Microsoft’s Paywall in Photos Remix May Be The Start of Something More

Next week, Microsoft will be releasing the Fall Creators update for Windows 10 and with it will come new features in the photos app. These features allow you to easily create videos and add 3D effects but to access the entire app, be prepared to pay.

If you are in any of the Insider rings, you are likely already running the release bits that will ship out next week. When you open the photos app, running the latest builds and are not logged into an account that is linked to an Office 365 subscription, you will see the image above as uncovered by Rafael.

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While you can create a video with 3D effects without having an Office 365 account, you will be blocked from using some of the effects available to those who are paying subscribers. Think of it this way, non-paying users will have access to a baseline feature set while Office users will get the full suite of effects and music.

This may not sound like a big deal to many users but there is more to the story here. For one thing, Microsoft is adding more ‘value’ to having an Office 365 subscription but there is also a darker side to this story too.

While there isn’t any indication yet, we have seen Microsoft try to squeeze more revenue out of its existing services with premium add-ons. For example, there is Outlook Premium, ads in the Start menu and so on and this is the latest example of the company trying to bring more premium services inside the world of Windows.

For now, this doesn’t seem like too big of a deal but if the company starts putting these feature paywalls into other Windows 10 apps like Mail and Calendar, it may become a requirement to have an Office 365 subscription to use Windows 10 to its fullest capabilities. And if that becomes true and I honestly could see that happening one day, it will represent to final shift for how the company will monetize Windows 10.

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Conversation 89 comments

  • RamblingGeek

    12 October, 2017 - 8:48 am

    <p>If the keep updating it and want me to pay. I'm good with that. There has been so many areas of windows lacking for years that are finally getting address, for me I'm enjoying BASH being brought in and the changes to Console that are coming, The are also brining more file formats.</p><p><br></p><p>For me, this makes me happy. We can't expect Windows to be a loosing money for ever. I want Windows to stay around for doing stuff and if that means paying a little (not too much mind you) then I'm good with that.</p>

  • Simard57

    12 October, 2017 - 8:49 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">non-paying users will have access to a baseline feature set while Office users will get the full suite of effects and music" sounds like what Amazon does to increase value of their Prime membership</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"adds in the Start menu" — think you mean ads, not adds. I did a double take.</span></p><p><br></p>

  • Rob_Wade

    12 October, 2017 - 9:18 am

    <p>So, I tried out the new features (we are Office 365 subscribers). What JOKE of an app! I think the video/3D features of this app might be good for, say, a 5 yr old. This is a TOY, folks. Nothing but a TOY. In fact, this is the kind of feature set I'd expect to see on a PHONE, not an actually working computer. The "3D effects" are nothing more that animated GIFs and emoji on steroids. And I DESPISE emoji. If someone showed me a video made by this app I'd laugh in their face. There is virtually NO real editing that you can do in this app. At least in Nero Video–which is by NO means a professional level program–I have a LOT more editing capability. I don't understand why anyone above a grade school kid would use this.</p>

    • dontbe evil

      12 October, 2017 - 10:41 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206234"><em>In reply to Rob_Wade:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>you missed the point of the app, it's not a video editor</p>

      • maethorechannen

        Premium Member
        12 October, 2017 - 12:42 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206281"><em>In reply to dontbe_evil:</em></a></blockquote><p><em>you missed the point of the app, it's not a video editor</em></p><p><br></p><p>Which is why I don't get why this is being bolted into the photos app.</p>

        • dontbe evil

          14 October, 2017 - 4:42 am

          <blockquote><a href="#206412"><em>In reply to maethorechannen:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Because it's something similar to other photos app do 🙂 if you want something fast and dirty it's fine… Otherwise you should use some other app closer to a video editor</p>

  • GeekWithKids

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 9:23 am

    <p>As long as they don't take away features from windows. If they are adding new features more frequently even if they are behind the paywall then I see this as a win. </p>

  • gregsedwards

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 9:44 am

    <p>I dunno. Pay for stuff you find valuable seems like a pretty straightforward business model to me.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 10:59 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206245"><em>In reply to gregsedwards:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yep, you get full functionality and some basic "clip-art" in the form of music, fonts/font effects and 3D stuff, then if you want more, you have to pay for it,</p><p>It sounds like a big story over an age-old practice. It sounds more like the Plus Pack for Windows 95 than anything else.</p>

