Windows Weekly

For years, the checkbox to get a PC out of the Insider Program when that Windows version shipped in stable did absolutely nothing. That's no longer the case.
Windows
A new context menu for File Explorer heads out to Insiders along with five new preview builds
There are lots of other like UX changes happening with little communication. Will Microsoft really touch (and update) all the ancient UIs in Windows 11?
New Release Preview builds point at next Week D and Patch Tuesday updates: New Taskbar, New Start, new Windows Search, many minor changes throughout
Hardware
Now we know more about Snapdragon C ahead of IFA, where we may see the first laptops
Google is holding a PixelBook reviewers event in mid-September
You know that Commodore is back, but now the Amiga is back too!
Lenovo surges on AI spending, but it's now engaged in financial shenanigans too. More like Spotify than Big Tech, but still bad
AI
Big Tech spending on AI is finally getting more scrutiny from financial/business publications
It's happening: Microsoft "pulls a Teams" and will consolidate its Copilot (consumer) and Microsoft 365 Copilot (business apps) into a single app, evolve it in a "super app"
OpenAI's new strategy: Get 'em while they're young
Mozilla provides a progress report on Smart Window for Firefox, details new AI search partnership
Alexa+ is now free on all FireTV devices in the U.S., no Prime required
XBOX
Resonance: A Plague Tale and more are heading to Game Pass during the second half of August
XBOX August Update is here with more Achievements details, Game Hubs now support Xbox 360 titles, Game Pass subscribers can now stream a game while it installs in the background
XBOX Insiders can now test Home Improvements, local save game management, and profile badges
Apple makes major App Store concessions in the EU. But Epic Games says it is not enough.
The new Call of Duty has a public beta on Friday, and there will be a single-player episode for the first time
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Yes, Virginia, you can exit the Insider Program now
App pick of the week: Brave
RunAs Radio this week: Automatic Attack Disruption with Liz Tesch
Brown liquor pick of the week: Red Bank Premium Blended
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Microsoft's AI investments reveal a bizarre financial loop where billions pour into infrastructure, yet profits remain elusive. The hosts break down why the industry's most hyped tech might just be a high-stakes game of circular accounting. Plus, a developer has resurrected Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to run natively on Windows 11! Lastly, Stardock's latest utility replaces Alt + Tab for $7.99.
Windows
25H2: new touchpad gestures, Windows Hello ESS improvements, Widgets improvements, Windows Search improvements, more
26H1: Windows Update calendar-based pausing, Picture Password EOL, Point in time restore, multi-camera support, user folder customization in Setup, etc.
Over 420 bug fixes, but that's over 200 less than last month
Follow-up on Microsoft's AI spending. It's much worse than we knew - And also much worse than we know now
Yes, Microsoft Edge is going all-in on Manifest V3
Proton Drive - Now with a CLI and business features, and it's coming soon to Linux
A developer ported Word for Windows 1.1 to x64
AI
Gemini now has one billion users. But how many pay? - Plus the new Pixel phones are one step sideways, one step back
OpenAI brings ChatGPT to Linux (!)
Xbox and gaming
A new Xbox Elite Series 3 controller leak shows it will have a mini display
Microsoft tests new console features with Xbox Insiders
Id Software brings a new episode to Quake to mark 30th anniversary!
Minecraft is coming to Switch 2
Here comes GTA VI
A Valve partner was hacked, Steam Machine customers warned
Nintendo revenues decline 9.5 percent to ¥518 billion
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: View Git status directly in File Explorer
App pick of the week: AltTabby
RunAs Radio this week: The Content Management System Landscape with Matt Garrepy
Brown liquor pick of the week: Sideshow Lincoln Straight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Behind the headlines about skyrocketing revenues and AI investments, the actual costs and future risks for Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are shrouded in strategic accounting moves. Plus, Paul finished rewriting and adding new chapters to the Windows 11 Field Guide - mostly just clean-up now, and then whatever new monthly features. Lastly, The Document Foundation issues a friendly reminder about the Office 2021 EOL and how that never happens with their software
Microsoft earnings
Microsoft earnings up 18 percent to $90 billion
Analysis: Microsoft finds a new way to not account for AI costs
Windows
Pavan Davuluri says he's "energized" about what's happening to Windows in 2026.
OK. But what's really happened so far? When will the biggest changes land? And when, if ever, will you address the real enshittification in Windows 11?
Windows Insider Program: Five new builds - New Taskbar comes to Beta channel
This leads to questions of timing, and here, WIP is not all that transparent still
Another antitrust win: Apple to allow Copy and Paste between Windows and iPhone
AMD revenues up 50 percent to $11.5 billion, but it's all AI datacenter
Amazon: up 20 percent to $200 billion
Apple: up 16 percent to $109 billion
AI
Satya Nadella mentions AI super app again, not clear why anyone cares about this
Proton Lumo can do data visualization now
Xbox and gaming
Asha Sharma details the priorities for XBOX in the next year and number 5 will shock you
XBOX console prices going up in the EU and UK
Thanks, Caption Obvious: Yes, Backward Compatibility on PC will support Xbox 360 games too
XBOX plans new FanFest tour dates - there's SO much to celebrate!
Gears of War: E-Day leads the charge for new Game Pass titles in August
XBOX Insiders is testing new console features
XBOX app comes to Hisense and VIDDA TVs
EA goes private for $55 billion in cash, but also some debt
Sony has sold 95.3 million PS5s
Sony responds to concerns about no more discs (with "pffffftttt")
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: It's done!
