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On the other hand, Xbox consoles these days sell with a "free trial" of their online services that automatically starts charging after 3 months. It's at a minimum a dark pattern.

At worst? https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/06/20-millio...

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vachina 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The entire modern Windows ecosystem is a dark pattern.

Had to OOBE setup a Windows PC, it was an endless stream of nag prompts, all the way to the desktop. Extremely annoying to use.

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shultays 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Isn't that what "free trial" means? If I am buying free trial, I would expect myself needing to manually cancel it if I am not happy

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happymellon 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

No it doesn't.

A free trial implies that you can use a service for a limited period without cost. It's only because they have normalised it that you expect to get charged if you forget.

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monooso 9 hours ago | parent [-]

You _can_ use it for a minimal period without cost.

As for the normalisation argument, if there's a common understanding that "free trial" means "X months free followed by being charged", then that's what free trial means.

	▲	happymellon 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> if there's a common understanding Its only a common misunderstanding with these tech companies. If I had a free trial with a sports club, or many other things, they will not charge me at the end of the trial. They will ask me if I want to join. If I take a car for a trial drive, they won't bill me the entire price of a car if I forgot to mention explicitly that I don't want it after I return it.

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Adverblessly 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

To me that sounds like a regular subscription with a "first three months free" discount, not like a free trial.

	▲	orwin 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Exactly. My ahme club do a 3 week free trial, nobody new is paying until the 4th week (and even then you have wiggle room), you can just stop showing up, nobody will charge you.