Windows Weekly

On Windows Weekly, Moment 5 has arrived as a Preview Update, Windows 10 gets a preview update, and Microsoft announces the Surface Pro 10 & Surface Laptop 6 for Business at a digital event. Designer and Copilot are coming to the Microsoft 365 mobile app. Would Microsoft develop a Windows-based gaming handheld device? And Canva acquires Affinity.

Windows

Moment 5 arrives as a Preview Update right on schedule - it's Week D, etc.
Microsoft previously described this schedule in its DMA compliance documentation, and noted that it would be fully deployed in stable by the end of April.
Quick raise of hands: Did you think this was already available? You're not alone. But ... you know. Microsoft.
Oh, and there's a preview update for Windows 10 too. Because come on Microsoft.
Don't worry, that lock screen nonsense in Windows 10 is coming to Windows 11 too.
Qualcomm claims that most Windows games will "just work" on its X Elite processor. How?
Chromium accepts Microsoft commit that will improve Chrome/Chromium text rendering on Windows.
Google Chrome comes to Windows on Arm, instantly legitimatizing the platform.

Surface

Microsoft announces Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6.
For businesses, only - Intel Core Ultra-based.
Consumer versions based on X Elite to follow in May, according to reliable rumors.
It's first "AI PCs," supposedly. But now we know why they are using that terminology, and it's stupid. (Related, Intel has its own definitions for what makes a PC an AI PC.)
This was billed as an AI event, "the new era of work," but there was NO news for Windows or Copilot. None.
Why is that? One word: Momentum.

AI

In the wake of Microsoft AI reorg (a NeXT-style takeover), a key Microsoft exec says no and steps aside, will likely leave the company
Microsoft Teams is gaining new AI capabilities because, duh, of course it is
Designer and Copilot are coming to the Microsoft 365 mobile app - Two more checkmarks for that grid of Copilot capabilities
Our developer show schedule is complete: Apple to host WWDC 2024 in June, following Google I/O and Build in May
Samsung spreads Galaxy A1 to more devices starting tomorrow in the US

Xbox

It's finally happening: Diablo IV will be the first Activision Blizzard game on Xbox Game Pass when it goes live tomorrow.
Phil Spencer says Windows is wrong for gaming handhelds, thinks an Xbox would be better.
Xbox is testing mouse and keyboard support for Cloud Gaming.

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Arc browser just became more viable on Windows.
App pick of the week: Affinity Photo 2
Also: Proton Pass now supports (portable) passkeys. And it's free.
RunAs Radio this week: GitHub for SysAdmins with April Edwards.
Brown liquor pick of the week: Stauning Kaos Danish Whisky.

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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On this episode, Paul, Richard, and Mikah talk AI developments, Windows 10 (yes, 10), Azure egress, and even VR gaming! Is the new Microsoft AI organization an "acquisition" in disguise? How did NVIDIA's recent GTC keynote go? Plus, why it makes sense for Apple to partner with Google for Gemini on iPhone.

AI Reorg

Microsoft has created a new Microsoft AI "organization" that reports directly to Satya Nadella
Led by former Inflection co-founders and staffed in part by several ex-Inflection employees
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, who orchestrated Microsoft's OpenAI partnership, will continue forward in his other role as executive vice president of AI and will remain responsible for Microsoft's overall AI strategy
Mikhail Parakhin and the entire team responsible for Copilot, Bing, and Edge, plus Misha Bilenko and the GenAI team, will move into Microsoft AI.
Rajesh Jha will continue as executive vice president of Experiences & Devices and will "partner closely with Mustafa and team" on Copilot for Microsoft 365.
What does this mean for Windows? (Paul's guess: Not much. Windows is still presumably under Jha)

Windows

Windows 10 (Yes, 10, not 11) is getting new Sports, Traffic, and Finance cards on the lock screen for some reason
No new Insider builds since last week! WHAAAAAT?

