Microsoft readies the swatter as more bugs wriggle out of the Windows 10 woodwork The "days without a Windows 10 incident" clock has been reset to zero once again as a tired Microsoft engineer updated the "known issues" page to reflect that, well, there are some. The support page for the latest update lists two. One is unlikely to trouble many, while the other has the potential to be considerably more …
They broke MS Paint in Windows 7 by adding "the ribbon".
Worth pointing out, MS used to call a release candidate "release to manufacturing" once the BUG RATE got low enough. I wonder if the CURRENT bug rate is low enough based on their OLD standards for things like Windows '95 ???
The WMP problem only affects certain file types.
On my rig MP3 and Audible books work fine. I didn't have any other media to test this morning.
Some people are saying it is certain codecs that are causing problems, which makes some sense as it is only specific file types that lose the "seek bar".
VLC has so many more CoDecs than WiMP (<- poor impulse control).
I use it on Linux/Windows/Mac/Droids because it Just Works™. THen there's DRM in WiMP that Has Prevented me from playing Centrifugal Media that I actually own (Buckaroo Banzai being my favorite Fail).
I see no point in using anything other than the thing that does what's on the Tin.
"Move fast and break things"
yes, about that... the 'file associations' problem. BROKEN for (certain? only?) Win32 applications. It's getting attention around 'teh intarweb'.
IMPLICATIONS: Micro-shaft is SLOWLY trying to ELIMINATE non-UWP applications!!!
You know they want it. You know that "legacy" Win32 support HAS to be IRRITATING them. They've already SLAMMED THE DOOR on EVERY OS they've made that doesn't have UWP (anything prior to Win-10-nic, even when customers WANT the older ones). They've CRAMMED as much as they can cram and put UWP CRapps in our faces as PANELS in the 'Start Thing'. What MORE can they DO to FORCE everyone to CHANGE to UWP? [other than make it worth our while]
Rumors have 'mongered' that it is Micro-shaft's long-term plan to KILL OFF WIN32. This would mean that ALL future applications are CRapps sold through "The Store", _AND_ it would KILL! OFF! WINE! and _ANY_ sense of compatibility for OLDER APPLICATIONS [that do not spy on you].
So, aside from a conspiracy, WHY would the latest (broken) build of Win-10-nic NOT allow Win32 applications to do FILE ASSOCIATIONS??? That is a basic feature of Windows that has been around since FOREVER...
Linux and FreeBSD (and maybe OS/X) may become the ONLY alternative for small-time application builders [and custom applications built within a corporation for its own use] to be able to install and run an application of your own design, and make it available for OTHERS to do the same [from a binary or source], _WITHOUT_ having to go through some "Store" or "code signing" nonsense to DO it!!!
(I used to like windows because you could do all of that, and wrote some windows applications for company-only use a few of times - but NOW, it's becoming obvious that Micro-shaft does NOT want us to have THAT kind of freedom, unless THEY are "in the loop" - and get their 'piece of the action')
What MORE can they DO to FORCE everyone to CHANGE to UWP? [other than make it worth our while]
Well I'm not one to swim against the tide, but I could be persuaded to upgrade on the following conditions.
One) Use a simple TRADITIONAL GUI (e.g. Windows 9x ~ Windows 7 was never broke, SO DONT FIX IT!)
Two) Stop spying on me. Friends just mind their own business, its bad enough that Google, and <INSERT Social Media> platforms are doing this. But, I don't get my Mainline Workstation OS from them either. Just 'cause everyone else is seen to be doing this. It shouldn't just be accepted as Card Blanc for you too!
Three) Stop treating your paying customers as Guinea Pigs its not even bad enough that you have to spy on us to keep milking us. But, your releasing Software now, that make Linux look like a well founded OS. (Of course it is, but well get on that in a sec.)
Do these things, and People would tend to hate you just a little bit less, than they just happen to at the moment.
