Microsoft’s Windows operating system is without a doubt frequenctly pirated and when Windows 8 rolls out next year it will have new tricks to stop filesharers. Microsoft will use the so called “cloud” to fight pirates, where for one thing keys will have to be fetched from secure servers.
Microsoft has not specified how it will deal with pirates across the world, for obvious reasons. The latest development version of Windows 8 (Build 8064) reveals one of the news though. Instead of shipping the operating system with bundled product keys the operating system will download genuine keys from Microsoft’s secure Internet servers, which will make it easier for the software giant to control the usage of key generators and alike.
This means Microsoft puts a lot of emphasis on a working Internet connection, but from what it seems the installation can be finished before activating Windows. This means system with tricky network drivers will get a chance to activate. Most likely it will continue with telephone activations, but this has not been confirmed.
Windows 8 gets a touch interface
On top of downloading product keys Microsoft is said to be working on a quick start technology where it pushes the operating system code into your computer from its own servers in the cloud. This will not be needed at every boot, but in theory it will make it possible for Microsoft to eliminate boot cracks even before Windows loads.
If Microsoft managed to stifle the problems with piracy, which doesn’t seem all that likely considering history, there are good news for honest users. The company is ocnsidering cheaper upgrades, like Apple’s Mac OS X. If it could increase the number of sold licenses through more efficient copy protection the company would be prepared to lower upgrade license prices.
The unavoidable question is: would not piracy be reduced to being with if the prices were lowered in the first place?
