Windows 7 and 8 users who missed Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer, are lying about their need for assistive features in order to upgrade without paying.
Windows 10 introduced a collection of new features for those who need help accessing a computer, including an improved screen reader that can read faster and be tuned to be more or less verbose depending on what the user needs. As part of Microsoft’s efforts to make Windows easier to use, those who use assistive technologies can continue to upgrade to Windows 10 for free for the foreseeable future. Free upgrades for other users stopped on 29 July 2016.
Microsoft states: “For the general public, the free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ends on 29 July. However, if you use assistive technologies, you can still get the free upgrade offer even after the general public deadline expires as Microsoft continues our efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience for people who use these technologies.”
As Microsoft does not discount any assistive technology from the offer, and doesn’t verify that users are being truthful when they say they are using such tools, anyone can go to the Windows assistive technologies site and gain a free Windows 10 upgrade.
Microsoft’s next stage in the development of Windows 10, the so-called Anniversary Update, will also be released for consumers from 2 August 2016, adding enhancements for stylus users, Cortana and Windows Hello, which enables the biometric system for third-party websites and apps.