Microsoft 365

No AI for you! Microsoft announces perpetual Office 2024 and Office 2024 LTSC for late 2024
AI for you! Microsoft 365 web apps now support Copilot Pro users
Better AI for you! Free Copilot gets ChatGPT-4 Turbo (previously a paid feature)
Microsoft follows Google and AWS, ends Azure egress fees - the other European Big Tech battleground

AI

Apple is almost certainly going to (try to) partner with Google on AI for iPhone
How the F is Microsoft not part of this?
Google I/O is set for May 14, Apple WWDC will be in June, both to focus on AI (duh)
Microsoft to host "AI and Surface event" right before Build 2024 in May
Nvidia is determined to not just ride the AI wave, but win it
In the wake of a subtle rebranding, Google is bringing generative AI to Fitbit
Amazon is bringing generative AI for product pages to sellers

Xbox

New games across Game Pass for the second half of March - including, for the first time, an Activision Blizzard title, Diablo IV
Microsoft is killing the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox... though there is a Rewards tab on your Profile page.
LinkedIn is experimenting with games because everything has to suck now
Sony halts PSVR2 production because no one wants to pay $550 for VR on PS5

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Steam Sale goes through tomorrow (March 21)
App picks of the week: Stardock ObjectDock 3, Proton Mail native app, Firefox 124
RunAs Radio this week: From SysAdmin to Platform Engineer with Steve Buchanan
Brown liquor pick of the week: Bull Run Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

Hosts: Paul Thurrott , Richard Campbell , and Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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Can we have a Windows experience tailored for enterprise efficiency? Paul, Richard, and Mikah unpack the freshest updates from Windows 11's March 2024 Patch Tuesday, dissect Microsoft's transparency behind Midnight Blizzard's November attack, and speculate on Microsoft's much-anticipated Surface/AI event. Plus, Paul offers insights from his time with Copilot Pro's custom GPT builder.

Windows 11

Patch Tuesday new features: Phone Link settings is renamed to Mobile devices, USB 80 Gbps support, more - Windows 10 users get some love (hate?) too
Microsoft confirms that Moment 5 will be delivered in the March preview update, fully deployed in late April
Microsoft details how it is changing Windows in the EU - and now we all want to move to the EU
Beta (last week): New Copilot actions experiment
Dev and Canary: Unified Teams experience, Copilot updates to more people, Power Automate via Copilot in Windows, Live Captions quick settings tile, progress bars in Taskbar icons, File Explorer file copy improvements, etc
Beta (today): Most frequently used apps now appear in Recommended

Microsoft

Microsoft continues to dribble out details about that Russia-sponsored hack and the news is predictably getting worse each time
We have an event! March 21st will focus on Copilot, Windows, and Surface

AI

Microsoft brings Custom GPT Builder to Copilot Pro subscribers
Here comes Copilot for Security. April 1 rollout is perfect
Teams app developers get AI capabilities via a free Microsoft toolkit
Opera Feature Drops to bring new AI features early to Opera One
EU moves to the AI Act

Microsoft 365

Microsoft finally spells out its commercial deployment schedule/plans for the new Outlook. Let the complaining continue
Skype is updated with new Channels features, prompting questions about Skype still being alive
Parallels Desktop for Mac is updated with Clipboard and game improvements for Windows VMs

Xbox

Some Activision QA works vote to unionize
More Microsoft Studio titles come to Boosteroid, that service you only heard of because of the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Tips & Picks

Tip of the week: Time zone math
App pick of the week: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is now available! Plus, Joplin (a Notion alternative)
RunAs Radio this week: Understanding Large Language Models with Jodie Burchell
Brown liquor pick of the week: Bushmills 21

Hosts: Paul Thurrott , Richard Campbell , and Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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This week, Paul, Richard, and Leo unpack the twice-delayed unveiling of Moment 5 for Windows 11 and the long list of small features it brings to users, alongside whispers of new Surface devices on the horizon. Plus, they dissect the implications of Elon Musk's critical eye on OpenAI and the captivating prospect of upscaling classic adventure games via DirectSR.