App pick of the week: LibreOffice
RunAs Radio this week: Ransomware Readiness with Heather Renze
Brown liquor pick of the week: Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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There's been so much drama over what options Microsoft will allow for the Copilot key. But you don't have to wait for a future Windows update; you can remap any key with Microsoft's own Keyboard Manager PowerToy. More people should take advantage of this. Also, Paul just finished his major 2026 rewrite of the Windows 11 Field Guide! Every single chapter was rewritten or consolidated, with several new chapters added. Lastly, the OG Halo remake is a great reminder of how good this series was in the beginning. And it looks and plays terrific.
Windows
Week D updates arrive on time this month
Windows Hello ESS support for external fingerprint readers, many small improvements
Experimental (Future Platforms) finally gets an update, but it's just the features we saw elsewhere first
Several in-box app updates for July, nothing major
Microsoft convinces LG to drop the McAfee ads, but HP's Bing ads are A-OK
Chris tested Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM and the experience is not great
Paul has a Wildcat-based laptop waiting for him in PA
Microsoft is testing a "Do nothing" option for the Copilot key
Your Windows 11 PC now has a OneDrive Photos app for some reason
Opera One gets vertical tabs, deeper Google Lens integration
Earnings
Google/Alphabet - net income of $28 billion on $120 billion in revenues, but negative cash flow for the first time in the company's history
Intel - net loss of $11 million, no Foundry customers leaves Wall Street swooning for some reason
AI
Microsoft begins shifting to its own MAI models, but the forward progress is minimal
NVIDIA, Microsoft, more team up for AI empire, er, Alliance
Anthropic launches Claude Opus 5
Xbox and gaming
Halo: Campaign Evolved is here
XBOX went down for the count for most of the day on Monday. But disc-based games still worked
XBOX begins testing ad-supported Cloud Gaming
Ubisoft game purchases on Xbox now carry over to PC for free
Luna comes to Prime Video app
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Remap keys with PowerToys Keyboard Manager
App pick of the week: Halo Campaign Evolved
Chris's pick of the week: His new newsletter!
Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott
Guest: Chris Hoffman
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As the tech world catches its breath from AI whiplash and retro gaming returns to the PC, Microsoft quietly kills underused tools and tries to double down on what actually works. This episode blends the excitement of tech and entertainment (like Xbox classics landing on Windows 11) with a poignant look back at the life and legacy of legendary columnist John C. Dvorak.
Windows
Five new Insider builds released on Monday; the new Start menu comes to the Beta channel
Experimental (26H1) a day later with no interesting new features
The Whiteboard app is apparently being retired
AI
Microsoft expands partnership with Mistral to improve EU AI infrastructure
Copilot for consumers is losing Podcasts and Deep research features soon
U.S. judge approves Anthropic $1.5 billion settlement with authors it stole from
1Password partners with Anthropic to make AI access to password-protected websites secure
Google renames NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook
Google's next big AI models are delayed, but we got Gemini 3.6 Flash, Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber to tide us over
XBOX and gaming
Microsoft brings XBOX Backward Compatibility to PC!!
Here comes Halo: Campaign Evolved, along with more Game Pass titles for the end of July
Bethesda announces Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters, and Fallout 5 is entering pre-production
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 in Early Access on August 21, Open Beta on August 27
XBOX July update adds support for longer gamertags, new library customization options, and more
XBOX teams with Meta to bring Game Pass Starter Edition to Meta Horizon+ subscribers
Valve says the component crisis dogging Steam Machine pricing will only get worse
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Windows Package Manager for bulk app installs
App (game) of the week: Doom: The Dark Ages
RunAs Radio this week: Security Begins at Procurement with Jessie Schofer
Brown liquor pick of the week: Loup River Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday just shattered records with hundreds of bug fixes, and AI is the force behind the surge. Are we witnessing the beginning of a safer Windows, or is this flood of vulnerabilities the new normal? Plus, Tony Redmond's epic book has a new name (was Office 365 for IT Pros) and is now a bundle of four books.
Windows
Patch Tuesday is here!
Point in Time Restore, quieter Widgets, Windows Update improvements, Screen tint, and more
The biggest Patch Tuesday in history, by far: a record 570 fixes for security flaws, and a huge 3X increase from the then-record flaws fixed last month. (Some say the number is 622. Math is hard.) And this is on top of 468 Microsoft Edge/Chromium flaws that were fixed by Google this month too. Yikes.
Microsoft discusses how it's improving Windows security with AI
Windows Insider Program: Improved Windows Search is next on the docket, heading out to Experimental this week. Question: When do these things hit stable?
Microsoft releases Snapdragon X2 versions of its Surface for Business Pro and Laptop models
AI
Apple sues OpenAI for stealing trade secrets
Surprised there was no talk of "thermonuclear war"
OpenAI's response is hilarious, and it is already prepping its first hardware device
OpenAI just announced the rumored super app, which is a combination of ChatGPT, Work, Codex, and an in-app web browser, which replaces the standalone Atlas web browser. Also, GPT-5.6.
In keeping with recent history, Anthropic announced its in-app web browser for Claude less than 24 hours later
Reminder that Microsoft acknowledged that it, too, is working on an AI super app at Build
Apple releases public betas of its OS 27 releases and, shocker, Siri is really good
Now Spotify has an AI chatbot so I can tell it how much I hate Spotify
Xbox and gaming
Obsidian is working on a new Fallout game, duh.
A quiet time after last week's terribleness
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Microsoft 365 for IT Pros (2027 edition) is here!
