Jul 10th 2024
Windows Weekly 889
Works Best With Netscape
OneDrive calms down, Surface firmware, Field Guide resize
In this episode, Paul seems to be sitting in a familiar room! Could this be a sign that a game-changing enhancement to Notepad is rolling out? That's not all, as OneDrive seems to be undergoing some behavioral changes in a positive direction. After 3 weeks since the Copilot+ PC launch (2 weeks since Paul got his 1st model), the future of Intel and x86 may not be as dire as some think. Plus, Affinity announced that its award-winning Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps are now free for 6 months with no obligation to buy!
The Morning After
- The end of Intel and the x86 era? You guys are cute
- Comparing the HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft entries: A few differentiators, but these things are very, very similar. There’s a reason why
- IDC throws cold water on the AI PC/Copilot+ PC parade
- We still need official Windows 11 on Arm ISOs, Microsoft. Until then, there are workarounds.
Windows 11
- GAME CHANGER: Notepad FINALLY supports spell-checking and auto-correct!
- ACTUAL GAME CHANGER: Microsoft is apparently stepping back some of the OneDrive terribleness in Windows 11 version 24H2
- Patch Tuesday: BIG deal for Windows 11 22H2, 23H2 with 24H2 features
- Nothing to speak of for 24H2, as predicted - just security updates
- It’s nice when things happen as expected for a change
- Canary: Lock screen widget changes
- Paul put the Windows 11 Field Guide on a diet - and then the other books too
- PDF went from 377 MB to 107 MB, EPUB went from 344 MB to just 86 MB (!)
- Similar gains for Windows Everywhere, Windows 10 Field Guide
- Updated the Win10 add-in that comes with the Windows 11 Field Guide too
Surface
- Surface Laptop 7 and Pro 11 get second firmware updates
AI
- The OpenAI drama consumes Microsoft
- Opera brings Aria AI features to its GX gaming browser too
Xbox
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price hike
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on newer Fire TV Sticks. Also, free Fortnite!
Tips and Tricks
- Tip of the week: Get all three Affinity apps on all three platforms for free for six months!
- App pick of the week: Firefox 128 and Vivaldi 6.8
- RunAs Radio this week: The Hardware of Azure with Rani Borkar
- Brown liquor pick of the week: Raasay Single Malt
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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com
The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.
Links
- The Windows 11 on Arm ISO Conundrum (Premium)
- Snapdragon X Copilot+ PC: Differentiators (Premium)
- Report: AI PCs Won’t Help the PC Industry This Year
- Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Spellcheck and Autocorrect in Notepad
- Microsoft is Silently Reversing Some OneDrive Ensh*ttification in Windows 11
- Microsoft Releases July 2024 Patch Tuesday Updates
- Windows 11 Canary Build 26252 Improves Lock Screen Widgets
- Windows 11 Field Guide: Putting the Book on a Diet
- Microsoft Updates Surface Laptop 7, Surface Pro 11 Firmware
- Microsoft and Apple Drop OpenAI Board Seats to Avoid Regulatory Scrutiny
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is Now Available on Amazon Fire TV
- Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher are Free for 6 Months
- Firefox 128 Arrives with Built-In Language Translation Capabilities
- Vivaldi for Android, iPhone, and iPad Updated to Version 6.8
- The Hardware of Azure with Rani Borkar
- ISLE OF RAASAY SINGLE MALT