Windows Weekly 801

New Dev & Beta builds, Phone Link update, Joe Belfiore, Modern Warfare II

Windows 11

•  New Dev build today: Build 25236 feature a minor change to the Windows 11 search experience and a Store UX update
•  Dev Build 25231 adds the tablet-optimized taskbar for all Insiders, and the ability to rearrange icons in the (new) System tray
•  Beta Build 22623.875 also adds the tablet-optimized taskbar for all Insiders (who are getting new features), plus Taskbar-based access to Task Manager
•  Big Phone Link app update for owners of select Samsung Galaxy devices lets them instantly access their phone’s hotspot from Quick settings on their PC. (Requires a Samsung device with One UI 4.1.1+ and a PC with Windows 11 build 22621 or higher)

Microsoft 365 

• Here’s what Microsoft added to Teams in October. Some of the biggest updates: Assign seats in Together mode, shared content in a separate window, Live Translated Captions (Teams Premium), some new certified hardware, and suggested replies in group chats
• Edge hits 107 but doesn’t look a day over 95 - Let’s talk about Edge
• The new unified OneNote app is in the Microsoft Store...sort of

Microsoft

• Joe B is retiring - it’s not clear what he was doing for the past three years, but we go way back and he’s been around since Windows 95

More Earnings

• Intel continues to struggle
• Apple comes on strong, but Mac & iPad were low points
•  Samsung's smartphone business grew
•  Amazon kills it, but may be lucky to break even in holiday quarter

Xbox

•  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is here. Some thoughts.
•  Xbox loses money on each console
•  Spencer: Seriously, we are not taking COD off of PlayStation. Think Minecraft
•  Spencer takes on Meta’s metaverse and once again reveals himself to be the single greatest leader in Big Tech
•  Xbox price increases? Probably, but not in 2022
•  Microsoft reveals the first Xbox Game Pass titles for November, with a nice surprise
•  Games with Gold, meanwhile, is looking a bit sad
•  Twitch partners with Xbox for free PC Game Pass subscriptions when you buy Twitch subscriptions
•  Sony reports decent earnings, but PlayStation is stumbling
•  PS VR2 coming Feb 22 for $550
•  Google’s Play Games on PC comes to US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore

Tips & Picks

•  Tip of the week: It’s finally here! The Windows 11 Field Guide eBook
•  Tip of the week #2: Using Edge? You need to configure it correctly
•  Tip of the week #3: The big asterisk on the Windows Dev Kit 202

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• Transcripts: Windows Weekly Episode 801 Transcript

Links

• Windows 11 Field Guide
• Windows Insider Dev Channel Gets Build 25236 and a Microsoft Store Update
• Windows Insiders Get New Builds and a Phone Link Update
• Microsoft Details New Teams Features Released in October
• Microsoft Edge Version 107 is Now Available
• Microsoft Brings its OneNote Desktop App to the Microsoft Store
• Microsoft Veteran Joe Belfiore is Leaving the Company
• Intel Revenues Fall 20 Percent to $15.3 Billion
• Apple Posts Revenues of $90.1 Billion
• Samsung Revenues Were Up 4 Percent in Q3
• Amazon Revenues Up 15 Percent to $127.1 Billion
• Phil Spencer Again Addresses Call of Duty on PlayStation
• Phil Spencer’s Hot Take on the Metaverse is Perfect (Premium)
• Phil Spencer Hints At Possible Xbox Price Increases
• Return to Monkey Island, Football Manager 2023, More Announced For Xbox Game Pass
• Microsoft Reveals Xbox Games with Gold for November
• Deal: Get 3 Months of PC Game Pass With 2 Twitch Subs
• Sony Reports PlayStation Stumbles in Earnings
• 11 new PS VR2 games announced: The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, Cities VR – Enhanced Edition, Crossfire: Sierra Squad and more
• Google Play Games for PC Beta Expands to the US, Canada, and 6 More Countries
• Now Available: Windows 11 Field Guide eBook!
• Set Up Microsoft Edge Correctly
• Microsoft’s Windows Dev Kit 2023 (Project Volterra) is Now Available