Windows 10 Hits 300 Million Active Devices, Free Upgrade Still Ends July 29

Windows 10 Hits 300 Million Active Devices, Free Upgrade Still Ends July 29

Microsoft announced today that Windows 10 is now in use on over 300 million active devices. The firm also reiterated that the free upgrade will expire on July 29, dashing hopes that the offer would be extended.

“We’re pleased to see Windows 10 become one of the largest online services in less than a year,” Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi wrote, in a weird but no doubt purposeful choice of words. “Core to delivering our more personal computing vision, Windows 10 offers experiences that are familiar, safer and more secure, and more personal and productive – enabling innovative new experiences.”

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Mr. Mehdi notes, Windows 10 adoption is now proceeding faster than ever. And the numbers bear that out, if subtly: As I wrote in Build 2016: There Are Now 270 Million Active Windows 10 Devices, Windows 10 had settled into a cadence of adding an addition 23 million active devices per month in the first quarter. But with this number, we can see an acceleration to about 24 million per month. (The 30 million figure represents a 5 week period.)

Microsoft also provided some other interesting Windows 10 momentum figures.

Microsoft Edge. Over 63 billion minutes were spent on Microsoft Edge in March alone, Microsoft says, growth of 50 percent since the last quarter.

Cortana. The personal digital assistant in Windows 10 has helped answer over 6 billion questions since launch.

Games. Windows 10 users are playing games more than ever before, with over 9 billion hours of gameplay on Windows 10 since launch.

Bundled apps. Apps like Photos, Groove Music, and Movies & TV that come with Windows 10 see millions of active users each month, Microsoft says, with Photos alone garnering over 144 million users.

Store. The Windows Store continues to “grow daily,” Microsoft says, with new Universal Windows Platform apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger; updated UWP apps from Vine, Hulu, Netflix and Twitter; and popular PC games including Rise of the Tomb Raider and Quantum Break.

Microsoft is also reminding customers that the free Windows 10 upgrade offer will indeed end July 29 as previously announced.

“Today, we want to remind you that if you haven’t taken advantage of the free upgrade offer, now is the time,” Mr. Mehdi explains. “The free upgrade offer will end on July 29 and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. After July 29th, you’ll be able to continue to get Windows 10 on a new device, or purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119.”

Three more months, folks.

Microsoft also created a “top 10 reasons to upgrade to Windows 10” video starring Brian Roper.

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