Windows Weekly 937: Vexed by Perturbations

Leo, Richard, and Paul discuss the Windows Hello controversy, Windows 11, a year with Surface Laptop 7, Microsoft and OpenAI, Xbox, and much more.

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Windows

The Windows Hello controversy of the month

No, it’s not you. Windows Hello doesn’t work in the dark anymore. For reasons.

Windows Insider Program

• AI agent in Settings and Recall export experience in Dev/Beta channels – plus the old clock is back, baby
• July Patch Tuesday preview: App defaults (EEA only), Share images with visual preview, and some fixes for Windows 11 (The first one is coming to Windows 10 too – tied to the DMA news from last week.)

Commentary: What Apple gets right in macOS 26 (and otherwise)

Surface

One year with Surface Laptop 7

Microsoft issues its first firmware updates for Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 in several months, sort of

Microsoft 365

BBB complains about how Microsoft promotes Microsoft 365; Microsoft disagrees but will change the way it communicates about these features

AI

Open AI, Microsoft, and … the nuclear option??

• Related: The Open AI Files provides an insider view of the company and finds it lacking

Copilot Vision is GA in the United States – It’s also free to try on mobile

The Browser Company starts explaining Dia, finally

Xbox and games

Microsoft announces (extends?) partnership with AMD on future Xbox hardware – a one minute video with plenty to parse

• Next-gen hardware
• Multi-year partnership with AMD on Xbox consoles and gaming handhelds
• Compatibility with existing game libraries
• Working closely with the Windows team, ensure Windows is the number one games platform
• Related: Microsoft shares Xbox Ally details with devs, a hint at the coming Windows-based Xbox platform requirements?

More Game Pass titles for June, including an old favorite

Minecraft gets three great updates

Steam will run natively on Apple Silicon soon. Unlike all the games.

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Don’t give in

Harassed by OneDrive Folder backup on multiple review laptops, I decided to give in to Microsoft. Here’s why that was a mistake.

Plus: Prime Day is going to be four days next month. But don’t forget about Prime Gaming ahead of then.

App pick of the week: Camtasia online

A free web-based screen recording utility. Need more? Use Clipchamp or OBS Studio.

Plus: Adobe Firefly is now a mobile app for your generative AI on the go needs

RunAs Radio this week: SQL Server 2025 with Bob Ward

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/989

Brown liquor pick of the week: The Macallan 18 Sherry Oak Cask

https://www.themacallan.com/en/single-malt-scotch-whisky/sherry-oak-18-years-old-2023-release