Thurrott Daily: April 3

I’m still groggy from a busy week in San Francisco, but here are a few tidbits from around the web.

4/3/2016 3:05:37 PM

Watch Build 2016 session videos from the comfort of your own home

I’ve spent much of this afternoon catching up on the Build 2016 session videos that interest me the most. You should too: They’re all available on the Channel 9 web site.

Phil Spencer doesn’t actually deny a mid-stream Xbox One upgrade

I was almost positive that news of a so-called PlayStation 4K meant that Microsoft was likewise planning a mid-lifecycle upgrade for the Xbox One. But it looks like Microsoft is setting its sights a lot higher than that. According to Gamespot, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer says we can’t expect an “Xbox One and a Half.”

“I’m not a big fan of ‘Xbox One and a half’. If we’re going to move forward, I want to move forward in big numbers,” Spencer clarified that he doesn’t have any inside knowledge about PlayStation’s plans or the rumors currently circulating, but he added, “For us, our box is doing well. It performs, it’s reliable, the servers are doing well. If we’re going to go forward with anything, like I said, I want it to be a really substantial change for people–an upgrade.”

What this tells me is that Microsoft does plan to offer an Xbox vNext that is Xbox One compatible, but that it will be a major release, not a half step. Which, frankly, probably says more about the state of Xbox One compared to PS4 than anything else. In other words, nothing has really changed, and I do still expect Microsoft to release its own (Xbox One-compatible) 4K/VR-capable console within the next 12-15 months, while keeping the Xbox One in the market as a more affordable (sub-1080p) option.

And FWIW I hate the name Xbox Two.

Windows 10 is now the number one OS on Steam

Windows 10 64-bit is now the most-often-used OS by Steam gamers, according to Steam’s own hardware survey page, accounting for fully 37 percent of all usage. Number two is Windows 7 64-bit (33 percent), and then Windows 8.1 64-bit with 13 percent. As for Linux, well. Ahaha. Not really.

Thanks to Neowin for the tip-off.

“Acer Chromebase 24 arrives in North America”

… And the world collectively ignores it.

“Apple: FBI’s iPhone Hack Won’t Stay Secret For Long”

Bitter much?

“This is what Microsoft HoloLens is really like”

I wrote that story last year. Three times.

“Samsung’s TabPro S is the Windows 10 slate you didn’t know you wanted”

Still don’t, yes.