App pick of the week: MusicBee
RunAs Radio this week: Finding Security Vulnerabilities using AI with Sami Laiho
Brown liquor pick of the week: Sanctuary Single Malt Whisky Reserve Edition
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Microsoft's latest round of layoffs and game studio shakeups reveal deep cracks in the XBOX business, as years of unprofitability and missed expectations force the company into tough decisions. Are industry icons like Game Pass and big-name studios on borrowed time? Also, Paul's made major progress on the Windows 11 Field Guide updates! Plus, a desktop and mobile web browser that now blocks YouTube ads by default.
Layoffs
Microsoft announces 4800 layoffs, 3200 at XBOX
Analysis: What Sharma said and didn't say. Many interesting details revealed here. Many questions unanswered
Great outcomes for four studios, id Software reportedly laid off half its staff
Interesting alternative analysis: The Game Pass thesis, XBOX can't do everything
Windows
Four new builds yesterday, one major new feature: Cloud restore
Microsoft Edge is adding support for Google account sign-ins
Opera One adds clipboard attack prevention
Google and Samsung have announced new hardware launches, both with new foldables on the way - Apple's first foldable expected in January
AI
Microsoft is reportedly transitioning to its in-house MAI models where possible
Latest Corey Doctorow book takes on the future of AI and is surprisingly middle-of-the-road. Unlike his last book, he explains how he handles this and has some ideas for doing so yourself
XBOX and gaming
Gears of War Reloaded, more head to Game Pass
The oldest rumor in XBOX history is back, with Microsoft working (again, or as always) on a disc-to-digital program in the wake of the Sony PS5+ physical media announcement
Nintendo to end OG Switch sales, make Switch 2 changes in the EU
You can play Half-Life 2 in a web browser now
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: All Mint Mobile Plans Are Now Just $15 Per Month
App pick of the week: DuckDuckGo browser
RunAs Radio this week: Implementing Azure Policies with Barbara Forbes
Brown liquor pick of the week: Shenk's Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Windows
Microsoft quietly extends the Windows 10 Extended Security Update program one year to October 2027 for consumers
Windows Insider
Windows Update is transitioning to the new Windows Insider experience by default
Plus, five new builds across Beta, Experimental, Beta (26H1), Experimental (26H1), and Experimental (Future Platforms) — new Taskbar size setting is the much-needed new feature
Hardware
Apple raises prices on Macs, iPads, and more, easing pressure on PC makers
Microsoft quietly begins selling 8 GB Surface Pro/Laptop models
Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Go products right when we need them the most
The ASUS Zenbook A16 is nearly perfect, but it's unclear what you get with an X2 Elite Extreme chip
AI
HP partners with OpenAI for its agentic makeover
Anthropic seizes on the "good enough" AI movement with Sonnet 5
Proton Lumo 2.0 is here
Gemini personalized image creator is available for free in the US
Notion blames agentic AI for it killing Notion Mail
Xbox and Gaming
The 2026 Doom and Gloom Watch
Xbox Series X|S prices to go up again, by $150, on August 1 - and the 2 TB X is going away
Undead Labs and Arkane Lyon possible victims of pending closures
Latest rumor: Microsoft to layoff 2.5 percent of workforce next week - that's 5,500 people, less than expected, but that's because of the earlier voluntary buyouts, which apparently met internal expectations
Minecraft Bedrock edition gets closed captions
Sony will stop selling PS physical media in 2028
Tips and Picks
Tip of the week: Help or get out of the way
People who just complain aren't solving problems, they're just making noise and distracting us from the real problems.
App Pick of the Week: Snapdragon Control Panel
If you have a Windows 11 on Arm PC on Snapdragon X or X2, you need this app to make games run as well as possible.
Plus - Settings > System > Display > Graphics for Auto SR and other settings and whatever is in each game
RunAs Radio this week: AI-Accelerated Supply Chain Attacks with Mackenzie Duncan
Brown liquor pick of the week: Rupert's Exceptional Canadian Whisky
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Windows 12 is stalled and the real reasons go far beyond software. The conversation unpacks how soaring hardware prices, AI chaos, and market confusion have Microsoft in a holding pattern. Also, Paul finally took a sledgehammer to the subscription services he pays for, and more is on the way. Plus, one of Paul's favorite Markdown editors supports authorship on Windows now and an integrated Search/Outline view on Mac, iPad, and iPad.Windows
Week D is here with a preview of July's Patch Tuesday
Point-in-time restore is now generally available in Windows 11, sort of
Quieter widgets, which is nice! Plus, Screen tint, Windows Update improvements, more
Tied to this, sort of, something wonderful is happening to the Windows 11 Field Guide
Five new builds, plus some 26H2 news (and still no news about what 26H1 becomes, see below...)
Mostly minor fit-and-finish improvements
So... what about Windows 12? The history is interesting, and Copilot+ PC was what Paul originally thought Windows 12 would be. But now we're talking agentic capabilities that will handle local/cloud/hybrid orchestration per last week's discussion, and maybe that will be it.
We knew that Surface Laptop and Surface Pro would come in 8 GB configurations. But they're available now with just 256 GB of storage and the prices are $950 and $850 and up, respectively. Plus all the usual Surface limitations, like one color choice. (16 GB is $1150 and $1050, respectively, so $300 more.)
Once again, it's time to just get a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x for $850. It has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage and is awesome.
Tim Cook just admitted that Apple will raise hardware prices because of the component crisis. If this is hitting Apple hard, the rest of the industry is screwed.
AI
Cory Doctorow's new book is out and let's just say his new neologism isn't as catchy as enshittification
Reverse centaur (groan)
Surprisingly centrist view on the pros and cons of AI
Highlights the Microsoft financial shenanigans I point out every quarter: Microsoft "invests" $10 billion of "tokens" in OpenAI, but there's no volume discount and Microsoft books the transaction as $10 billion in AI revenues as OpenAI simply uses its infrastructure. It gave $10 billion to OpenAI so that it could spend $10 billion on Azure.
