Windows Weekly 952: You Can See the Edges of the Bubble

Leo, Richard, and Paul discuss the sort-of release of 25H2, the belated 24H2 preview update, Snapdragon X2, AI, Xbox and gaming, and much more.

Stream this episode and subscribe

25H2 is … here?!

Microsoft announced that 25H2 is GA (!)

• … but where is it?
• And what is it? Here’s Microsoft’s list of “new” features

More Windows 11

Microsoft delivers the 24H2 Week D update in Week E

• No, it’s not the preview version of 25H2 for some reason
• But it is a massive update. And it is essentially 25H2

Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president and his first change was to bring Windows engineering back in-house and out of Azure

Windows Insider

• Dev and Beta: Minor changes to File Explorer, Quick settings, Get Started
• Photos app is getting AI-based categories

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to be free-free in the EU

Snapdragon X2

It’s real and it’s really better than almost anything out there. The bad news: Not until next year

• Hardware prototypes point the way for device makers
• Arm is the epiphany we need for everything to just work
• Also, apparently Qualcomm still makes phone chips

Related: Qualcomm declares “total litigation victory” against Arm Holdings. More like Harm Holdings, ammmi right? Sorry, I’ll stop

AI

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella steps aside to focus on engineering

Microsoft enters a new era for Copilot/AI

• “More Copilot” is the new “more cowbell”
• Microsoft 365 Premium is the AI-powered subscription you were looking for, Copilot Pro is out
• This maps neatly to the three app structure model and to Paul’s “I will not pay for AI” thing
• Tied to this, Microsoft also announced “inside app” vibe coding updates across Office apps
• Is this also tied to low uptick on paid AI? Report claims just 8 million seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Stevie Bathiche came to Hawaii to talk about the importance of NPUs and on-device AI

• “Directive” AI
• 80 TOPS NPUs enable concurrent AI
• AI agents are the “outside app” structure
• Orchestration is evolving

Copilot users can talk to a cartoon now

Xbox and gaming

Major revamp to Xbox Game Pass with some good and some bad

• Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta after what feels like 17 years, now on all Game Pass tiers
• Game Pass Ultimate gets big price hike but also some improvements
• Game Pass Premium replaces Standard
• Game Pass Essential replaces Core

You can preorder a ROG Xbox Ally Gaming handheld now

• And Microsoft announces how it will handle compatibility

Costco drops Xbox consoles

Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to P5 in 2025

EA goes private for $55 billion

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Videogames are getting expensive

Let’s not forget al the ways you can save money

• Amazon Prime Gaming – free games every month
• Epic Games Store – free games every month
• Support Indie game makers – Xbox and PS both have programsm
• If you are a Game Pass subscriber, it’s time to review the comparison chart (same with M365)

App pick of the week: Proton Mail

Proton completely rewrote its mobile apps—using Rust—and will soon do so for web and desktop too

RunAs Radio this week: HaveIBeenPwned with Troy Hunt

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1004

Brown liquor pick of the week: Compass Box Vellichor

https://www.compassboxwhisky.com/products/vellichor