usage, which also point to sluggish uptake. The shift to mobile and increasing popularity of Chromebooks appears to have eaten into Microsoft’s traditionally insurmountable OS lead. 700 million isn’t bad, but it’s not a billion, either.
The future is unclear for Microsoft, but Windows isn’t going away anytime soon.
Continue reading
Smart Windows Use Iron Nanoparticles to Harvest Heat
Many of the previously dumb devices in our homes are getting smarter with the advent of internet-connected lights, thermostats, and more. Surely the windows can't be smart, can they?
Microsoft Announces New Data Privacy Tools for Windows 10
Soon you'll be able to see the diagnostic data Microsoft collects from Windows and what it's doing with it.
Emergency Windows Update Removes Intel’s Buggy Spectre Patch
Microsoft has issued a rare out-of-cycle patch for Windows systems that removes Intel's Spectre patch. That has to be embarrassing for Intel.
Microsoft Reportedly Planning to Kill Windows 10 S in Upcoming Version Split
Microsoft could be looking at a revamping of its Windows versions that would eliminate 10 S as its own OS, relegating it to a feature in other versions.