  • wunderbar

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 9:46 am

    <p>I really don't like that they are putting parts of an app that are built into Windows behind a paywall. If Story Remix was a standalone app and not part of the photos app, I'd be ok with this.</p><p><br></p><p>I am not ok with built in features being behind a paywall.</p>

    • Sprtfan

      12 October, 2017 - 10:39 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206247"><em>In reply to wunderbar:</em></a></blockquote><p>I took this as more of the same function that you always had with the photo app is still there plus more. If you want even more new stuff, you have to have Office 365. Nothing that was once free was moved behind a paywall from what I can tell.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 10:58 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206247"><em>In reply to wunderbar:</em></a></blockquote><p>From what I read, they aren't putting anything from the app behind a paywall, they are putting additional content behind the paywall.</p>

  • JerryH

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 9:50 am

    <p>Some of this may be good. An example – when Vista came out you could only get BitLocker in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions. There was no way to pay a few bucks to unlock the feature on pro. I don't know how many times I complained to various MS program managers and GPMs about this type of thing. How most users had no way to access a valuable security feature unless they paid a ton to get a whole new Windows version (Anytime Upgrade was very expensive). This seems like they are slowly getting the message that some features should be Al a Carte.</p>

  • ABT

    12 October, 2017 - 9:57 am

    <p>A paywall to use the Mail and Calendar apps built into windows 10 will do nothing but reduce the user base (of those apps) to zero.</p>

    • Ricky Myers

      12 October, 2017 - 11:12 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206251"><em>In reply to ABT:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em>I agree, but also depends on how this paywall plays out. If the app is still free and the paywall is there more so to offer premium content/features above the free functionality and it isn't intrusive, than I wouldn't have a problem with that. If it is a paywall to add functionality that can be found in other free apps, than a migration away from Mail and Calendar to the free apps would happen. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Polycrastinator

    12 October, 2017 - 9:59 am

    <p>I don't mind freemium, but I don't think freemium should be part of anything which ships with the OS. If Microsoft wants to do this, the software should be in the store, not preinstalled.</p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 11:42 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206252"><em>In reply to Polycrastinator:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't mind it being preinstalled. I mind it be uninstallable or reinstalling itself after an update.</p>

  • UK User

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 9:59 am

    <p>Ok, I'm up to my neck in the Microsoft eco system, 2 desktops, laptop, netbook, phone (yes a 650) and another desktop that needs looking at, oh and an Office 365 College/University subscription. During various upgrades something has broken and no matter how much feedback I give my particular problems get zero attention. All I get is a stupid 'We've got it' or something equally stupid. The so called help pages on Microsofts forum are as clear as Nadella's speeches. I bought software, in a box, which I still have but I now find is not being supported anymore, I have 'the cloud' but I find that even though I was under the impression that stuff in the cloud would be accessible on any of my hardware I find that it is not the case.</p><p><br></p><p>Take photos with the phone (and they are a decent quality) but they don't appear on One Drive, on the desktop Edge just stopped working all I get is a blank page, my previous Windows phone (535) the photo app refused to start. Now I do like One Note, but like with a lot of stuff these days I am confused by the many various options, I have only touched the surface of things that have happend, but I also have a Galaxy Tab, it works. So what do I do, my phone will only go for so long, people deride Android and all the Google stuff associated with Android. There are Google alternatives so its stick with Microsoft, whatever, or Google, Apple is not an option for me, any ideas, and no not Linux I'm not savvy enough. End of rant. </p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 12:36 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206253"><em>In reply to UK User:</em></a></blockquote><p><em>not Linux I'm not savvy enough</em></p><p><br></p><p>Most desktop linuxes aren't that hard to install or use. Especially the Ubuntu/Mate family of distros.</p>

      • Waethorn

        12 October, 2017 - 5:57 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206411"><em>In reply to maethorechannen:</em></a></blockquote><p>MATE is ugly. It also doesn't do HiDPI very well. GNOME is better because you can heavily customize it, which is why Canonical moved Ubuntu back to it. It's also very stable now. Budgie is nice, but not in Ubuntu Budgie. Solus is also nice, but practically-speaking, it can be a drag what with not having automatic security updates, and not permitting outside applications from being updated automatically via the software center. Ubuntu is just the safe bet, and 17.10 is REALLY good.</p>

