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Microsoft to celebrate Windows 10 launch with parties, charitable donations

#UpgradeYourWorld │ Windows 10 Launch
With all of the effort Microsoft has gone to in the build up to the release of Windows 10 on July 29, it’s no real surprise that on the day itself there’s going to be quite the celebration. Announced as part of the #UpgradeYourWorld scheme, Microsoft will be holding launch parties in 13 cities around the world, where it will offer hands on demos, entertainment and interactions with the very people that worked on the OS during development.

This, according to Microsoft, is its way of saying thank you to the over five million Windows Insiders that helped it with feedback and ideas on the development of Windows 10, which it claims – as usual – is the best Windows yet.

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Celebrations will take place in Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, New Delhi, Dubai, Nairobi, Berlin, Johannesburg, Madrid, London, Sao Paolo, and finally New York City, making this a truly global event.

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On top of these launch parties, Microsoft has also announced partnerships with a number of mainstream retailers to help people move over to the new standard. Best Buy, Bic Camera, Croma, Curry’s, PC World, Elkjøp, Jarrir, Incredibly Connection, Media Market, Staples, Wal-Mart, Yamada and a number of others will all participate, offering file migration and ghosting help, as well as OS install plans and services.

Microsoft’s own stores, while offering similar service, will also be doing prize giveaways, demo experiences and “more,” though there’s hint what that might be. The company’s Answer Desk will holding in-store workshops to help users become acquainted with what Windows 10 has to offer.

The #UpgradeYourWorld campaign is for more than just those of us pumped by the idea of a new OS and features, though. Microsoft is also partnering with organisations around the world to bring the new OS to underprivileged areas and to help those communities to ‘upgrade’ their ways of life too. To that end, Microsoft has pledged $10 million to a number of well known and younger charities to help their causes, and will be crowd-sourcing nominations for local charities in ten countries worldwide, which will receive additional funding.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
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