Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell, and Leo Laporte

Mar 27th 2024

Windows Weekly 874

Dark Satya

Moment 5, Surface Pro 10 & Laptop 6

Records live every Wednesday at 2:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Pacific / 18:00 UTC.
Category: News

On Windows Weekly, Moment 5 has arrived as a Preview Update, Windows 10 gets a preview update, and Microsoft announces the Surface Pro 10 & Surface Laptop 6 for Business at a digital event. Designer and Copilot are coming to the Microsoft 365 mobile app. Would Microsoft develop a Windows-based gaming handheld device? And Canva acquires Affinity.

Windows

  • Moment 5 arrives as a Preview Update right on schedule - it’s Week D, etc.
  • Microsoft previously described this schedule in its DMA compliance documentation, and noted that it would be fully deployed in stable by the end of April.
  • Quick raise of hands: Did you think this was already available? You’re not alone. But ... you know. Microsoft. 
  • Oh, and there’s a preview update for Windows 10 too. Because come on Microsoft.
  • Don’t worry, that lock screen nonsense in Windows 10 is coming to Windows 11 too.
  • Qualcomm claims that most Windows games will “just work” on its X Elite processor. How?
  • Chromium accepts Microsoft commit that will improve Chrome/Chromium text rendering on Windows.
  • Google Chrome comes to Windows on Arm, instantly legitimatizing the platform.

Surface

  • Microsoft announces Surface Pro 10, Surface Laptop 6.
  • For businesses, only - Intel Core Ultra-based.
  • Consumer versions based on X Elite to follow in May, according to reliable rumors.
  • It’s first “AI PCs,” supposedly. But now we know why they are using that terminology, and it’s stupid. (Related, Intel has its own definitions for what makes a PC an AI PC.)
  • This was billed as an AI event, “the new era of work,” but there was NO news for Windows or Copilot. None.
  • Why is that? One word: Momentum. 

AI

  • In the wake of Microsoft AI reorg (a NeXT-style takeover), a key Microsoft exec says no and steps aside, will likely leave the company 
  • Microsoft Teams is gaining new AI capabilities because, duh, of course it is
  • Designer and Copilot are coming to the Microsoft 365 mobile app - Two more checkmarks for that grid of Copilot capabilities
  • Our developer show schedule is complete: Apple to host WWDC 2024 in June, following Google I/O and Build in May
  • Samsung spreads Galaxy A1 to more devices starting tomorrow in the US

Xbox

  • It’s finally happening: Diablo IV will be the first Activision Blizzard game on Xbox Game Pass when it goes live tomorrow.
  • Phil Spencer says Windows is wrong for gaming handhelds, thinks an Xbox would be better.
  • Xbox is testing mouse and keyboard support for Cloud Gaming.

Tips and Picks

  • Tip of the week: Arc browser just became more viable on Windows. 
  • App pick of the week: Affinity Photo 2
  • Also: Proton Pass now supports (portable) passkeys. And it’s free.
  • RunAs Radio this week: GitHub for SysAdmins with April Edwards.
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Stauning Kaos Danish Whisky.

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