Windows Weekly 903: Absolutely Seamless!

Leo, Richard, and Paul discuss x86 winding down, 24H2 problems, passkey advances, Xbox, and the Snapdragon Dev Box.

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x86’s last stand?

Intel and AMD announce partnership that is clearly aimed at taking on Arm.

• This is something Intel would typically do solo, but … diminished and whatnot
• Intel was already working on simplifying the x86 architecture by removing older, unused bits
• Don’t worry, Intel and AMD will still compete. And AMD just released new AI processors, with Intel also announcing first Core Ultra chips for Desktop
• Which raises a question: Why do the desktop chips not meet the Copilot+ PC spec? Here’s why

Windows

Redmond, we have a quality problem: 24H2 is besieged by a curious number of issues despite several months of gestation and a shared feature set with 23H2.

Windows Insider

• Dev and Beta: Beta is minor, but Dev has some Taskbar updates
• Release Preview: New builds for 23H2 and 24H2 hint at this month’s Week D preview updates – since this announcement, some features have been delayed

Microsoft 365/Surface

Google Workspace is adding a OneDrive (for Business) data migration capability

• Is there some new cloud interoperability thing going on? We’re seeing this in the consumer space too. Wondering if this is related to regulatory attention

A Lunar Lake Surface Laptop? Probably not

Passkeys get real

As expected, FIDO Alliance will standardize passkey portability

• Two sides to this: Portability between devices but also import/export between password managers
• Amazon has 175 million customers using passkeys – one year after initial unveil

Xbox

With Google antitrust loss, Microsoft vaguely reveals that Xbox games are coming to Android

• Related: Long-forgotten ability to stream games you purchased over Cloud Gaming is now coming soon

Microsoft settles BS “Gamers’ lawsuit” for what we hope was a pittance

• The only gamers with a case to sue Microsoft are Xbox fans – one year this week

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and more are headed to Game Pass if anyone still cares

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S mid-season replacements are here, and they come with a fun surprise

New Xbox wireless headset is incoming

Microsoft to host Xbox Partner Preview tomorrow, October 17

Steam forced to communicate that you don’t own anything you buy

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Check out the Thurrott swag

My new get rich scheme. Or something – actually just looking for feedback

App pick of the week: Arc browser

Now native on Windows 11 on Arm!

RunAs Radio this week: Pen Testing Yourself with Paula Januszkiewicz

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/954

Brown liquor pick of the week: Jameson Irish Whiskey

https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en/our-whiskey/jameson-irish-whiskey/