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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-media-player-81718e0d-cfce-25b1-aee3-94596b658287 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-window

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-media-player-81718e0d-cfce-25b1-aee3-94596b658287 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-medi... “Included in clean installs of Windows 10 as well as upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.” My Windows 10 also plays H.264 from a clean install (defaults to Movies and TV viewer) and the list of installed codecs (supplied from Microsoft) contains mp4, xvid and even divx, so no idea where you get the idea that Windows 10 only sells as a N edition. I bought my licenses in Sweden.

kuschku 6y ago
Your version doesn't include any H.265 or later codecs, and H.264 only the parts of the codec that are available freely, so not a single cent of your purchase goes towards the codec license. If you try to play anything else, you'll have to buy the Microsoft H.265 Codec Pack in the Microsoft Store. Which, depending on device, country, and time, varies between 0,99€ and 4,99$. The point of Windows N was to avoid users (or governments) having to pay for bundled codecs they don't need.
- techpression 6y ago
  That is a complete rewrite of your original comment, Windows N is about a lot more than a few codecs, it excludes Skype, Windows Media Player and other media playback applications. Your claim was that Windows 10 only sells in N editions which is blatantly false.
  - kuschku 6y ago
    Not really. The reason the EU wanted Windows N was to avoid users having to buy a bundle (the EU really dislikes bundle pricing). Skype is gone from all Windows 10 installs, and while WMP was able to access lots of special APIs, Groove (which is the only media player bundled on Windows 10) uses the same APIs as every other program, and relies on the same preinstalled codecs. This provides the same situation as with Windows N: No Bundle pricing, no Microsoft programs having any special access.
    - techpression 6y ago
      Not at all, the N spring from the anti competitive ruling in EU courts (2004 with associated fines) saying that MS couldn’t bundle WMP with a near-monopoly on the market. The condition was that MS was allowed to sell it with WMP as long as they offered a version without it (that’s Windows N). This has been the case since Windows XP N. Windows 10 comes with Skype pre-installed. I’m starting to think you’re merely guessing instead of actually having used Windows 10, because nothing you’ve said so far has checked out with actual installations. You can just go to the Microsoft store and you’ll see “Windows 10” and “Windows 10 N”, which should be sufficient enough to prove that not all Windows 10 are N editions.
      - kuschku 6y ago
        I've got Windows 10 here, german EDU edition, and no Skype or WMP is preinstalled. Groove is preinstalled, but can't play anything at all without installing separate codecs.
        techpression 6y ago
        Ok so that explains a lot, and has nothing to do with Windows 10 as a whole (which has a separate N edition as every Windows since XP).

kuschku 6y ago

Your version doesn't include any H.265 or later codecs, and H.264 only the parts of the codec that are available freely, so not a single cent of your purchase goes towards the codec license. If you try to play anything else, you'll have to buy the Microsoft H.265 Codec Pack in the Microsoft Store. Which, depending on device, country, and time, varies between 0,99€ and 4,99$. The point of Windows N was to avoid users (or governments) having to pay for bundled codecs they don't need.

techpression 6y ago
That is a complete rewrite of your original comment, Windows N is about a lot more than a few codecs, it excludes Skype, Windows Media Player and other media playback applications. Your claim was that Windows 10 only sells in N editions which is blatantly false.
- kuschku 6y ago
  Not really. The reason the EU wanted Windows N was to avoid users having to buy a bundle (the EU really dislikes bundle pricing). Skype is gone from all Windows 10 installs, and while WMP was able to access lots of special APIs, Groove (which is the only media player bundled on Windows 10) uses the same APIs as every other program, and relies on the same preinstalled codecs. This provides the same situation as with Windows N: No Bundle pricing, no Microsoft programs having any special access.
  - techpression 6y ago
    Not at all, the N spring from the anti competitive ruling in EU courts (2004 with associated fines) saying that MS couldn’t bundle WMP with a near-monopoly on the market. The condition was that MS was allowed to sell it with WMP as long as they offered a version without it (that’s Windows N). This has been the case since Windows XP N. Windows 10 comes with Skype pre-installed. I’m starting to think you’re merely guessing instead of actually having used Windows 10, because nothing you’ve said so far has checked out with actual installations. You can just go to the Microsoft store and you’ll see “Windows 10” and “Windows 10 N”, which should be sufficient enough to prove that not all Windows 10 are N editions.
    - kuschku 6y ago
      I've got Windows 10 here, german EDU edition, and no Skype or WMP is preinstalled. Groove is preinstalled, but can't play anything at all without installing separate codecs.
      - techpression 6y ago
        Ok so that explains a lot, and has nothing to do with Windows 10 as a whole (which has a separate N edition as every Windows since XP).