        • hrlngrv

          Premium Member
          12 October, 2017 - 7:53 pm

          <p><a href="#206692"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></p><p>MATE is fine. Subjective. I admit that MATE's draws for me are panel drawers and the clock with the sunshine world map when opened. I can understand people preferring Cinnamon or KDE for arguably more elegant toolbar UIs. That said, the Linux Mint advanced menu is quite possibly the most RAM-wasteful POS in the entire Linux software universe.</p><p>FWLIW, KDE handles scaling better than Gnome. In theory, more recent software using Qt can scale reasonably whatever desktop environment one uses. Even Gtk 3 software has some scaling support through environment variables.</p>

  • Angusmatheson

    12 October, 2017 - 10:32 am

    <p>I am not a Windows 365 subscriber, so maybe not the user Microsoft is trying to please. When I buy a computer I have already paid for Windows. Sure I didn’t hand money to Microsoft, but the OEM did and passed the cost on to me. In the start menu there are ads every time I open it. When I use another browser there are ads does edge. Now I won’t be able to fully use the photos app until inlay more? The freemium model seems to be built on trying it for free then paying more to get rid of annoying features or unlocking more features. But something I have paid a lot of money for should work without me having to pay to get rid of ads or unlike other features. Remix should be a freemium Store app, that you can get for free if you have office 365. Ads should be in the store, not in the start menu. It seems to me right now there is more competition than even, Windows needs to give the best user experience to keep people from leaving to iOS, Android, chrome OS, and even Linux (check out WOW computer). It seems to be doing the opposite making the user experience worse, which I fear will speed the decline of the windows PC.</p>

    • dontbe evil

      12 October, 2017 - 10:40 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206264"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>you'll be able to fully use the photos app as you did till now + some features, some extra features (not basic/essentials ones) will be only for office 365 subscriber … yes you paid for windows 10, but you paid also for an OS that we'll last much longer than previous version without need to pay extra money for upgrade to next version</p>

      • Win74ever

        12 October, 2017 - 3:10 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206280"><em>In reply to dontbe_evil:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Windows 10 end of life will be in 2025. Just like any other Windows. 10 years of support.</p>

        • dontbe evil

          14 October, 2017 - 4:42 am

          <blockquote><a href="#206603"><em>In reply to Win74ever:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Source?</p>

          • Win74ever

            14 October, 2017 - 10:17 am

            <blockquote><a href="#207219"><em>In reply to dontbe_evil:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I will gladly provide you that. There you go:</p><p><br></p><p>Client operating systems Latest update or service pack End of mainstream support End of extended support</p><p>Windows 10 Version 1703 October 13, 2020 October 14, 2025</p><p><br></p><p>From Microsoft official website. For some reason I can't post the link. You can type on Google "Windows end of life" and you'll get this exact information from the first result.</p>

            • dontbe evil

              15 October, 2017 - 6:29 am

              <blockquote><a href="#207253"><em>In reply to Win74ever:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>yeah that's for 1703, in 2 days they'll release 1709 that's free and everybody with windows 10 can install it, and the support will be extended… and so on for next versions</p>

              • Win74ever

                15 October, 2017 - 3:14 pm

                <blockquote><a href="#207419"><em>In reply to dontbe_evil:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>It won't. The 2025 date is for all Windows 10 versions. The 1709 build counts as a "service pack". Just like Windows 8.1.</p>

                • dontbe evil

                  16 October, 2017 - 5:42 am

                  <blockquote><a href="#207524"><em>In reply to Win74ever:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>so why they moved the date every time they release a new version (1511, 1703…) till now?</p>

    • Win74ever

      12 October, 2017 - 3:17 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206264"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I agree. They should be making sure you have the best, classic experience with Windows. No shitty mobile apps on your desktop. No telemetry. But no, they're still annoying the hell out of the people using Windows 10. Soon we'll have to choose over an iPad, Chromebook, Mac or Linux PC. Windows will be dead. Only used in virtual machines because all useful Windows OSes will be unpatched.</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 10:32 am