Google Home Speaker is the Gemini speaker and it's now shipping to first customers as Google discontinues Nest Audio and Nest Mini speakers. Can we trust this company with hardware? And why are there no Apple or Google home theater setups?
Adobe brings its creative agent to Firefly and the biggest apps in Creative Cloud
XBOX & gaming
No movement yet on the massive changes we expect in XBOX soon
Microsoft has "dozens" of gaming IP-based movies and TV shows in the works
XBOX Insiders can now test updates to Gamertags, Game Hub, and Wish List
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are being ported to modern PS consoles. Sadly, not remakes or remasters.
GTA VI will cost $79.99 and up - Arrives in November, can preorder on June 25
Steam Machine to cost $1049 and up, and that's with no controller
Tips & picks
Tip of the week: How to save $100 a month
App pick of the week: iA Writer
RunAs Radio this week: Securing Developers with Tanya Janca
Brown liquor pick of the week: Glen Breton Rare 10
These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/989 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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With major leadership shakeups and rumors of studio closures, the future of XBOX inside Microsoft suddenly looks uncertain. Is this the beginning of a Game Pass overhaul, or could XBOX face an outright split from the company? Plus, PowerToys 0.100 (yes, point one hundred) arrives with so many improvements. And the Windows Insider program is leaving even seasoned users scratching their heads over Microsoft's so-called "simplification."
Windows
Windows Insider Program: Microsoft releases a record 7 builds to the allegedly simpler Insider Program
You can't tell the players without a program
Experimental: Less disruptive Windows Update, Windows Search improvements
Beta 26H1: Screen tint
Beta 25H2: Screen tint, quieter Widgets, Magnifier zoom controls
Release Preview 25H2: Screen tint, quieter Widgets, Magnifier zoom controls, Bluetooth connectivity improvements
All (?) get Voice access and Voice typing improvements, and new right-click Touchpad settings
Good God, Microsoft
Hardware
Microsoft announces Snapdragon X2-based Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Laptop 13 and the prices are eye-watering
Samsung announces Snapdragon X2-based Galaxy Book6 Edge and, yes, the prices are eye-watering
The component crisis is a disaster but limitations are driving innovation, as they always have
Google releases Android 17 alongside a new Pixel Drop, setting the stage for Googlebooks
Software
Microsoft Edge to follow Chrome to a two-week development schedule because we all love updating our web browsers
Mozilla releases Firefox 152 and a new roadmap for the browser
AI
FINALLY AN AI-FREE WEEK
XBOX and gaming
Fear & loathing at XBOX! The Microsoft fiscal year ends in two weeks, and big changes are coming
XBOX leadership set to reveal "hard truths" that will absolutely include layoffs and studio and game closures
Microsoft is looking at all options for XBOX, including a spin-off
XBOX Studios CEO and chief of staff announce their departures ahead of expected layoffs
XBOX reportedly closing Ninja Theory, makers of the Hellblade games
Compulsion Games is likely on the chopping block too
XBOX is coming to Gamescon this year
Xbox June Update arrives with new boot animation, more while Microsoft continues testing minor UX changes in the Insider Program
COD: Vanguard, EA Sports FC 26 and more coming to Game Pass in the second half of June
Rockstar Games is giving free GTA V upgrades to Xbox One and PS4 players
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Don't doomscroll, learnscroll instead
App pick of the week: PowerToys 0.100
RunAs Radio this week: 47 Day Certificates with Todd Gardner
Brown liquor pick of the week: Thornæs Kagerup
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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If you think code is safe from automation, think again. This week's discussion tackles why the rise of vibe coding and AI-powered tools could upend long-held beliefs about software development, with even seasoned pros rethinking their roles. Also, a new C++ documentary is worth watching!
Windows
After a weekend of Build session viewing, two big takeaways!
Vibe coding native Windows apps and a new reactive dev model for WinUI will help to make modern app dev easier for everyone
A new theory emerges: The real reason Microsoft is fixing Windows 11 is that it needs this foundation for a future of hybrid AI agents. And hybrid means more than just local + cloud.
Patch Tuesday is here! As promised, Microsoft fixed a record number of security issues thanks to AI
24H2/25H2: Shared audio, more NPU in Task Manager, multi-app camera support, user folder name choice in OOBE, more
26H1: Xbox Mode, Drop tray, etc.
Windows Insider Program: New 26H1 Beta channel added for some reason
Dell now sells a Windows Hello ESS-compatible wired mouse
AI
WWDC 2026: Apple announced vibe-coding advances for normal users (Safari extensions) and developers (Xcode). Paul used Xcode and Claude Code to create a full-featured Markdown editor app in about 12-15 minutes.
Google drops the price of AI Plus plan to $4.99 per month, raises storage to 400 GB and announces new NotebookLM capabilities
Proton Drive is coming to Linux, has a new SDK, and now has a new CLI too. We're going to need a CLI section in the show notes.
