Windows Weekly 868: Paulybrowserous

Leo, Richard, and Paul discuss Windows 11 24H2, AI and antitrust, cloud/server/developer news, the FTC, and Xbox’s day of reckoning.

Stream this episode and subscribe

Enjoy Windows Weekly on YouTube

Windows 11

24H2 is a thing, officially

• 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
• So. 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 #winningbylosing

Google Gemini officially replaces Bard

Grammarly lays off 230 to focus on AI

Mozilla scales back dramatically, will focus on AI in Firefox – This came right after Paul wrote an editorial about the lack of innovation in web browsers and called out Mozilla for its mistakes. Then Mitchell Baker stepped down as CEO.

Semi-related: 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

The day of reckoning arrives: After last week’s worries about Xbox, exclusives, and rival consoles:

• Xbox says it will come clean on its strategy
• And then announces it will do so tomorrow (Thursday), sending everyone into a new tizzy

A second Xbox drama: 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

Multiple app picks this week…

• DuckDuckGo browser: It’s still not ready for primetime, but bookmark and password sync take it one step closer. Why does this feature feel familiar?
• Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Devices for Windows … did Microsoft make these?
• Microsoft PC Manager: Avoid at all costs

RunAs Radio this week: Maximizing Metadata with Emily Mancini

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/919

Brown liquor pick of the week: Starward Pedro Ximenez Cask

https://thewhiskyclub.com.au/starward-pedro-ximenez-cask

https://starward.com.au/collections/single-malt-whisky