Windows Weekly 869

Microsoft’s big Xbox strategy event was exactly what Paul expected it was going to be. Hopefully, this calmed some nerves.

Xbox strategy reveal

• It was going to be about Activision Blizzard originally (nailed it)
• All first-party games will be in Game Pass on day one (as is the case now)
• Game Pass will only be on Xbox (whatever “Xbox” means as it’s on PC too)
• The strategy is unchanged: Meet gamers where they are
• But the best experience is on Xbox (this is like going from “Windows only” to “Windows first” to “Windows best”)
• Portability across hardware platforms is a key part of the strategy - Backward Compatibility, etc.
• A future generation of Xbox console hardware will offer “the largest technical leap you have ever seen in a hardware generation.”
• Oh, and four games are coming to “other consoles.”

Windows 11

• Microsoft is quietly adding off-ramps to the Insider Program after killing the Magic window with their screwed-up release schedule
• Canary and Dev - 24H2, same builds. New navigation pane in Widgets - new accessibility setting for low-vision users - that same tired weather experience on the lock screen that is already in stable and seriously kill me now I can’t stand this company anymore. Oh, and there are ISOs.
• Beta - New prompts for that “manage mobile devices” features, updates to Snipping Tool and Notepad (also in RP)
• Release Preview - We’re testing Moment 5 now, so this is a huge update
• Microsoft fixed a bug that let Edge siphon browser data from other browsers
• Stardock brings pre-release support for Arm versions of Start11, Fences, and Groupy to new Object Desktop Insider program
• Google has an answer for those out of support Windows 10 PCs

Build 2024

• Microsoft confirms that Build 2024 is May 21-23 in Seattle. No word on press invites

Microsoft 365

• Microsoft will finally unify the Teams clients on Windows and Mac
• Microsoft is killing Publisher in 2 years and even though no one uses it, people are freaking out

AI

• Microsoft to use Intel Foundry for at least one in-house custom AI chip
• Now OpenAI is worth over $80 billion, is world’s third-biggest unicorn
• OpenAI announces Sora and... HOLY #$%^
• Gemini (formerly Duet AI) comes to all Workspace customers
• Google brings Gemini down to size with Gemma for free, local use
• Adobe Acrobat is getting an AI assistant

Xbox

• Game streaming is (probably) coming to all the Xbox games you own
• More (non-AB) games are coming to Game Pass in February
• Microsoft goes after Apple’s non-compliance DMA compliance in the EU
• Epic announces a game store for iOS in Europe, will launch this year
• Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story will release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on March 13

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Androids by Chet Haase
• App picks of the week: Dashlane, Firefox 123, Bonjourr
• Cocktail of the week: Sumi - This is a “clasicos Baltra” from the most famous bar in Mexico City. Tanqueray Ten Gin, Violet liqueur, Jasmine syrup, Yuzu, Egg white. Serve in a coupe glass, and garnish with dried flowers.

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

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Tech: Microsoft's Unique Balancing Act with the Xbox Platform

Links

• Microsoft Confirms Four Xbox-Exclusive Games Are Coming to Other Consoles
• Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, and Pentiment Are Headed to Other Consoles
• Feeling Better About Xbox? (Premium)
• Off-Ramp (Premium)
• Windows 11 Insider Build 26058 is Out With Widgets Board Improvements
• Windows 11 Insider Beta Build 22635.3209 Adds Smartphone Photos Notifications
• Windows 11 Release Preview Channel Gets a Feature-Packed Update
• Microsoft Edge Should No Longer Import Other Browsers’ Data Without User Consent
• Stardock Launches Object Desktop Insider Program, Will Bring Start11, Fences, and Groupy to Arm
• Chrome OS Flex is One Answer for Those Unsupported Windows 10 PCs
• Microsoft Build 2024 Will Be on May 21-23
• Microsoft Will Finally Unify the Teams Clients on Windows and Mac
• Microsoft Kills Publisher
• Microsoft to Use Intel for In-House Custom AI Chip
• New Funding Values OpenAI at Over $80 Billion
• OpenAI Announces Sora, a Futuristic Text-to-Video AI Model
• Gemini is Now Available to All Google Workspace Customers
• Google Introduces Gemma, a Family of Lightweight and Open AI Models
• Adobe’s Acrobat PDF Reader is Getting its Own AI Assistant
• Xbox Gamers May Finally Get to Stream the Games They Own This Year
• Tales of Arise and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Are Coming to Game Pass
• Microsoft Petitions EU to Reject Apple’s DMA Non-Compliance Compliance
• Epic Games Store is Coming to iPhone in Europe in 2024
• “Androids” Author Chet Haase is Leaving Google
• What I Use: Dashlane (Premium)
• Firefox 123 Adds Firefox View Search and a Web Compatibility Reporting Tool
• Bonjourr 19 Arrives with Improved Quick Links