Win8 Online Account - Advantage using it - problems if not

MPREv

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Hi,

Windows 8 always wants to use a Microsoft ID Account.
But what are the advantages?

As I understand the settings of the profile a saved on the server and can be synced between devices.
But I don't see there any advantage, because if they are diferent device types (Tablet vs. PC) the settings should be different.
If I have only one Windows 8 device its also useless and only stores my personal data on a server in another country. (Backups are my responibility)

Are there ANY ofurther "advanatges"?


I detecded that if I don't use a Microsoft Account it seems that some APPs are not working.
I see that the Mail App only works with any mail account if I also use a outlook account ....?
Whats that?????
Are there further such absurd restrictions?

hmmm a bit frustrated about Windows 8 (but not about the pseudo problems in the media).
 

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Hello MPREv,

The Microsoft account basically also allows you to use anything that uses a Microsoft service. This includes all modern apps (ex: SkyDrive/OneDrive) that use a Microsoft service. Plus, you will not be able to install apps from the Store without being signed into the Store with a Microsoft account.

It just depends on if you wanted to use Microsoft services or not.

The information at the top of the tutorial below can help give you some more information about Microsoft accounts as well if you like.

Microsoft Account - Sign up for and Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

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But my question is more what else APPs Microsoft is so strictly binding to a use only with there services like they do with the basic Mail app.

Extended features I know:
  • OneDrive (Useless since on WP no offline functionality)
  • Skype
  • X Box Live (Only usefull for games)
 

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It's just that anything that uses a Microsoft service requires you to sign in to it with a Microsoft account to use it. I suppose to standardize it to have one account for all your services all synced through the same Microsoft account.

Not sure what you mean by "WP", but you can always access OneDrive (SkyDrive) online SkyDrive.com.
 

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It's just that anything that uses a Microsoft service requires you to sign in to it with a Microsoft account to use it.
The Mail App is not a service ... its an APP.


I suppose to standardize it to have one account for all your services all synced through the same Microsoft account.
Why needing the Sync at all is the question ...


Not sure what you mean by "WP", but you can always access OneDrive (SkyDrive) online SkyDrive.com.
WP = Windows Phone ...
And I need offline access to my data, not only online.
 

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The Mail app uses Outlook.com which is indeed a Microsoft service.

You don't have to sync, but being able to say have all of your People app or Outlook contacts available on all devices that you use a Microsoft account on can be pretty handy to not have to enter them again on each device.

If you have Windows Phone 8, then you could install the free SkyDrive app from the Store to have it available offline if set that way at SkyDrive online.
 

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The Mail app uses Outlook.com which is indeed a Microsoft service.
And that is technicaly absolutely not needed - very disapointing first conntact with Windows 8 I had ...
And I want to know if there is more like this.
Also there is always the "hint" to connect with the microsoft account ... Annoying

You don't have to sync, but being able to say have all of your People app or Outlook contacts available on all devices that you use a Microsoft account on can be pretty handy to not have to enter them again on each device.
For Contacts & termines I alot of different services or even my own.
For other services I don't see that Microsoft provides any advantages to put my data to a company (no matter what).

If you have Windows Phone 8, then you could install the free SkyDrive app from the Store to have it available offline if set that way at SkyDrive online.
No - there is no offline access on Windows Phone for Skydrive files.
 

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Ah, yeah that was the smart files feature I saw instead while offline.

If you like, another options is to copy the contents you want from your SkyDrive while online to say the MicroSD card to have available offline. Not great, but it'll do the job if the SD card is large enough.
 

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Yes after alot of useres where complaining about it in Windows 8 they put it into the update released with 8.1
Now you can chose to keep them offline.

I hope this will come also to WP8.1 ... if not it will stay useless ;)

Glorious Idea to copy the files. But I want to have this automatically.
It would be glad if this would work local over the WLan, but Microsoft don’t think any sync without the Cloud could be needed ...don't make me happy.
Using USB is not realy an option ... that’s why synchronisation services were invented (live mesh once synced p2p in local LAN ... awesome from microsoft, why discontinued with skydrive?)

But that’s not the point - not what I'm asking for.
The point is that I want to know what features I would expect do NOT work without a Microsoft Account like the Mail App.
The mail app is something not connected in the mind of a user with a service - skydrive does as it was on Windows 7.
Also it would be interesting to know when Windows is talking to the Microsoft servers to store the data there (settings,...)
 

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No - there is no offline access on Windows Phone for Skydrive files.
I think there is some offline storage but it's pretty limited.

I use OneNote on WP7.8 and I'm pretty sure that has an offline version stored locally (for one thing it is possible to create sync conflicts which would only happen if another copy is stored somewhere, and my phone is the only place it could be). I don't know if that extends to the other 'Office' file types within WP.
 

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No - there is no offline access on Windows Phone for Skydrive files.
I think there is some offline storage but it's pretty limited.

I use OneNote on WP7.8 and I'm pretty sure that has an offline version stored locally (for one thing it is possible to create sync conflicts which would only happen if another copy is stored somewhere, and my phone is the only place it could be). I don't know if that extends to the other 'Office' file types within WP.

I allready ask at Microsoft - and no ther ist not.
It rumors that it is coming with WP 8.1.
 

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Yeah, there's supposed to be added features for OneDrive (SkyDrive) in the 8.1.1 update, but no confirmed details yet.
 

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Another problem I have with 8.1 is what they did to SkyDrive. I use to be able to use it in the Desktop with Explorer on my local account and that does not seem to work anymore. Seems like they'll be taking more and more away from local account usage.
 

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Another problem I have with 8.1 is what they did to SkyDrive. I use to be able to use it in the Desktop with Explorer on my local account and that does not seem to work anymore. Seems like they'll be taking more and more away from local account usage.

Yeah, for a local account, you would need to sign in online at SkyDrive.com instead. :(
 

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