Now I'm not sure just what the hangup on Linux actually is that's causing the 'Publishers' distress. (i.e. Adobe (Lightroom & Photoshop etc), Serif LTD (Affinity Photo / Illustrator), just off the top of my head, is it the gcc Compiler thats the cause of it? If so could thay not just make a comercial friendly compiler? Or barring it all, just pick a defacto version of BSD, that ISN'T (Cr)Apple, and move there instead? But in this VERY REGUARD Linux is absolutly no better. Fact is its as abysmal as ever, when you take in the vast library of M$DOS / Windows Software into context. Yes we have Virtual Box, and WINE to try and, sneek 'round this. But, I feel with the eventual implosion of Windows 7 in about a Years time, this is something the Gurus need to welcome. If Linux is to ever move forward, as a non-techie OS.
As things stand, with Darktable, and Gimp as a hobbyist photograper, I'm not displeased by those Tools. But, my Laptop seems to have problems running Cinnamon on my Intel / nVidia Laptop. I think I tracked it down to the One of the latest updates regurading the Display. (i.e. Possibly Cinnamon itself, of X11? I might try installing these One by one to see which one is the culprit).
I say so long, and NO THANKS for anything. WMP was always a festering pile of Dong since, way back when. VLC is far, and away vastly more superior to it in pretty much every way. For Music (Back in the day, it would have either been WinAmp, or iTunes v4*). Today I find myself guilty of having moved on to Google Play Music, for those needs.
*Before the Music Store came out., and iTunes was just a decent Tager, Player frontend for my Third-Gen iPod.
They are messaging around with the ship tool as well :o I can't believe that I'm saying this but the new version may be slightly better ! Now you can draw arrows and stuff on your snip..
But.... why the hell is the save icon in the top right corner ? Seriously it's always been under file / save and or an icon in the top left that looks like a floppy disk ?? . Are there any guidelines for UI design left in windows?
Get with the program. Moving things for no reason is the entire raison d'être of the new UI paradigm. Many consultants in expensive suits promote the idea to "surprise the user" and "enhance the experience".
Because, once you have a product that does everything the user needs, it's the only thing you can do to maintain the appearance that you did some work.
Oh - that and breaking it, of course.
"Are there any guidelines for UI design left in windows?"
something including the word "FEEL" most likely.
2D FLATTY monochrome FLUGLY with no 3D effects and sharp rectangular corners, low-contrast bright blue on blinding white, too much wasted screen real estate, and ambiguous shapes that act like hot spots for mouse-clicking because they want your eyes to wander around while you GUESS what to do, based on the complete lack of REASONABLE cues from the UI design.
Next, they'll use fingerpaint and crayons to design it.
What ELSE can you expect from a generation of PARTICIPATION TROPHY RECIPIENTS that are CONSTANTLY needing their self-esteem re-affirmed, and who've OBVIOUSLY taken over the asylum (otherwise known as windows development). Because if *THEY* *FEEL*, then *WE* *MUST* *ACCEPT* it. Because, they're Micro-shaft, and we're just "the end users".
Features and functions reported as being "broken" in the 1809 update work properly on my Windows 10 x64 install.* I'm following the steps people claim to fail or break, and there's just no problem. There hasn't been any problem with updates/patches since I installed Windows 10 on three computers (a desktop, laptop, and tablet) the first or second day it was released. As I've said before, I'm using the same bits as other people so I cannot for the life of me understand why failures are being reported when I never see them.
I am NOT saying this in an effort to refute the claims, but rather to suggest that perhaps some other fault may be involved.
*I want to note that I do not use some of the software said to be experiencing problems, such as iCloud or Windows Media Player. However, I can associate file extensions with any Windows app that I want all day long and it works as it is supposed to work (as one example.)
The reason is that you don't have the same combination of stuff in your computers. A windows install includes drivers for your hardware as well as all the different flavours of windows OS and windows features. The fact that you don't see problems and others do is probably down to luck.
Showing all the patches issues by MS, against what they were supposed to deliver.
Because from where I'm sitting (at a Linux laptop) it seems these are patches to patches to patches with zero new functionality (i.e. visible benefit to the user) being introduced.
So that's 10o% pain for 0% gain. Especially if you take the rather harsh view that *any* patch is an admission of failure on MS part anyway.
