Windows Weekly 709

Microsoft Q2 Earnings Report

• Microsoft reported a net income of $15.5 billion on revenues of $43.1 billion for the quarter ending December 31, 2020.
•  Pre-COVID spending levels are coming back, leading to Azure, Windows growth
•  Xbox had a huge quarter
•  Surface was pretty flat, Windows was mixed
•  Related: New Surface ad is a bit disingenuous
•  Related: Intel had a huge quarter

It happens in threes

•  Kurt DelBene is retiring from Microsoft.
•  Plus: Rich Turner is joining Project Reunion.

Windows

•  Windows Insider Program shows off a second Feature Experience Pack.
•  You can install that leaked Windows 10X build on a Surface Pro 7 if you're daring and technical enough
•  Another new Dev Channel build today with not much in it (besides some touch keyboard tweaks)

Web browsers

•  Edge 88: This is the big one, 'Lizabeth. One year later, Edge is finally "complete" and mature.
•  Chrome 88 is out with password improvements, and Chrome OS 88 is out with sign-in, lock screen improvements
•  Microsoft Edge now supports profiles in PWAs
•  And Google Calendar gets basic offline support (again)
•  YouTube is now a PWA
•  Mozilla is killing the Firefox PWA feature

Xbox

•  Microsoft Backtracks, Xbox Live Gold Pricing Won’t Change
•  5 more titles are coming to Xbox Game Pass this month

Tips and picks

•  Tip of the week: Get your free audiobooks on Spotify
•  App pick of the week: Microsoft Edge & Brave Browser
•  Enterprise pick of the week: New Dynamics 365 and Power Platform feature plans are available now
•  Enterprise pick of the week: IT Ops: All Things Hybrid
•  Beer pick of the week: S'mores Bourbon Barrel-Aged Framinghammer

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Links

• Amazing... acapella group nails Windows sound effects
• Microsoft Delivers Another Blockbuster Quarter
• Microsoft: Pre-COVID spending levels are coming back, leading to Azure, Windows growth
• Microsoft Puts Up Some Big Xbox Numbers
• Microsoft Posts Mixed Results for Windows and Surface
• Microsoft Takes on M1 MacBook Pro in New Surface Ad
• Surging PC Sales Help Intel Deliver a Strong Quarter
• Microsoft's head of Corporate Strategy Kurt DelBene to leave Microsoft in June
• A New Role
• Windows Insiders Get a Feature Experience Pack in the Beta Channel
• Apply Your Image on Machine Without Windows 10X Installed On It
• Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21301
• Microsoft is rolling out password monitor, tab sync, sleeping tabs and other new Edge features
• Microsoft Celebrates the One-Year Anniversary of Edge with New Themes, More
• Chrome 88 Improves Password Protections
• Chrome OS 88 Arrives
• PWAs Now Support Profiles in Microsoft Edge
• Google Calendar for Web Gets Basic Offline Support
• Now YouTube is Going PWA Too
• Firefox 85 is Here, But Mozilla is Killing PWA Features
• Microsoft Raises the Price of Xbox Live Gold
• Microsoft Backtracks, Xbox Live Gold Pricing Won’t Change
• Microsoft Announces 5 Games with Gold Titles for February
• Spotify is Testing Free Audiobooks
• Microsoft Power Platform: 2021 release wave 1 plan
• Oh the depths we will go at the ITOps Talks: All Things Hybrid event
• S'mores Bourbon Barrel-Aged Framinghammer