    <p>I have no issue with additional features being offered behind a paywall, but I have two criticisms with this specific implementation as I'm reading it here. (Note that I have not used the app, nor do I know anything beyond what Paul has shared here).</p><p>First, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I think Microsoft is going to prematurely stunt the adoption and usage of this app by putting text and music features behind a paywall. These are basic features that should be available to any user. And to the extent that Microsoft is serious about 3D, they are hurting themselves by not opening up this feature to as many users as possible in order to drive awareness and adoption. I imagine there will be very few points of differentiation for this app, and 3D effects is one of them. It seems short-sighted to try to monetize that before anyone really knows what it is– before Microsoft really knows what it is; the goal at this point should be driving trial and adoption. </span></p><p>Second, I think Microsoft has the value equation backwards here. They're using Photos (which has a potentially much larger, but less engaged user base) to sell Office (which has a relatively smaller but more engaged user base), when really the organic demand for photo/video productivity should come from the Office users. The result, as <em>Simard57</em> noted, is reminiscent of Amazon's approach with Prime– just pile on some additional benefits in an effort to make the whole subscription more appealing. It's unfortunate because I think there is a productivity vein that Microsoft could tap into, but they're trying to do so prematurely. Right now they should focus on getting the basics right; getting people to use and enjoy they app; tuning the UI; etc. Then spend the next year identifying specific "productivity" features or use cases and building more organic linkages with the Office suite. With those features and workflows identified and in place, they would then be in a better position to make a compelling appeal to the broader base of Photos users… "Pay for Office 365 and you'll be able to do/create these cool things". As it is, the connection between Photos and Office seems dubious, and feels… inelegant.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 10:56 am

      <blockquote><a href="#206265"><em>In reply to Chris_Kez:</em></a></blockquote><p>I can understand it being behind a paywall. Music and fonts, for example are generally very expensive, either they need to be generated in-house, which takes a lot of time and money, or they need to be bought in, which costs money. </p><p>Even PRS / GEMA free music usually has a one-time price, which can be over a hundred Euros per title, depending on how it will be distributed. Restricting that to accounts that are paying a subscription makes some sense, the price can be amortized there. If it was all in the standard Windows, you would see them having to bump the licensing costs to cater for the extra licensing fees for the music etc.</p>

      • Chris_Kez

        Premium Member
        12 October, 2017 - 11:49 am

        <blockquote><a href="#206288"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>Fonts and music may incur additional costs, but I would argue that these are basic features that average consumers expect. At least offer a handful of fonts and music clips for free, then offer upgrade packs for additional fonts or music. How about letting people use their own music? I understand they're looking to upsell people to an Office 365 subscription rather than just having them pay $1 or $5 or whatever to simply enhance Photos, but I really think there's a disconnect here at the moment and that Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot. </p>

        • Finley

          Premium Member
          12 October, 2017 - 1:40 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#206346"><em>In reply to Chris_Kez:</em></a></blockquote><p>I was thinking a similar thing, that this may have been viewed differently if MSFT gave the user an option to purchase those additional features for x amount of dollars then advertise that these features come with Office 365.</p>

        • wright_is

          Premium Member
          12 October, 2017 - 2:16 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#206346"><em>In reply to Chris_Kez:</em></a></blockquote><p>From what I read, Sam says that it comes with those basics. Have you used it and are saying that that is not the case?</p><p>I also didn't read anything that said using your own music isn't possible.</p>

  • offTheRecord

    12 October, 2017 - 10:36 am

    <p>There are all sorts of issues with this approach, but as GeekWithKids (in the Premium stream) alludes to, one slippery slope here is that they start taking features that used to be "free" and put them behind a paywall. That's what mobile app developers often do and is the reason I don't let any of my mobile apps update automatically. Nothing frosts me like updating an app and finding out (after the fact) that features I've used forever are now "premium" features. I suspect Evernote users can relate.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 10:49 am

    <p>It is providing the application and a standard set of templates for free. It sounds like there are no restrictions on functionality, just copyright free music and additional effects, which are freed up if you subscribe to Office 365.</p><p>Adobe have done this for years, for example, with add-on packs with extra effects, fonts etc.</p><p>ISTR that Office also had something like this, in the dim and distant past, with some standard clip-art being available and then you could buy additional packs.</p><p>Plus Pack for Windows 95 anyone? It was an outrage, you got Windows 95, some screen savers and standard themes, but you had to pay extra for additional sounds, effects, screen savers, games and images… :-S</p>

  • Waethorn

    12 October, 2017 - 10:52 am

    <p>Um….</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft has a monopoly on office productivity software. </p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft is leveraging that monopoly to take over markets that they don't have a presence in (video editing tools) by subsidizing free software with unrelated paid products, which hurts their competitors looking to sell products with a direct sales business model.</p><p><br></p><p>Antitrust?</p>

