Windows Weekly 899

On this episode, Paul Thurrott gets a bit better at unmuting! Mikah is back once again while Leo is away, and Richard features a classic single malt scotch. Wave 2 of Microsoft 365 Copilot kicks off, including an agent builder! Lenovo's got an everything-in-one ThinkBook, HP's got a Ryzen AI 300-based Copilot+ PC, and Netflix has a new series with Bill Gates.

Windows 11

• Microsoft comes clean on the schedule for Windows 11 version 24H2
• First AMD Zen 5-based Copilot+ PC in here (if here means “Paul’s house”)
• A few thoughts on where we’re at with Copilot+ PCs, AI, etc
• Microsoft deprecates legacy DRM in Windows
• Google is bringing desktop windowing capabilities to Android

Microsoft 365 + AI/Dev

• Microsoft announces “Copilot Wave 2” with new Agent Builder, Pages experience, more
• Slack: Look at me, look at me! I have agents too!!
• Office LTSC 2024 is now available for businesses - consumer versions in “the coming weeks”
• Microsoft held its security summit with CrowdStrike, etc. There were no reports of a tarp on the floor
• Apple releases annual upgrades for all its hardware platforms and not an iota of AI in sight
• This is the end of an era. An era we will think back on as “the good old days”
• Microsoft issues .NET 9 RC1 ahead of November release. Clear to Paul that the WPF support in this release will never be updated again, which sucks

Hardware

• Intel finally has some good news: Foundry subsidiary spin-off, AWS expanded partnership, more CHIPS money
• Intel also has some bad news: It lost out on the PS6 contract to AMD, which made previous gen PS chips
• A Windows 11 2-in-1 (like Surface Book) in which the detachable display is a powerful, standalone Android tablet

Xbox

• Microsoft lays off 650 more Gaming division employees
• Microsoft realizes that some Xbox members do have friends, is bringing back Friends Requests
• Microsoft concludes September with three more Game Pass titles
• Bonus points: How many of these are Activision Blizzard titles?
• Bonus tip: If you play Overwatch 2 on Xbox, there are now some bonus perks for Game Pass members: Six hero skins, 30 Mythic prisms to spend on Mythic unlocks, a stackable XP boost, and access to Overwatch 2 Shop cosmetics from prior seasons
• Unity: Just kidding about that runtime fee, please stop harassing us now

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: How to spend your time and your money
• App pick of the week: ExplorerPatcher
• RunAs Radio this week: Asymmetric Encryption with Eli Holderness
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Talisker 10

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 899 Transcript

Links

• Slack is Adding AI Agent Capabilities
• Google Confirms It Will Bring Desktop Windowing to Android
• Microsoft Confirms Rollout Schedule for Windows 11 Version 24H2
• HP OmniBook Ultra First Impressions
• A New AI Era Continues, For Better or Worse (Premium)
• Microsoft Deprecates Legacy DRM Services in Windows
• Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid First Impressions
• Microsoft 365 Copilot is Getting New Agent Builder, Pages Experience, More
• Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 is Now Available for Businesses
• Microsoft Security Summit Was a Lot of Talk, Little Action
• Apple Releases iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2
• Microsoft Issues .NET 9 RC1
• Intel to Make Its Foundry an Independent Subsidiary, Announces AWS Win
• Report: Intel Lost PlayStation 6 Chip Contract to AMD
• Microsoft is Laying Off 650 More Employees in its Gaming Division
• Xbox is Bringing Back Friend Requests to the Social Experience
• Ara: History Untold, Frostpunk 2, and Wargroove 2 are Coming to Game Pass
• Unity Cancels its Runtime Fee Following Backlash From Game Developers
• Amazon Announces Prime Big Deal Days on October 8-9
• ExplorerPatcher Updated for 24H2, Windows 11 on Arm
• Asymmetric Encryption with Eli Holderness
• Talisker 10