HomeWinBuzzer NewsWindows 10 Anniversary Preview Build 14376 Hiding Microsoft's Subscription Secret?

Windows 10 Anniversary Preview Build 14376 Hiding Microsoft’s Subscription Secret?

The latest Windows 10 Insider preview, build 14376, has a .exe file that could fuel the conspiracy that Microsoft plans to make users pay a subscription for their free Windows 10 upgrade. We think not.

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has been rolling out Anniversary Preview Updates with regularity, and the closer we get to the update reaching end users, the less features those updates come with. However, each preview has brought something interesting to the party, and as ZDNet found, preview build 14376 is no different.

With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update set to drop on August 2, Microsoft has been spending the last month sending out the last remaining features to those on the Windows Insider Program. Unlike the feature rich previews of April and May, it seems the well is almost dry aside from last minute additions.

Windows 10 Anniversary preview build 14376 is the latest offering and it is not exactly full of new features, but it does include something interesting. Indeed, it only comes with fixes and improvements, but among them is a System32 file by the name of UpgradeSubscription.exe.

The file was discovered by ZDNet and the outlet speculates that this file could be a hint of an often discussed ploy by Microsoft. Conspiracy theorists have suggested Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade cycle that ends on July 29th was actually a plan to tie users into a long term paid subscription service.

We would be absolutely amazed if that happened, Microsoft would lose a load of consumer faith and it would be a disastrous decision from the company. ZDNet is pandering to the conspiracies, even though Redmond issued a rather frank denial of such plans to the outlet.

The Windows Upgrade to Subscription tool, found in the latest Windows Insider builds, helps to manage certain volume licensing upgrades from Windows 10 Pro Anniversary Update to Windows 10 Enterprise. This binary file is not associated with the free consumer upgrade offering nor is it applicable to consumer Windows editions.

Adding fuel to the (non-existent) flames, ZDNet argues that a follow-up reply of “no further comment” could be enough to mean the company has something to hide.

It is worth noting that Ed Bott states that he does not think the subscription rumor is true and we're not buying it either. Let us know in the comments what you think, do you believe the conspiracy?

SourceZDNet
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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