    • TechnologyTemperance

      12 October, 2017 - 1:06 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206286"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></blockquote><p>Anti-competitive, sure (but isn't that what business is all about?). But there needs to be damages before any real litigation will happen. I don't see the Win 10 + People who use built in apps population to be large enough to have any real effect on someones bottom line. Of course, we shall see.</p>

      • Waethorn

        12 October, 2017 - 5:49 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206416"><em>In reply to TechnologyTemperance:</em></a></blockquote><p>Naaaahhh….that never happened before…..</p><p><br></p><p>Who's that Netscape company again?</p>

    • rickcosby

      12 October, 2017 - 4:39 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206286"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></blockquote><p>How can you argue that they have a monopoly in Productivity software when 3 people above pointed out that they can move to the free Google Docs. Office is the best productivity suite but it certainly isn't the only one …</p>

      • Waethorn

        12 October, 2017 - 5:51 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206647"><em>In reply to rickcosby:</em></a></blockquote><p>3 people isn't the majority. The vast majority use Microsoft Office. Microsoft has a monopoly on office productivity suite software. </p><p><br></p><p>It doesn't matter what choices are available. Netscape was available too, but when Microsoft abused their power in operating system platform software to gain a hold in the web browser market, it hurt Netscape to the point that the government had to step in.</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 7:29 pm

      <p><a href="#206286"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></p><p>Problem is a case could be made that MSFT doesn't have a lock on productivity software. Word may be the be all-end all in lawyers' offices and some enterprise departments, but Word has never been big in technical writing, where TeX maintains an edge. Then there's markdown and all sorts of plain text. There's also a few very odd people still using ?roff and dot commands.</p><p>There's also LibreOffice, which isn't huge, but it seems adequately established. In addition, Google Docs and several other online suites.</p><p>Finally, US$100 for Office 365 Home as long as it keeps 1TB online storage for each of up to 5 users is very competitively priced with other storage-only services, so it could be argued you're buying the online storage and getting the software for free. Good luck with an antitrust gambit.</p>

  • rameshthanikodi

    12 October, 2017 - 11:11 am

    <p>I don't think Microsoft should do this. Competitors like OSX come with editors such as iMovie which is waaaay more capable with no paywalls. The photos app is technically a necessary built-in system app, and people pay for the OS. </p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft can offer a photo remix app in the store with paywalls, but I think putting paywalls into what is a system app is just really bad, not to mention it opens up potential lawsuits.</p>

  • MikeFromMarkham

    12 October, 2017 - 11:17 am

    <p>This is a total ripoff for those of us who don't need (or want) Office for anything, but may be interested in additional photo app capabilities. Why not just attach a price tag to the additional app features and let users purchase/license what they really want/need? </p>

  • Tony Barrett

    12 October, 2017 - 11:20 am

    <p>Even before Windows 10 was released, there was a lot of concern that the O/S would eventually go subscription based. MS said no it wouldn't. Actually, it's not in Microsoft's interest to get people to pay for the O/S, but they never said they weren't going to make apps and features subscription based, or nudge people towards their services, and that's exactly what they're starting to do.</p><p>Think of Windows 10 as the shop window, and all those ads, apps, recommendations and now paywall features as the candy. It people haven't grasped what Win10 is all about by now, you obviously haven't looked very hard. Why do you think MS are so keen to keep adding features to this O/S?</p>

