Windows Weekly 930: Floculation and Saponification

Leo, Richard, and Paul discuss whether you’re the product, Windows 11 24H2, earnings, Build vs. Google I/O, AI, Xbox and gaming, and much more.

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Windows

YOU ARE THE PRODUCT!

• But … are you?
• In Russia, Windows 11 uses you

Windows 11 24H2 preview update for April finally arrives

• Now we know why Microsoft waited: It wanted to announce the “general availability” of Recall, Click to Do, and “improved Windows Search” (we’re still struggling with a name for that one)

More new features on the way

• Dev and Beta (24H2) builds add a profanity filter, a Pen shortcut for Click to Do, improved Windows Search for work and school accounts, Accessibility flyout in Quick settings
• Related: Microsoft (sort of) explains why Windows Insider Preview channels don’t follow a logical order anymore

Microsoft deprecates Map app in Windows 11

• That makes sense. But also VBS Enclaves in pre-24H2 versions, which is interesting

Corporate

Microsoft says it will defend EU companies against US government

Earnings learnings

• Alphabet/Google is doing just great, thanks
• Intel earnings are flat, and that’s as good as that news gets
• Samsung posts record revenues on strong S25 series sales

MICROSOFT EARNINGS TODAY AT 4:00 PM ET

Dev

Build and Google I/O are coming in hot

• Session schedules are available for both
• Google is holding a separate Android event for the first time – ahead of I/O
• What about Surface? At Build last year, the company announced Copilot+ PC

AI

Microsoft has an OpenAI problem – duh and/or hello

Microsoft is part of an AI unholy quaternity on new Moto phones

Duolingo announces controversial “AI first” strategy – And then announces 148 new AI-based courses

Apple on Apple Intelligence: Just kidding!

Lightning round

• OpenAI on GPT-4o: Just kidding!
• ChatGPT goes shopping and OpenAI improves Deep Research
• Google updates NotebookLM audio overviews with support for over 50 languages
• YouTube starts testing AI overviews for videos – and Spotify is using AI for playlists
• Adobe updates Firefly models, adds third party support
• DuckDuckGo’s Duck.ai now supports real-time model switching
• Meta launches a standalone AI app that no one should want

Xbox and gaming

Xbox-exclusive game Towerborne is here in preview on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Be prepared

I have a recovery story. For once, I was ready for this.

• Something happened on the way to dual-booting Ubuntu 25.05 on Surface Laptop 7
• All is well in a follow-up

App pick of the week: Firefox

You should be using Brave. But if you don’t like/trust Chromium, Firefox 138 finally added profile management support

RunAs Radio this week: Modern Work in 2025 with Karoliina Kettukari

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/982

Brown liquor pick of the week: Highwayman Whisky Abbey 2024

https://www.casadevinos.com.au/

https://highwayman-whisky.com/product/whisky-abbey-2024/

https://whiskyabbey.au/