For those old enough to remember chart music, Windows 10 appears to have multiple mixes - and all the buyer wants (to qoute Sir Lenswell Henry) is the one "where they got it right"
Maybe they could get around all of this by JUST patching 7 so that it supports the latest hardware and has no more (known) security holes, then release it as a service pack for 7, and extend support for a few more years. I'd actually *PAY* for that! [I'd get my UI back the way I want it, mostly]
Micro-shaft, instead, focuses on the "feature creep" in Win-10-nic and therefore wastes their efforts, while simultaneously FAILING at the thing they're ACTUALLY supposed to be doing (a RELIABLE operating system).
It's all wrong, now. It's gone horribly, horribly wrong.
What's being called "AI" these days is merely improved speech to text technology derived from decades old Dragon technology, improved text to speech technology, combined with advanced Expert Systems, which have also been around for decades. It's modern database traversal with talking input and output. It's Artificial Illusions of 'intelligence', supported by lots of marketing hype.
Considering the profound, numerous and consistent security flaws inherent in modern coding, it's going to be a long, long time, if ever, before we have any sort of 'self-aware' devices. Maybe if we dump all (ALL) of our current programming languages and start from scratch with the evolution of something inherently secure, coherent and understandable by mere mortals, we'll have a fighting chance at making AI machines that can make decisions independent of our political overlords, such as deciding to kill us all for the benefit of miracle planet Earth, our only home. It could happen!
"In some cases, Microsoft Notepad or other Win32 programs cannot be set as the default."
Let's just pray that "Notepad++" is not included in this latest round of "features". Ok it's not default Windows but I cant think of many Pros that don't install it very very quickly.
As a long time 'Linux user, I've refrained from commenting on the many recent Windows update bug articles.
This time I'm honestly unsurprised. MS deprecated WMP some time ago, from their perspective they can hardly be blamed for not including it in any tests.
"MS deprecated WMP some time ago, from their perspective they can hardly be blamed for not including it in any tests."
If they are shipping it, they should test it. If they don't want to test it, they shouldn't ship it.
As others have already implied, there are better and equally free media players out there. It would not detract from the usefulness of Windows if they pulled WMP, or a number of other applets to be honest. (Like, nearly all of the Metro craplets that are still cluttering up the new Start Menu.)
"MS deprecated WMP some time ago, from their perspective they can hardly be blamed for not including it in any tests."
If they are shipping it, they should test it. If they don't want to test it, they shouldn't ship it.
If they are not testing it, and not maintaining it, why would you want to use it?
"As a long time 'Linux user, I've refrained from commenting on the many recent Windows update bug articles."
Hasn't stopped ME from snarking all over it. In fact, having an outstanding alternative OS available, I can be a bit SMUG about it, too. Heh.
When Micro-shaft started that ".Not" initiative back in the early noughties, I knew they were heading the wrong direction. C-pound and Passport confirmed it. Since then I only use windows when I have to [like testing an application I'm working on for cross-platform compatibility - write it on FreeBSD or Linux, make it cross-platform so Windows can run it, too]. That and if a customer wants me to do something on winders...
"As a long time 'Linux user, I've refrained from commenting on the many recent Windows update bug articles."
Hasn't stopped ME from snarking all over it. In fact, having an outstanding alternative OS available, I can be a bit SMUG about it, too. Heh.
I don't use Windows if I can avoid it, long ago given up trying to convince those who still use it and moan about it that other options exist...
Basically I try to respect peoples lifestyle choices, even if they seem illogical or distasteful to me. I'd count the well over the border S&M Windows habit among those.
There's been far too many Microsoft carcrash OS articles lately though....I really can't summon up the energy to join in on the 'S' side while long time windows users once more kneel for flagellation at the hands of their corporate overlord.
Mine is back now trying to update to 1 *7* 09 again. Seems microsoft has given up trying on 18xx
To say it has tried and failed 100 times is probably no exaggeration. The ONLY good thing is reversion takes a few minutes. Enough time for a now ritual restoration coffee.
Always fails at same point. Microsoft clearly have limited experience of writing software.
I abandoned trying all the solutions propoded after miserable weeks of getting no place.
Why can't all my useful prograns run under linux?
This post has been deleted by its author
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2025