"Moment 5"

Moment 5 is here. Sort of. In preview. Well, some features
This was supposed to happen before last week's Windows Weekly, but the announcement was delayed twice

Windows 11

Microsoft quietly reveals that it is killing the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), triggering two reactions: "Who cares?" and "Why?"
Beta: Controversial new mouse hover experience for Copilot
Dell had double-digit revenue declines in Q4, all of 2024
HP revenues fell 4.8 percent in Q1

Surface

Rumor: Microsoft to launch Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 soon, with both Intel Core Ultra and Snapdragon X Elite variants

AI

Microsoft engineer continues to raise disturbing issues with Copilot
Microsoft Edge picks up two new AI features: Video highlights and screenshot integration
Copilot is coming to OneDrive (commercial) and Microsoft 365 mobile app
Microsoft announces Copilot for Finance
Microsoft files motion to dismiss parts of the NYT's copyright suite, compares AI to a Betamax machine. Maybe not the smartest comparison
Elon Musk sues OpenAI because something something
ChatGPT picks up a Read Aloud feature. Is there anything AI can't do??
Anthropic announces a three-tier Claude 3 family of LLMs with the usual claims
Apple releases the M3-based MacBook Air. Or should we call it the MacBook AIr?
Brave brings Leo AI to Android app

Xbox

Microsoft comes clean on DirectSR, will say more soon
Xbox Partner Preview event today - Final Fantasy XIV, STALKER Original Trilogy, more announced
MLB The Show 24, more come to Xbox Game Pass in March
Linux exceeds 4 percent usage share for the first time. Is this the "SteamDeck" effect?

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Twitter user? Disable this new feature immediately
App picks of the week: LibreOffice, Vivaldi, Anytype
RunAs Radio this week: Upgrading TLS with Scott Helme
Brown liquor pick of the week: Hornitos Black Barrel

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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The newest version of Windows 11 is entering a new rollout phase. Some new exciting hardware from Lenovo emerged from this year's Mobile World Congress. And Paul has been using Copilot Pro for some time and is quite happy with it so far!

Windows

Windows 11 version 23H2 enters a new rollout phase - the "you're getting it whether you want it or not" phase.
Canary: Wi-Fi 7 support, 16 new actions for Windows (+13 there already), separates from Dev channel again.
Photos app to get generative erase functionality.

Hardware

Snapdragon X Elite destroys Intel Core Ultra in AI performance tests. Is this finally the year of Windows on Arm?
Intel rolls out vPro versions of Core Ultra for businesses.
Lenovo imagines transparent displays, ships actual ThinkPads.
HP brings NPUs to its consumer PCs.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 series is now available in the U.S. with unique Copilot features.
Microsoft lays out its 2024 event calendar, and Ignite is in Chicago in November!

AI

Microsoft (quietly) adds four GPTs to Microsoft Copilot.
Microsoft partners with Mistral AI, and gets immediate regulatory notice
GitHub Copilot Enterprise is now available with organizational GPTs
Google pauses Gemini image creation after, um, some issues
Help Me Write is now in Google Chrome
Brave Leo now supports PDFs and Google Drive

Xbox

Xbox will attend GDR, and will discuss DirectSR
Microsoft starts testing Game Hubs in Xbox app for PC
Lots of Age of Empire releases this year
GeForce Now Free is adding pre-roll advertising

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Turn off Microsoft Start in Widgets.
Widget is finally closer to what most people will want.
App pick of the week: Microsoft Copilot Pro
Podcast pick of the week: Copilot Governance with Martina Grom
Brown liquor pick of the week: Ian Macleod's Isle of Skye Range

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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Microsoft's big Xbox strategy event was exactly what Paul expected it was going to be. Hopefully, this calmed some nerves.

Xbox strategy reveal

It was going to be about Activision Blizzard originally (nailed it)
All first-party games will be in Game Pass on day one (as is the case now)
Game Pass will only be on Xbox (whatever "Xbox" means as it's on PC too)
The strategy is unchanged: Meet gamers where they are
But the best experience is on Xbox (this is like going from "Windows only" to "Windows first" to "Windows best")
Portability across hardware platforms is a key part of the strategy - Backward Compatibility, etc.
A future generation of Xbox console hardware will offer "the largest technical leap you have ever seen in a hardware generation."
Oh, and four games are coming to "other consoles."