XBOX and gaming
Microsoft Games Showcase: It needed to be a big day for Xbox and it was
Microsoft showed off Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War E-Day, Fable, and a lot more
Some games will be console-exclusive in the future, starting with the new Gears
Microsoft will sell a limited edition Xbox Series X25 later this year
Xbox leadership is exploring new business models for the next console - Game Pass lost "millions" of subscribers after last year's price hikes
Xbox Insider update adds a new way to discover mutual friends, more
Valve says the Steam Machine and Steam Frame will ship this summer
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Windows 11 Field Guide is being updated to 2026 edition
App pick of the week: Brave Origin
RunAs Radio this week: How Machine Learning Fails with Megan Robertson
Brown liquor pick of the week: Thy Bøg
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week because you cannot relax. Also, Microsoft GA's WinApp CLI, announces the Windows Platform Skills plug-in for native app creation, and you're not going to believe what Paul did next. OK, you will believe itBuild + Computex = OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD
NVIDIA finally announces Arm-based N1X as the RTX Spark
RTX Spark is an Arm-based portable workstation chip for Windows 11
Microsoft announces Surface Laptop Ultra - It and other RTX Spark-based PCs will appear in late 2026
Some of this leaked earlier, including a lower-end N1 chipset
Microsoft continues to optimize and evolve Windows 11 for developers
Windows Developer Configuration, Windows Developer Skills + WinApp CLI, Terminal, more Linux, and more on-device ("unmetered") AI - Tied to this, Copilot+ PC features are coming to more PCs, with CPU/GPU support - this, plus the RTX Spark stuff hints at answers to some obvious questions but there's nothing concrete from Microsoft
Microsoft Edge is getting three new on-AI features
Scout is a personal work agent powered by OpenClaw
GitHub Copilot app arrives on desktop for your agentic coding and management needs
Microsoft AI announces seven new foundation models
Stevie Bathiche is back, baby! And he's talking about those AI app structures and how they've led to Project Solara
Windows
Microsoft discusses the progress it's made on Windows 11 pain points
You can now test the new Start menu in Experimental - Paul did so along with the new Taskbar
Qualcomm announces low-cost Snapdragon C for $300+ PCs to take on MacBook Neo
And Acer is the first to announce a Snapdragon C laptop
New Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 leaks for June release (!)
Dell XPS 13 is coming soon with Intel Wildcat (also to take on MacBook Neo)
Dell revenues are through the roof, but not because of PCs
HP revenues are up, and it is because of PCs
AI and dev
Anthropic gets a new valuation exceeding OpenAI and then it files for an IPO
OpenAI adjusts GPT5.5-Instant for less sucking-up and releases computer use in Codex on Windows
Flutter takes the lead on Flutter desktop development
XBOX and gaming
Asha Sharma says you can't please everyone and then immediately jumps the shark trying to please everyone
XBOX delays Fable reboot because of GTA VI
New titles coming to Game Pass in early June across platforms
XBOX starts early testing of new console features
ASUS announces ROG Xbox Ally X20 with OLED display and XReal R1 glasses
Intel announces Arc G-series for gaming handhelds
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is next and it's the COD we've been begging for
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Now you can vibe code a native Windows app from the CLI
App pick of the week: iA Writer
RunAs Radio this week: Data API Builder and SQL MVP with Jerry Nixon
Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Malt Casking of Longmorn 20

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/986 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Paul has been testing various Linux distributions and other Windows alternatives for months as part of a Switcher series. The zen of Linux can mostly apply to Windows, too: Install and manage software with package managers, and embrace the command line, especially. And if you're going to use a local account, at least be smart about it. Also, Vivaldi 8.0 looks awesome and appears to deliver what Firefox is promising with its Nova UI. Plus, Discord has a native app for Windows 11 on Arm now.
Windows
Week D arrives with a surprise: 24H2/26H1 are aligned and getting the same new features
Shared audio with BT LE, multi-app camera support, many improvements - but the big deal may be the performance and reliability improvements across the board
This is the next Patch Tuesday, today
Friday builds - new accessibility features in Experimental and Beta, more
Microsoft CMO Yusuf Mehdi to leave company after an astonishing 35-year run - started in Windows, but with IE, Bing & MSN, Interactive Entertainment (Xbox), Windows and Devices, and then a SLT position before the end. Incredible run. Paul has three milestones and one throughline to share.
Lenovo revenues surge 27 percent to $21.6 billion
NVIDIA revenues really surged 85 percent to $81.6 billion
AI/dev
Google adds Google Drive sync to NotebookLM, and moves preferred sources into AI Mode and AI Overviews
Saying no to AI: DuckDuckGo usage surges in the wake of Google I/O's AI tsunami
OpenAI releases ChatGPT plugin for PowerPoint
.NET MAUI to get Material You support for Android in .NET 10
Follow-up on last week's vibe coding adventures: Paul talked about this last week, but a lot has happened since then. The Android app creation capability in Google AI Studio is live. A few thoughts on vibe coding with Android Studio, Claude Code, and more
Xbox and gaming
XBOX—and, yes, it's XBOX now—has an official merchandise store to go alongside all its other official merchandise stores
The Steam Deck is back in stock! Also, it's 40 percent more expensive
Tips & picks
Tip of the week: Understanding the zen of Linux can help a Windows user too
App pick of the week: A grab-bag of apps for Windows
RunAs Radio this week: Team Productivity using Loop with Karinne Bessette
Brown liquor pick of the week: John Sleeman & Sons Rye Whisky
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly
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Windows Insider Program
Release Preview channel updates (including 26H1 for the first time? - A preview of the June Patch Tuesday updates - Shared audio, NPU usage in
Task Manager, multi-app camera support, Magnifier improvements.
Taskbar updates come to Insiders! Also in Canary, weʼre throwing them a bone this time.
Enshittification remedies all around
Microsoft just held a WinHEC for the first time since 2018 and thereʼs a new Windows Driver Initiative!
Microsoft will soon let us remap Copilot key to Right Ctrl, which is what it was in the first place.
A Linux privacy nut YouTuber confuses privacy and security and doesnʼt understand Windows 11 so...
... Paul wrote a complete guide to the local account de-Microsoft experience in Windows 11
Microsoft Edge will stop loading all passwords into clear text on startup like a big boy browser.
