Windows Weekly 868

On this spicy episode of Windows Weekly, Paul, Leo, and Richard try to pronounce "Sudo," watch an expensive Copilot ad, marvel at big Arm revenues, discuss the latest in internet browser news, and debate the FTC's motivations as they go after Microsoft once again!

Windows 11

• Big changes in Insider, with Canary and Dev moving to the same 24H2 builds
• Windows 11 is going to get its AI moment this year
• With the announcement of 24H2, does that mean nothing big mid-year as rumors suggested?
• Patch Tuesday arrives. Copilot moves to the right of the system tray after 10 seconds of testing
• Brave ships its browser on Arm in stable
• Windows will likely get an AI game upscaling feature

AI/Antitrust

• Report: Azure is allegedly 2/3rds the size of AWS by revenue, thanks to AI
• Microsoft Bing and Edge avoid the EU DMA
• Google Gemini officially replaces Bard
• Grammarly lays off 230 to focus on AI
• Mozilla scales back dramatically, will focus on AI in Firefox
• Arc Sync comes to Arc on Mac only

Cloud/server/dev

• Google One surpasses 100 million users. New AI tier is coming to take on Copilot Pro
• Arm revenues are in. Look at those margins!
• Notion acquires Skiff. Ladies and gentlemen, the Notion Office is coming
• .NET 9 Preview 1 arrives. Are annual updates too much?

Xbox

• Xbox says it will come clean on its strategy
• The FTC claims that Xbox layoffs violate the terms of its Activision Blizzard acquisition promises
• Microsoft tells the court that the FTC is wrong on multiple levels
• There’s a new Xbox system update
• Sony doesn’t meet its quarterly PS5 sales target, will miss its annual target, and the PS5 is falling off a cliff
• Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games. “F U, Apple!”
• Flight Simulator jumps the Minecraft Shark

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the Week: Microsoft PC Manager - Avoid at all costs
• App Picks of the Week: DuckDuckGo browser, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Devices for Windows
• RunAs Radio this week: Maximizing Metadata with Emily Manicini
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Starward Pedro Ximenez Cask

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Tech: Is the FTC Rightfully Going After Microsoft Due to Recent Gaming Layoffs?
• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 868 Transcript

Links

• Windows Insiders on the Canary and Dev Channel Get the Same “24H2” Build Today
• Windows 11 is About to Get Its AI Moment (Premium)
• Thanks to AI, Azure is Closing the Gap with AWS
• Brave Releases Arm Version of its Browser
• Windows 11 is Reportedly Getting an AI Upscaling Feature for Games
• Microsoft Releases February Patch Tuesday Updates for Windows 11 and 10
• iMessage, Microsoft Bing, and Edge Will Avoid EU’s DMA Regulation
• Google Bard Officially Becomes Gemini With a Paid “Advanced” Version
• Grammarly Lays Off 230 Employees
• Mozilla Scales Back Dramatically, Will Focus on Trustworthy AI in Firefox
• Mitchell Baker Steps Down as Mozilla CEO
• Web Browsers, Innovation, and the Future (Premium)
• Arc Sync Comes to Arc Browser for Mac
• Google One Surpasses 100 Million Subscribers
• Arm Revenues Jump 14 Percent to a Record $761 Million in Quarter
• Notion Acquires Skiff
• Microsoft Releases First Preview of .NET 9
• How Do We Still Not Understand Xbox? (Premium)
• Xbox to Provide Clarity on its Strategy Next Week
• Microsoft’s Much-Anticipated Xbox Business Update is Coming on February 15
• The FTC Believes Microsoft Isn’t Allowed to Lay Anyone Off (Premium)
• Xbox February Update Adds Touch Controls for Xbox Remote Play and More
• PlayStation 5 Sales Slip, Sony Lowers Fiscal Year Sales Estimate
• Microsoft Responds to Latest Spurious FTC Complaint
• Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets a Free Dune Expansion
• Disney Announces $1.5 Billion Investment in Epic Games to Create New Gaming Universe
• DuckDuckGo Browser Adds Private Bookmark and Password Sync
• Microsoft’s Insane PC Manager App Comes to the Microsoft Store
• Maximizing Metadata with Emily Mancini
• Starward Pedro Ximénez Cask
• Starward SINGLE MALT WHISKY
• Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple Devices Apps for Windows Go Out of Preview