Windows Weekly 668

Windows 10X: What's the latest?

•  Don't expect any Windows 10X dual-screen devices this year. Microsoft's new target for 10X is single screen devices
•  We knew (though MS didn't admit) that 10X was coming to traditional PCs. Now that's priority No. 1 for 10X as it should be
•  How does the Windows 10 Feature Experience Pack fit in here?

Windows 10

•  New Fast ring build today (20H2): Default apps improvements are now in A/B testing.
•  Microsoft ships 6th and 7th cumulative updates for Windows 10 version 2004 within 5 days of each other for some reason.
•  Related: Edge for Windows 7 only supported until July 2021

More COVID-19 fallout

•  Microsoft (secretly) hibernates its SMB efforts due to COVID-19
•  Microsoft pushes back the end of support date for Windows 10 1809
•  Microsoft opens up Account Guard to healthcare providers

Recap of the latest Spring Surface rumors

•  Coming this spring: Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, Surface earbuds and maybe a new dock. Do we know when?

Microsoft 365

•  Microsoft to expand video calling display from 4 to 9 people
•  Custom backgrounds are sort of here today (but not with a user's own custom image, without some tricks) … Here's what they're planning
•  Tabbed inbox is coming to Outlook
• Drag and drop files between some Samsung phones and Win 10's Your Phone app

Xbox

•  More games coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC and console this month

Tips and picks

•  Tip of the week: 6 TB of OneDrive storage for just $100 per year. Yep, you heard that right.
•  App pick of the week: Assassin's Creed 2 for PC is free to own!
•  Plus: Minecraft is about to get a lot more realistic on Windows 10.
•  Plus: Gameloft Classics: 20 Years is free on Android
•  Developer pick of the week: GitHub price cuts. Microsoft is making core GitHub features free to more users and is cutting the price of its low-end paid SKU from $9 to $4 per user per month.
•  Codename pick of the week: Alexandria. Alexandria is the codename for Microsoft Research workaround probabilistic programming. It is a key element of Microsoft's Project Cortex knowledge-management service. It will look for facts inside lots of documents to figure out if evidence of a topic exists and then helps make correlations. (Alexandria is known as the capital of knowledge, so the name fits!)
•  Beer pick of the week: Torch & Crown Magnetic Energy. I've been doing lots of T&C picks lately (drink local and stay home!). Their latest pale ale, Magnetic Energy, is a Pink Boots beer, too: https://untappd.com/user/MJFoley/checkin/884622426 This is my chance to talk up Pink Boots brews... Pink Boots is a society for women in the craft beer biz and many different breweries are brewing Pink Boots beers, so keep your eye out!

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Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Links

• Microsoft: Don't expect any Windows 10X devices this calendar year
• The Windows 10X Problem (Premium)
• How does the Windows 10 Feature Experience Pack fit in here?
• Microsoft Updates Windows 10 Version 2004 Yet Again
• Microsoft Issues 6th Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 2004
• Microsoft Edge supported Operating Systems
• Microsoft is Hibernating Its SMB Efforts Because of COVID-19
• Microsoft pushes back end of support date for Windows 10 1809
• Microsoft says the service will remain free for all healthcare organizations "until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides."
• Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 Might Have Just Passed FCC
• Microsoft Surface Earbuds pass through FCC
• Microsoft Teams users can now see up to nine participants on screen in a video call.
• Microsoft Updates on New Teams Features
• Outlook Could Soon Be Getting Inbox Tabs
• Your Phone Update Enables Drag-and-drop Support for Samsung Devices
• Microsoft Announces More Games Coming to Xbox Game Pass
• Master Microsoft 365: Get 6 TB of OneDrive Storage for $100 Per Year (Premium)
• Get Assassin's Creed II for free on Uplay, you'll be able to play anytime
• Minecraft Is About to Look a Lot More Realistic in Windows 10 Starting This Week
• Gameloft Classics: 20 Years
• GitHub sharply slashes plan pricing, offers core features for free to all
• MJFChat: Understanding Microsoft's 'Project Cortex' knowledge-management strategy
• Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day