Windows 11

Microsoft is quietly adding off-ramps to the Insider Program after killing the Magic window with their screwed-up release schedule
Canary and Dev - 24H2, same builds. New navigation pane in Widgets - new accessibility setting for low-vision users - that same tired weather experience on the lock screen that is already in stable and seriously kill me now I can't stand this company anymore. Oh, and there are ISOs.
Beta - New prompts for that "manage mobile devices" features, updates to Snipping Tool and Notepad (also in RP)
Release Preview - We're testing Moment 5 now, so this is a huge update
Microsoft fixed a bug that let Edge siphon browser data from other browsers
Stardock brings pre-release support for Arm versions of Start11, Fences, and Groupy to new Object Desktop Insider program
Google has an answer for those out of support Windows 10 PCs

Build 2024

Microsoft confirms that Build 2024 is May 21-23 in Seattle. No word on press invites

Microsoft 365

Microsoft will finally unify the Teams clients on Windows and Mac
Microsoft is killing Publisher in 2 years and even though no one uses it, people are freaking out

AI

Microsoft to use Intel Foundry for at least one in-house custom AI chip
Now OpenAI is worth over $80 billion, is world's third-biggest unicorn
OpenAI announces Sora and... HOLY #$%^
Gemini (formerly Duet AI) comes to all Workspace customers
Google brings Gemini down to size with Gemma for free, local use
Adobe Acrobat is getting an AI assistant

Xbox

Game streaming is (probably) coming to all the Xbox games you own
More (non-AB) games are coming to Game Pass in February
Microsoft goes after Apple's non-compliance DMA compliance in the EU
Epic announces a game store for iOS in Europe, will launch this year
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story will release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on March 13

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Androids by Chet Haase
App picks of the week: Dashlane, Firefox 123, Bonjourr
Cocktail of the week: Sumi - This is a "clasicos Baltra" from the most famous bar in Mexico City. Tanqueray Ten Gin, Violet liqueur, Jasmine syrup, Yuzu, Egg white. Serve in a coupe glass, and garnish with dried flowers.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

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On this spicy episode of Windows Weekly, Paul, Leo, and Richard try to pronounce "Sudo," watch an expensive Copilot ad, marvel at big Arm revenues, discuss the latest in internet browser news, and debate the FTC's motivations as they go after Microsoft once again!

Windows 11

Big changes in Insider, with Canary and Dev moving to the same 24H2 builds
Windows 11 is going to get its AI moment this year
With the announcement of 24H2, does that mean nothing big mid-year as rumors suggested?
Patch Tuesday arrives. Copilot moves to the right of the system tray after 10 seconds of testing
Brave ships its browser on Arm in stable
Windows will likely get an AI game upscaling feature

AI/Antitrust

Report: Azure is allegedly 2/3rds the size of AWS by revenue, thanks to AI
Microsoft Bing and Edge avoid the EU DMA
Google Gemini officially replaces Bard
Grammarly lays off 230 to focus on AI
Mozilla scales back dramatically, will focus on AI in Firefox
Arc Sync comes to Arc on Mac only

Cloud/server/dev

Google One surpasses 100 million users. New AI tier is coming to take on Copilot Pro
Arm revenues are in. Look at those margins!
Notion acquires Skiff. Ladies and gentlemen, the Notion Office is coming
.NET 9 Preview 1 arrives. Are annual updates too much?