Hardware
Paul came home to an ASUS Zenbook A16 and ohmygodohmygodohmygod
Surface
Microsoft finally revs Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business, with Intel chips and VERY high prices.
Snapdragon X2 variants in late 2026 because of supply issues wa-waa-waaaaa.
AI
MDASH is Microsoftʼs answer to Anthropic Mythos, in-house only.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman are both terrible but a jury decided against Muskʼs frivolous lawsuit.
OpenAI and Apple might head to court over Siri promises
OpenAI Codex is on mobile via the ChatGPT app
Google unleashes an AI tsunami at Google IO this week. A few relevant takeaways:
Overview of the major announcements
Google advances Android as a developer platform
Chrome is turning into a proactive assistant
Google AI subscriptions are an incredible value
Related: The Gemini Intelligence feature for Googlebooks and more has steep hardware requirements - 12 GB of RAM, flagship SoC So Pixel 10 series/Galaxy S26 series and newer only etc.
Just a reminder that Microsoft makes a Linux distribution ... for Azure specifically
More dev
WWDC schedule is up for June 8 opening day
Build 2026 kicks off June 2 in SFO
After another boring .NET 11 preview release, we finally get our first look at a major change: MAUI is switching from the Mono runtime to the CoreCLR runtime.
And we should pause for a moment to remember S "Soma" Somasegar, who sadly passed away this week.
Xbox and Gaming
Next Xbox Elite controller leaks and it is glorious
Related: An Xbox Cloud-Connected controller leaks too and it is less than glorious.
Forza Horizon 6 is here, and itʼs on Game Pass on Day One.
Be sure to read Laurentʼs detailed review.
Haters gonna keep hating: Fans want Xbox exclusives because their heads are still in the sand.
Sony is allegedly returning to this model for single player experiences
Related: Sony raises prices on PS Plus
Fortnite comes back to the Apple App Store worldwide *excluding Australia for some reason.
Tips and Picks
Tip of the week: Google AI Studio.
Vibe-code your next app with this incredible free tool.
Related: A look at Markdown editors.
App pick of the week: DeskScapes 2026
Stardock DeskScapes 2026 is normally $9.99 but it will cost just $6.99 during the launch period.
Also: Firefox 151 is a big update on desktop and mobile, the latter gets the AI kill switch
RunAs Radio this week: UEFI Secure Boot with Richard Hicks
Brown liquor pick of the week: Daftmill Winter Batch Release
These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/984 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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It's not just Recall: Security vulnerabilities that require you to sign into an account on your PC are not necessarily vulnerabilities. Also, Windows 11 gets its first big feature updates in this week's Patch Tuesday releases. Snapseed 4.0 comes to Android/iOS, and Claude FM is great for relaxing or getting coding/work done. Plus, the Helium browser has emerged as a favorite with 2 notable caveats: No online settings sync and no mobile client.
Windows
25H2/24H2: Xbox Mode, Agents on the Taskbar, more
26H1: Smart App Control improvements, other things we saw previously (26H1 is like the stable version of Canary, it seems)
Microsoft used a new Mythos-like model called MDASH to find vulnerabilities this month, so expect the numbers of fixed bugs to jump in coming months
A low-latency profile for Windows will let it optimize for app/UI launch performance just like mobile platforms already do
New builds across most channels with two major changes: Touchpad improvements in Experimental and free upgrade path to Pro for education users in Experimental Beta.
A new threat emerges
Google announces Googlebook, an Android-based laptop platform with Google Intelligence
Some morning-after thoughts, including Microsoft promising AI and that Copilot will be the new Start, while Google delivers AI and is remaking the laptop as an intelligent device
AI
Microsoft Edge gets big AI and productivity updates on desktop and mobile
An Anthropic engineer argues that AI should use HTML for output, not Markdown. He's right.
About that 4 GB Gemini Nano model that Chrome secretly downloads
OpenAI brings Codex to Google Chrome
Security
A Bitlocker concern emerges
Microsoft Edge loads all saved passwords into plain text when it launches, Microsoft says this is as intended
Mozilla patched 423 vulnerabilities in Firefox during April, most courtesy of Anthropic Mythos
465 million Amazon customers have enrolled in passkeys
Xbox & gaming
Xbox Insider Program: New build for console with previously announced new boot animation, tiered Gamerscore badges, new filters in Game Library
Forza Horizon 6 leaks on Steam, those who play it early will be banned until the sun swallows the earth
Discord Nitro now has an Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition perk
Mojang will host a special MINECRAFT LIVE event on May 30
Sony sold just 1.5 million PS5s in most recent quarter, its lowest number yet
Nintendo sold just 2.49 million Switch 2s in quarter, lowers annual estimates
Supreme Court gives Apple the 🖕 so Epic v. Apple will head to remedy phase
Tips & picks
Tip of the week: A web browser is the 1st step for anyone looking to escape Big Tech
App pick of the week: Helium
RunAs Radio this week: Production LLMs with Vaishnavi Gudur
Brown liquor pick of the week: Gouden Carolus Port Oak
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly
Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com
The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.
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Microsoft's earnings report went out last week, and the company spent a lot on AI in the quarter. Microsoft updates its customers on what it's done to address Windows 11 problems. And Xbox kills Copilot plans for the console.

Microsoft Earnings
Microsoft announced that it earned a net income of $31.8 billion on revenues of $82.9 billion in the previous quarter.
Windows: 1.6 billion monthly active devices, a focus on quality after years of enshittification - but revenues from PC makers were down 2 percent YOY.
Microsoft Edge "has taken share for 20 consecutive quarters," which isn't supported by the evidence.