  • Waethorn

    12 October, 2017 - 11:23 am

    <p>Microsoft is realizing that the ad model doesn't work.&nbsp;Maybe they should just incorporate Bitcoin miners in Windows.&nbsp;Who's to say they don't already do that with "telemetry services" anyway….&nbsp;;)</p><p><br></p><p>The way Microsoft should monetize Windows is how they should have always done it:&nbsp;DON'T.&nbsp;You can't monetize the platform.</p><p><br></p><p>They already mandate that royalty OEM Windows systems need to be certified, and certification costs OEM's money.&nbsp;Not money on every single unit, mind you – it's only $250/PC series (hardware and software configuration has to be locked in for the entire production run, including specific driver versions, or else the OEM has to recertify with the new config).&nbsp;Maybe they should reduce the cost and make it a per-PC certification fee instead and make the license "zero dollars" across the board.</p><p><br></p><p>Hell, that busines model worked for Android.&nbsp;Google doesn't charge a license fee.&nbsp;However, if an OEM wants Google's seal of approval with Google Play Services, they have to run through a test suite on a single unit in a series (just like WinQual/WHQL/whatever-they-call-it-now) and pay a certification fee for each shipping unit (which amounts to about $0.75/unit to Google according to an insider that worked with a major manufacturer that reported on it a few years ago).&nbsp;Of course in Google's case, the code is open-source, whereas compiled binaries aren't available to the public.&nbsp;But that's a small detail.</p><p><br></p><p>I think the shift that you'll see is more and more consumers will give up on Microsoft's nickel-and-dimeing and you could see a resurgence of private-label systems being sold with Linux that's supported by a local PC shop, and have consumers repurpose old systems with desktop Linux and Neverware CloudReady, now that Google gave them huge investment capital.</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      12 October, 2017 - 5:28 pm

      <p><a href="#206323"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></p><p>First, good job with the conspiracy theory. Good to see there are some benefits to living close to the US.</p><p>Sadly, the one group at MSFT which really does have the very best people in their field are the price engineers who know to finer granularity than anyone else just how many pecks by ducks any given MSFT customer can withstand before they give up on MSFT software and services.</p><p>Best case scenario for Linux would be accelerating the flow away from windows from 0.05% annually to 0.06%. Give it a century or two, with all else remaining unchanged, and Windows and Linux will change places.</p><p>My own cynical view is that someday soon Office 365 Home will drop from 5 installs to 4 with an option to buy Office 365 Personal for half off. And who here expects Office 365 Home and Personal to keep their current prices through 2020?</p>

      • Waethorn

        13 October, 2017 - 11:17 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206681"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><p>Linux already has more marketshare than you think it has, due primarily to consumer opposition to Windows 10.</p>

        • hrlngrv

          Premium Member
          14 October, 2017 - 2:00 am

          <p><a href="#207185"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></p><p>I go with what Netmarketshare and StatCounter show, which happens to be Linux usage doubling in the past 3 years from negligible to not much.</p><p>I'd love for Linux to show more % growth, but I'm not optimistic.</p>

  • Stooks

    12 October, 2017 - 12:07 pm

    <h1>"May Be The Start of Something More</h1><p>"</p><p><br></p><p>Yes the stragglers that did not move to Google Photos will now make that move. </p><p><br></p><p>I have a Office 365 subscription and it will expire in 3 months. I am seriously thinking of moving my documents over to Google Drive. Of the 58gig I use on Onedrive, 46gig are photos and videos so those are free on Google Drive (photos app). I could easily fit inside the free 15gig for just my documents, but would probably pay $24 a year for the 100gig.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft please don't mess up the Xbox One X launch!!!!</p>

    • Skolvikings

      12 October, 2017 - 2:57 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206373"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>The only problem is Google Photos down samples the photos and videos. With ever increasing resolutions and megapixels, I personally choose to set all my stuff to the best quality possible, which precludes me from using Google Photos. For example, I have a 4K television and an iPhone capable of recording 4K video. It would be stupid for me not to record videos of my kids in 4K.</p><p><br></p><p>Others may have a different opinion, but for me and for those reasons, Google Photos is a non-starter.</p>

      • OligarchyAmbulance

        12 October, 2017 - 3:00 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206586"><em>In reply to Skolvikings:</em></a></blockquote><p>Google Photos only lowers quality if you choose to have it do so. You can back up everything in it's original quality.</p>

      • Stooks

        12 October, 2017 - 3:18 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206586"><em>In reply to Skolvikings:</em></a></blockquote><p>My current iPhone and Canon EOS are only 12 megapixel. Google down samples anything over 16megapixel and for video anything over HD.</p><p><br></p><p>So for me right now not a problem. I could also change the setting on Google Photos and upload the full size image if I get a camera that goes over 16megapixel but the storage cost would be more.</p><p><br></p><p>Also I am not sure that I would notice a 20megapixel picture down sampled to 16megapixel. 4k video to HD probably.</p>

      • Waethorn

        12 October, 2017 - 5:29 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206586"><em>In reply to Skolvikings:</em></a></blockquote><p>That's optional. If you want to store originals, they let you do that – but it'll count against your Google Drive storage.</p>

