4 ms·

This is the Microsoft we know. Welcome back!

by habitue 11y ago

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
overgard 11y ago
It's a shame, they were so close to seeming not-evil! It's funny, I think Windows 10 kind of got a free pass on some pretty big bullshit (forced updates, extremely bad privacy policies) because people were like "ah, microsoft is harmless now". Those are things that would have been HUGE ten years ago. Like, windows 10 basically defaults you into keylogging. It's not exactly keylogging, but they basically propose uploading your inputs so it's pretty similar. I'm not a hater, but this "new" and "friendly" Microsoft tends to be newer and friendlier when people hold them accountable; they shouldn't be getting a free pass on some of this nonsense they're trying to pull.
- tracker1 11y ago
  It's not key-logging, there's a couple of text input areas that have added in search functionality... Ubuntu and Apple added these features a while ago, and it's a pretty big feature in Android (at least with google's toolbar, and ok google). That said, I disabled it in both areas as I found it incredibly annoying... As for forced updates and some of the other privacy issues, I do give them a bit of a pass on that because I'd rather not have to deal with 3+ year old browsers ever again... once IE9-11 die, I'm hoping that's it... the same goes for the devs at MS, and elsewhere.
  - overgard 11y ago
    I'm not talking about that. Ahem, from the terms and services: > When you acquire, install and use the Program software and services, Microsoft collects information about your use of the software and services as well as about the devices and networks on which they operate. Examples of data we may collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; location, browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; voice, text and writing input; and application usage. For example, when you: > when you input text, handwrite notes, or ink comments, we may collect samples of your input to improve these input features, (e.g., to help improve the accuracy of autocomplete and spellcheck). Are you ok with your handwritten notes and input text living on Microsoft's servers so they can improve their spellcheck?
    - nitrogen 11y ago
      I'm not a lawyer, but that "e.g." doesn't sound like a constraint either, so anything they can remotely claim will "improve these input features" is probably allowed.
lvs 11y ago
The application was filed in 2006.
- habitue 11y ago
  Sure, but suing Corel is ongoing now. It's an expensive, active process Microsoft is engaging in
- overgard 11y ago
  Sure, but the litigation is recent.
  - tstrimple 11y ago
    Do you believe the litigation to be egregious? The Corel tools go so far as to provide "Microsoft Excel Mode", "Microsoft Word Mode", etc... all which are designed to allow Corel to profit off of a user interface designed by Microsoft. In the case of the slider, it looks exactly the same and is used in the exact same place, in the exact same way, in a competing product.
    - habitue 11y ago
      It doesn't sound like they are trying to profit off of Microsoft's design. They're reacting to the reality that Microsoft has a near monopoly in the word processing market, and many users are much more familiar with that interface. It makes it easier to transition a new user if the interface feels familiar. If they were actually trying to profit from Microsoft's design, they wouldn't be providing a "Microsoft Word Mode" they would just make that their only interface. The idea is that they would be trying to avoid innovating themselves and would just be attempting to use Microsoft's interface design research to make a quick buck. You see how this is not about trying to cut corners in designing an interface, and more about user familiarity? (I'm being charitable here in assuming for the sake of argument that design is a legitimate thing to patent. I don't think that's the case)
      - clort 11y ago
nothis 11y ago
Seriously. I thought the "Microsoft is evil" stance has become outdated and we'd rather look at Facebook and Apple, now. But it's like they've been trying to catch up, recently. The Windows 10 fiasco is textbook Microsoft bullshit, amplified to 11. Now this little pearl is another amazing example.
ForestBiker 11y ago
Did you think for a second about what's the background for the patent and the lawsuite? Sigh, haters gonna hate.

This is the Microsoft we know. Welcome back!

by habitue 11y ago

This is the Microsoft we know. Welcome back!

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

overgard 11y ago

It's a shame, they were so close to seeming not-evil! It's funny, I think Windows 10 kind of got a free pass on some pretty big bullshit (forced updates, extremely bad privacy policies) because people were like "ah, microsoft is harmless now". Those are things that would have been HUGE ten years ago. Like, windows 10 basically defaults you into keylogging. It's not exactly keylogging, but they basically propose uploading your inputs so it's pretty similar. I'm not a hater, but this "new" and "friendly" Microsoft tends to be newer and friendlier when people hold them accountable; they shouldn't be getting a free pass on some of this nonsense they're trying to pull.

tracker1 11y ago
It's not key-logging, there's a couple of text input areas that have added in search functionality... Ubuntu and Apple added these features a while ago, and it's a pretty big feature in Android (at least with google's toolbar, and ok google). That said, I disabled it in both areas as I found it incredibly annoying... As for forced updates and some of the other privacy issues, I do give them a bit of a pass on that because I'd rather not have to deal with 3+ year old browsers ever again... once IE9-11 die, I'm hoping that's it... the same goes for the devs at MS, and elsewhere.
- overgard 11y ago
  I'm not talking about that. Ahem, from the terms and services: > When you acquire, install and use the Program software and services, Microsoft collects information about your use of the software and services as well as about the devices and networks on which they operate. Examples of data we may collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; location, browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; voice, text and writing input; and application usage. For example, when you: > when you input text, handwrite notes, or ink comments, we may collect samples of your input to improve these input features, (e.g., to help improve the accuracy of autocomplete and spellcheck). Are you ok with your handwritten notes and input text living on Microsoft's servers so they can improve their spellcheck?
  - nitrogen 11y ago
    I'm not a lawyer, but that "e.g." doesn't sound like a constraint either, so anything they can remotely claim will "improve these input features" is probably allowed.

lvs 11y ago

The application was filed in 2006.

habitue 11y ago
Sure, but suing Corel is ongoing now. It's an expensive, active process Microsoft is engaging in
overgard 11y ago
Sure, but the litigation is recent.
- tstrimple 11y ago
  Do you believe the litigation to be egregious? The Corel tools go so far as to provide "Microsoft Excel Mode", "Microsoft Word Mode", etc... all which are designed to allow Corel to profit off of a user interface designed by Microsoft. In the case of the slider, it looks exactly the same and is used in the exact same place, in the exact same way, in a competing product.
  - habitue 11y ago
    It doesn't sound like they are trying to profit off of Microsoft's design. They're reacting to the reality that Microsoft has a near monopoly in the word processing market, and many users are much more familiar with that interface. It makes it easier to transition a new user if the interface feels familiar. If they were actually trying to profit from Microsoft's design, they wouldn't be providing a "Microsoft Word Mode" they would just make that their only interface. The idea is that they would be trying to avoid innovating themselves and would just be attempting to use Microsoft's interface design research to make a quick buck. You see how this is not about trying to cut corners in designing an interface, and more about user familiarity? (I'm being charitable here in assuming for the sake of argument that design is a legitimate thing to patent. I don't think that's the case)
    - clort 11y ago

nothis 11y ago

Seriously. I thought the "Microsoft is evil" stance has become outdated and we'd rather look at Facebook and Apple, now. But it's like they've been trying to catch up, recently. The Windows 10 fiasco is textbook Microsoft bullshit, amplified to 11. Now this little pearl is another amazing example.

ForestBiker 11y ago

Did you think for a second about what's the background for the patent and the lawsuite? Sigh, haters gonna hate.