Bing "monthly active users reached one billion for the first time," raising questions about how Microsoft defines the term "user."
Xbox: "The team is recommitting to our core fans and players, and shaping the future of play," new records for monthly active Xbox users and game streaming hours.
AI: Capex spending in the quarter was $32 billion, down from previous quarter as previously described, but up 49 percent YOY.
More earnings
Apple, Google/Alphabet, and Amazon.
AMD - Up because of AI datacenter.
Qualcomm - Plus, Intel just hired away a key Qualcomm exec.
Windows
Microsoft shares an update about what it's done to address Windows 11 pain points so far.
Marcus Ash is one of the good guys.
Some of this is happening in Insider, some is rolling out to retail.
Windows Insider Program and Windows Update improvements we discussed last week - two primary channels in WIP now.
Simplifying AI experiences - fewer Copilot icons (Notepad, etc.).
File Explorer improvements - performance, fewer hangs, better polish and consistency.
Widgets - Feed will be off by default, fewer interruptions, no hover activate.
System performance - Smaller memory footprint, more aggressive RAM restoration, and more.
Soon: Taskbar updates, Start updates, and more to share at Build in June.
Week D update arrives with a peek at May's Patch Tuesday.
Major: Xbox Mode, AI agents on the Taskbar are the first two big features of 2026.
Minor: Also adds File Explorer improvements, new haptic feedback effects, touch keyboard improvements, and more.
Shocking new report that Microsoft Edge is incredibly insecure should surprise no one.
AI
Microsoft Agent 365 Platform is out of preview, supports local AI agents and Copilot Cowork Agent arrives on mobile with plugin support.
Microsoft launches a Legal AI Agent in Word.
Apple's plan to open up to multiple third-party AIs is a good one.
Canonical's plan to add AI to Ubuntu is also good, but you're never going to believe what happened next.
Xbox and Gaming
Asha Sharma reorgs Xbox, kills Copilot on the console.
Forza Horizon 6, more coming to Game Pass in May.
Xbox April Update is out with updates for all platforms.
Next Call of Duty will not ship on Xbox One, PS4.
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is coming to the Mac for some reason.
And finally, with the Supreme Court refusing to block the implementation of the ruling in Epic v. Apple, Microsoft's Xbox game store for mobile is one step closer to happening.
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Embrace inconvenience.
App pick of the week: Windows Defender.
RunAs Radio this week: Securing Active Directory with Spencer Alessi.
Brown liquor pick of the week: Stalk & Barrel Whisky.
These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/982 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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This episode dives into early MS-DOS/PC-DOS source code, Snapdragon X2 gaming, and the "We are Xbox" messaging. Plus, Paul details 2 big changes in the Windows Insider Program. The latest PowerToys adds 2 useful new utilities and many improvements. And a TWiT listener asked about buying Windows 11 on Arm to virtualize it on a Mac. You're not going to believe what happened next.
Windows
Microsoft announces big changes to Windows Update
Microsoft announces Windows Insider Program changes, with Experimental channel
Hands-on with both predictably shows some nice improvements
Hands-on with Snapdragon X2 gaming - more wins, but still some losses
Microsoft open sources some of the earliest MS-DOS source code and related materials
Intel loses $3.7 billion and Wall Street could not be happier. WTF is happening - Paul has a theory and its called collusion
AI
Microsoft and OpenAI revise partnership again and wait for it...
OpenAI immediately signs on with AWS
Microsoft 365 Copilot subscribers get Word, Excel, and PowerPoint agentic AI features
Copilot in Outlook can manage your inbox and calendar, but seriously stop using Outloook
GitHub Copilot's switch to usage-based billing starts June 1
OpenAI is reportedly working on a phone because of course it is
Adobe Firefly AI Assistant is now available in preview
And then Anthropic goes deeper into the creator market
Xbox and gaming
Microsoft Gaming is being (re)rebranded to Xbox!
New Xbox leadership can't stop explaining its plans and it's glorious
Microsoft still plans a mobile game store, waiting on Apple to stop being so f'ing terrible
Valve's Steam Controller will cost $99 and launches next week
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Windows licenses, $, and you
App pick of the week: PowerToys 0.99
RunAs Radio this week: M365 Copilot vs Claude Cowork with Sharon Weaver
Brown liquor pick of the week: Reifel Rye
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly
Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com
The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.
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AI is democratizing the making of things, from bespoke/custom apps to websites, designs of all kinds, and everything else you might imagine. It's a new world, and it's time to create. Plus, Helium is a new Chromium-based web browser that's completely open source, lightweight, secure, and private. There's a native version for Windows 11 on Arm, too. Also, Firefox 150 arrives with over 270 security fixes!