    • Waethorn

      12 October, 2017 - 5:38 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206373"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>Documents in Google's file formats don't count against your Google Drive storage limits. So if you have Office documents, convert whatever you can to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (personal documents are usually fine when converted), and get rid of the originals if the formatting is acceptable.</p><p><br></p><p>If you get a Chrome OS computer* you get 100GB for free for 2 years, added to the 15GB you get for free for just having a Google Account (Gmail email address). You can get additional free storage via Google Contributions (verify business data on Maps) and such. I managed to get up to 300GB for free….not that I use anywhere close to that.</p><p><br></p><p>*some Amazon-purchased Chrome OS computers have been known to not qualify for this.</p><p><br></p><p>Don't forget that music can be stored for free too: Google Play Music allows you to upload up to 50,000 of your own audio files for free. *HOWEVER*, you need to have payment information tied to the account, similar to Apple iTunes, because of "regional confirmation due to licensing restrictions". A credit card connected to the account or pre-purchased Google Play Music card bought at retail would suffice, if you don't have a credit card.</p><p><br></p><p>So Google has a bunch of ways that you can store things online for free. Microsoft gives you 1/3 of the storage space of Google Drive, and everything you store counts towards that 5GB.</p>

      • Bill Russell

        13 October, 2017 - 12:31 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#206686"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></blockquote><p>"If you get a Chrome OS computer* you get 100GB for free for 2 years"</p><p><br></p><p>Plus whenever you sign into google with a new (used ok too) android phone or chromebook you are offered this deal as well. I currently have 215GB free. There seems to be a limit though.</p><p>By the time 100 of it is going to expire there is a good chance you will have gotten a new device and then get more. Worst case you run out of 2 years, pay $2.95/mo for a while, then you get the deal again eventually and cancel the chunk you are paying for and back to free again.</p>

        • Waethorn

          13 October, 2017 - 11:10 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#206946"><em>In reply to Bill_Russell:</em></a></blockquote><p>It's $1.99USD/mth for the 100GB last time I checked.</p>

        • Waethorn

          13 October, 2017 - 11:12 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#206946"><em>In reply to Bill_Russell:</em></a></blockquote><p>You can also get business-class custom domain email and 30GB of Google Drive storage for $5/mth too (domain name sold separately).</p>

  • Win74ever

    12 October, 2017 - 2:59 pm

    <p>They're out of their mind. No one is interested in this Photo Remix for free, let alone if they have to pay for it.</p><p><br></p><p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">if the company starts putting these feature paywalls into other Windows 10 apps like Mail and Calendar, it may become a requirement to have an Office 365 subscription to use Windows 10 to&nbsp;its fullest capabilities."</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fuck them. Windows will die soon. I just want a place to install my Win32 programs. I don't care about anything else and I'm obviously not paying any subscription, just the OS once.</span></p>

  • David Martin

    12 October, 2017 - 3:03 pm

    <p>"..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">it will represent to final shift for how the company will monetize Windows 10."</span></p><p><br></p><p>We pay for Windows when we buy a new computer; the licence is included in the price of the machine.&nbsp;Microsoft doesn't give Windows away for free, so it is monetized. </p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps Microsoft should have just left the photo app alone and added a "Movie Maker" app to Office Home.</p><p><br></p><p>Isn't there already a paywall for Mail and Calendar? I beleive its called Outlook. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • scarper86

    12 October, 2017 - 3:06 pm

    <p>I bailed on Office 365 a year ago and haven't looked back. Google Drive and Photos are great and an old version Office I still had on disk serves my word processing and spreadsheet needs just fine. I'm so sick of Microsoft nickle and diming me. I don't feel like a customer, I feel like a sucker. I used to like Microsoft's software but it's no longer a pleasant experience to use with all the crap they're pulling. The problem is I hate Mac OS even more so my options are limited. Yeah, yeah I know Linux exists. It's getting to the point where Photoshop and Lightroom are the only things keeping me on Windows. Most of my computing needs don't require the ever more painful Windows experience. A Chromebook and my Android phone could cover most of it. </p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft's actions make Steve Jobs look more and more right. "They have no class."</p>

