Windows Weekly 995: The Greatest Depression

Leo, Richard, and Paul are live in Las Vegas for Blackhat USA 2026 and discuss Microsoft earnings, Windows 11, AI, Xbox, and more.

Stream this episode and subscribe

Enjoy Windows Weekly on YouTube

Microsoft earnings

• Microsoft earnings up 18 percent to $90 billion
• Analysis: Microsoft finds a new way to not account for AI costs

Windows

Pavan Davuluri says he’s “energized” about what’s happening to Windows in 2026.

• OK. But … what’s really happened so far? When will the biggest changes land? And when if ever will you address the real enshittification in Windows 11?

Windows Insider Program

• Five new builds – New Taskbar comes to Beta channel
• This leads to questions of timing, and here WIP is not all that transparent still

Another antitrust win: Apple to allow Copy and Paste between Windows and iPhone

More earnings

• AMD revenues up 50 percent to $11.5 billion, but it’s all AI datacenter
• Amazon: up 20 percent to $200 billion
• Apple: up 16 percent to $109 billion

AI

Satya Nadella mentions AI super app again, not clear why anyone cares about this

Proton Lumo can do data visualization now

Xbox and gaming

Asha Sharma details the priorities for XBOX in the next year and number 5 will shock you

Xbox console prices going up in the EU and UK

Thanks, Captain Obvious: Yes, Backward Compatibility on PC will support Xbox 360 games too

XBOX plans new FanFest tour dates – there’s SO much to celebrate!

Gears of War: E-Day leads the charge for new Game Pass titles in August – More on Gears

XBOX Insiders is testing new console features

XBOX app comes to Hisense and VIDDA TVs

EA goes private for $55 billion in cash, but also some debt

Sony has sold 95.3 million PS5s

• Related: Sony responds to concerns about no more discs (with “pffffftttt”)

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: It’s done!

I finished rewriting and adding new chapters to the Windows 11 Field Guide – mostly just clean-up now, and then whatever new monthly features

App pick of the week: LibreOffice

The Document Foundation issues a friendly reminder about the Office 2021 EOL and how that never happens with their software

RunAs Radio this week: Ransomware Readiness with Heather Renze

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/1048

Brown liquor pick of the week: Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon

https://freyranch.com/straight-bourbon-whiskey/