Windows 11
Reports of a Recall security vulnerability are, once again, bogus, Microsoft says
New builds on all channels, still on the old system
Xbox Mode is now available in all channels
Release Preview shows us the May Patch Tuesday updates: Xbox Mode, File Explorer improvements, Haptic improvements, Drop Tray renaming, Agents on the Taskbar
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x - Snapdragon X2 Elite, 14-inch display impressions
Lenovo IdeaPad 5x - Snapdragon X2 Plus, 15.3-inch display impressions
Microsoft 365, Surface, more
OneDrive now supports Markdown natively
New Surface PCs with Intel chips coming soon
Microsoft is making changes to its Rewards program
AI
GitHub Copilot moves to token-based billing in a sign of the true cost of AI
Claude Design democratizes visual design on the heels of Claude Opus 4.7
OpenAI Codex moves into productivity
OpenAI releases ChatGPT Images 2.0
Chrome AI Mode gets a big update
Mozilla announces Thunderbolt, sovereign AI for businesses
Google brings vibe coding to Android apps with Android CLI
Xbox and gaming
Microsoft drops Xbox Game Pass prices (!), but also drops Call of Duty from Day One
Plus, Xbox teases a Game Pass Discord perk
More Game Pass titles for April: Kiln, Vampire Crawlers, more
Xbox April Update is here with that Quick Resume feature we all want
There's an ID@Xbox event on April 23 to highlight indie games
Xbox is selling Forza Horizon 6 limited edition controller and headsets
Starfield is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2
A Call of Duty movie will finally arrive in 2028
Try out the Modern Warfare remake on Game Pass, it's a reminder of COD's gritty past
PS5 Digital is down to its $399 launch price temporarily
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Just make it
App pick of the week: Helium
RunAs Radio this week: The Life and Death of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit with Michael Niehaus
Brown liquor pick of the week: Ned Australian Whisky
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly 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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With Microsoft finally doing right by Windows 11 and the Windows Insider Program, it's time to start testing and provide some feedback. And then we'll see if we can really trust these people. Also, Stardock's Connection Explorer 1.0 is here! And if you want one of macOS's dumbest features on Windows 11, you can get it now.
Windows
Yesterday was Patch Tuesday - Another month in paradise
26H1 - Eh, 24H2/25H2 - Narrator, File Explorer, display, Pen settings, WRE, Remote Desktop improvements
Microsoft reveals how it will simplify the Windows Insider Program
Two top-level channels, but really three
A way to enable all features in new builds, finally, and easy channel switching. But there are complexities, of course
New builds for Canary, Beta, and Dev - Two for Canary, but nothing new, Beta and Dev get Storage, networking, Windows Security, and Feedback Hub improvements
The first Snapdragon X2-based PC is out, and Paul has that waiting in PA, and two more PCs are coming to Mexico
PC sales were somehow up 2.5 percent in Q1, but the rest of 2026 will be a bloodbath
Also, smartphone sales are doing even worse
NVIDIA reportedly wants to buy Dell or HP ahead of a big PC chipset push. Interesting
Surface/Microsoft 365
Microsoft is forced to hike Surface prices dramatically
Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Hub
Microsoft College Offer: 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium, 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a custom Xbox controller when students in the U.S. purchase a PC
AI/Dev
Microsoft AI releases a faster and more efficient image model
Amazon CEO tries to explain the AI spending
Google app for Windows rolls out worldwide, but the Mac gets a Gemini app
Claude for Microsoft Word arrives in Beta
Claude for Desktop gets a major redesign for multiple AI agents
Microsoft's reported plans to charge for AI agents
.NET 11 Preview 3 arrives right on schedule, but there's nothing to see here
Build session catalog is up - joking, but the new Windows native app strategy should just be vibe coding
Google I/O registration is open, and you are never going to believe what the main topics will be - number five will shock you
Xbox & gaming
New Xbox CEO says Game Pass is too expensive, also that the sky is blue
Xbox will show off the next Metro game soon
Starfield for PS5 is getting a fix
Amazon Luna is stripping down to the basics e.g. "pulling a Stadia"
Tips & picks
Tip of the week: It's time to get involved
App pick of the week: Stardock Connection Explorer
RunAs Radio this week: Internal Corporate Communications in 2026 with Emily Mancini
Brown liquor pick of the week: ScapeGrace Vanguard
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly
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Julia Liuson is leaving Microsoft. Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella (she worked on Access at first). She helped build the first version of Visual Studio and was the first female corporate vice president at Microsoft. Liuson has been president of Microsoft's Developer Division since 2021. Also, curious about life on the other side of the fence? Paul has a tip for finding games that are optimized for Linux. Plus, Chrome joins the 21st century with vertical tabs and a real reading view. Just be sure to install those anti-tracking extensions.
Windows
Microsoft promises more native apps for Windows 11, but... which apps? New apps? Replacements for existing apps?
Thanks for making us revisit the web app vs. native app thing yet again, Microsoft
Windows 11 version 25H2 is now being pushed to all compatible PCs
Compatibility milestone, not a big deal because 24H2/25H2 features are identical, same underlying codebase - but some will complain that Microsoft is "forcing" 25H2 on them
Secure Boot certificate notifications are now available so you can see where your PC is at
Another month, another emergency Windows Update patch
New Dev/Beta builds add Xbox Mode, new haptic effects, etc., plus a new Canary build with features we've seen before
Microsoft is taking the Insider Program on the road
Component shortages trigger another Raspberry Pi price hike, but also a promise for the future
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor will be available from leading retailers starting Apr. 22 with a retail price of $899
AI
Microsoft's terms of service for Copilot say it's for entertainment purposes only. Yes, really.
Microsoft AI releases new foundational models for transcription, voice, and images
Word on iPhone gets Copilot co-create capabilities - used to be AI Mode, you need a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription
Anthropic has hired away a key AI executive from Microsoft, and what he has to say about the opportunity is interesting
Anthropic brings Computer Use to Windows
Google: Seriously, we are not training AI with your Gmail
Google AI Pro plans now offer 5 TB of cloud storage, yikes
Xbox & gaming
Xbox is refreshing the look of achievements on the console
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, more coming to Game Pass this month
Was this the best COD ever? In search of greatness
Also: Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and playable day one with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox will hold FanFest events around the world
Tips & picks
Tip of the week: So you want to try gaming on Linux
App pick of the week: Google Chrome
RunAs Radio this week: Securing AI Agents with Niall Merrigan
Brown liquor pick of the week: Corowa Peated Single Barrel 521
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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