Xbox

Xbox says it will come clean on its strategy
The FTC claims that Xbox layoffs violate the terms of its Activision Blizzard acquisition promises
Microsoft tells the court that the FTC is wrong on multiple levels
There's a new Xbox system update
Sony doesn't meet its quarterly PS5 sales target, will miss its annual target, and the PS5 is falling off a cliff
Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games. "F U, Apple!"
Flight Simulator jumps the Minecraft Shark

Tips and Picks

Tip of the Week: Microsoft PC Manager - Avoid at all costs
App Picks of the Week: DuckDuckGo browser, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Devices for Windows
RunAs Radio this week: Maximizing Metadata with Emily Manicini
Brown liquor pick of the week: Starward Pedro Ximenez Cask

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

Sponsor:
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Microsoft announced Tuesday that it earned a net income of $21.9 billion on revenues of $62 billion in the quarter ending December 31, 2023. Those figures are up 33 percent and 18 percent, respectively, year-over-year (YOY)

Intelligent Cloud: Azure, AI

Microsoft's biggest business unit delivered $25.9 billion in revenue, up 20 percent YOY and driven primarily by its Azure cloud platform
Azure revenues were up 30 percent in the quarter, 6 points of which Microsoft attributed to "AI services"

Productivity and Business Processes: Microsoft 365

$19.2 billion in revenues, with growth of 13 percent YOY
Office Commercial revenues were up 15 percent

More Personal Computing: Xbox, Windows

Revenues of $16.9 billion, up 19 percent YOY
Gaming revenues surged 49 percent (44 points from Activision Blizzard)
Xbox hardware revenues inched up by 3 percent
Windows revenues from PC makers grew 11 percent in the quarter

Windows

Canary: Voice Clarity comes to more PCs, and Microsoft previews new/old Windows Setup first-run experience
Dev: Minor bug fixes only
Beta: Snap Layout suggestions, new settings in Widgets, and you can now revert to stable (!!)

Microsoft 365

Teams goes down for the count

AI

Microsoft adds deepfake guardrails to Designer AI. So, this wasn't there before now?
FTC is investigating Microsoft/OpenAI and other Big Tech AI partnerships

Xbox

Microsoft can finally bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to the iPhone (and Fortnite is coming back to the iPhone in the EU)
1900 layoffs at Activision Blizzard, Zenimax, and Xbox

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Upgrade to passkeys
App pick of the week: Insync
RunAs Radio this week: Software Licensing with Mary Jo Foley
Brown liquor pick of the week: Dailuaine 16

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

Sponsor:
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In this episode of Windows Weekly, Leo, Paul, and Richard cover Microsoft's recent hack, new Windows Insider updates, Copilot Pro's image creativity, various browsers, education's compatibility with generative AI, Halo Infinite's slowdown, Notion's calendar service, and Japanese whisky.

Microsoft was hacked

A Russia-backed hacker group infiltrated a legacy system and gained access to executive emails
This is triggering an escalation in Microsoft's security makeover either way

Windows 11

Beta channel: USB 80 Gbps/USB4 v2 support, bug fixes
Dev channel: Teams (commercial) meeting integration in Start, new mobile device management interface
New Surface event rumored for March. Possibly two waves of Pro and Laptop releases
Microsoft Bing and Edge are obviously not dominant platforms, and will not be subject to EU DMA
Microsoft Mesh is here for all your legless meeting needs

AI

Microsoft hits $3 trillion market cap on the strength of its AI moves
Paul used Copilot Pro and you're never going to believe what happened next
Microsoft is bringing more AI to education. And so is Google
Would you pay for an AI-infused Alexa?

Web browsers, oh my

Chrome is updated with new AI features
Firefox version 122 is out
Brave will simplify fingerprint protection. What is fingerprint protection?
Opera will pay a brand ambassador $10,000 to spend a month on a deserted Icelandic island

Xbox

Microsoft reveals several new games for 2024, key among them an Indiana Jones title
343 slows down Halo Infinite updates dramatically. Is this just about Halo or a hint at a looming new trend?

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Is it even possible to prevent online tracking?
App pick of the week: Arc browser
RunAs Radio this week: AI for IT with Gil Pekelman
Brown liquor pick of the week: Hibiki Harmony

Hosts: Leo Laporte , Paul Thurrott , and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin .

Sponsors:
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