    • Waethorn

      12 October, 2017 - 5:47 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206592"><em>In reply to scarper86:</em></a></blockquote><p>I've moved to Linux. I like Solus, but it doesn't work with my printer, and I'm noticing a few odds and ends here and there where I know I'd just get better support from Canonical's far-better hardware testing and Debian package support. I'm testing Ubuntu 17.10 on the daily builds until the final release comes out along with some, ahem, customizations. I use Google Chrome and G Suite, Virtual Machine Manager, the Papirus icon theme and Adapta desktop theme, with the Noto font scheme to simulate most of what Solus Budgie provides. It looks really svelte and workflow is awesome with it. I like Pop!_OS too, but they're forking Ubuntu, so I don't know how well support will be handled from their repos. Ubuntu from Canonical is just a safe bet. If something doesn't run on Ubuntu, there's little chance it'll run on a custom Linux distro. Canonical has their own GNOME team that is customizing GNOME desktop to their own design, and it's far more polished than Unity 7. I still prefer the flat graphical style though. Adapta+Papirus is a better look IMO.</p>

    • Asgard

      16 October, 2017 - 2:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#206592"><em>In reply to scarper86:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>To be fair, you can get Office 365 subscription for around 40€ per year in sales which happen every now and then (back Friday btw is close now). Even buying that 1TB of storage alone (with mirror backup) would cost 3 times as much. Given that cloud storage in general more valuable for obvious reasons, the storage only inside our computer would have to serve you for 4-5 years before becoming "cheaper" option than a subscription.</p><p><br></p><p>If you want to get a smart ass, you can always buy 5 TB of OneDrive for +30€ per year by getting the Home version for 5 accounts. And btw you got quite much more than just the storage.</p>

  • ndwilder

    12 October, 2017 - 3:32 pm

    <p>Another Microsoft fail… Apple gives you a good video editor out of the box. (I'm not an Apple user, but have lots of friends who are) In order to drive the OS you need to give it core features that make the OS a selling point, like Apple does. (AirPlay anyone?)Also, MS has proven it cannot be trusted to continue to develop their apps…they gave up on Groove ages ago and finally killed it off, Zune, Movie Maker has been gone for how long? Give people a REASON to use and trust the OS, quit taking features away, and if the point of Windows 10 is to allow people to create, then think about creating that ecosystem in the core of the OS, not ways of how to charge so much more for what should be there already. </p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 5:13 pm

    <p>MSFT just wants as many Office 365 subscribers paying MSFT annually as there are Windows users. Who could complain about that?</p>

  • Boo

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 6:46 pm

    <p>Like others here and Paul are saying next will be the mail and calendar app, to unlock more features&nbsp;pay for Office then&nbsp;shazam it becomes Outlook.</p><p>I'm okay with that as I&nbsp;want more features – I want the Pro version of not just the OS but the built in Apps also.</p><p>Therefore I'll pay the 50 bucks for the OS and subscribe to Office for another to unlock additional app features.</p><p><br></p><p>So for One Drive I'll get extra storage, but what other features will I get. Hopefully the ability to integrate with any store app such as "Plex" and "Spotify" allowing you to play all your own content from OneDrive. As long as you have a subscription to those&nbsp;Apps as well.</p><p><br></p><p>Films &amp; TV (as a player)&nbsp;I'm a subscriber and this is enough for Microsoft then things could rapidly change and maybe just maybe these barely used apps will become more than just your average Windows Media Player.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    12 October, 2017 - 10:05 pm

    <p>Please offer a plan where I'd pay maybe US$25/year in exchange for Candy Crush etc never reappearing in my Start menu on my PC.</p>

  • Jason Quizon

    13 October, 2017 - 4:07 am

    <p>I can't believe I'm earning much more than what I needed. Tradingreally is a blessing for me. Why don't you trytrading and be debt free like me. Google SuperiorTrading System to learn how.</p>

  • crfonseca

    Premium Member
    13 October, 2017 - 11:13 am

    <p>Well, at least it's not ads.</p><p>I get that software development isn't free, even if for open source software, and since Microsoft is making Windows 10 essentially free, as there are more and more ways even OEMs don't pay for it, they have to get their money from somewhere.</p><p>And between having an Office 365 subscription, that I already have, and ads, I'll take the subscription any day.</p><p>Also, lest we forget about the ads mixed with actual stuff, in Gmail if you don't disable the tabs thingy, which most normal people never do because they don't even know they can, you actually do get ads as the top items in your inbox.</p>

  • Roger Ramjet

    13 October, 2017 - 3:23 pm

    <p>Is it just me or is there some irony in a site that uses the freemium model beating this drum over some minor gating in some minor App. </p>

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