
May 14th 2025
Windows Weekly 932
The Last Australian
Microsoft lays off 3%, Windows 10 ESU, "Hey Copilot"
It’s go time: The biggest Patch Tuesday of 2025 sets the stage for 2025! Microsoft has finally revealed whether it will further extend Windows 10 support past October (it won't). Also, Microsoft designed notifications in Windows 11 to be annoying and pointless, so Paul has some advice. Plus, Proton Drive gets a long awaited albums feature, and more on the way.
Windows 11
- Recall (preview) and Click to Do (preview) come to stable for the first time
- Let’s give Microsoft a bit of credit for this one non-reported behavior
- Also: Improvements to Settings, Narrator, Start, Phone Link, Widgets, File Explorer
- You knew this was coming: Microsoft now testing a “Hey, Copilot” feature
- It’s opt-in and an alternative to holding down Alt + Spacebar for two seconds
- Microsoft discusses the new Start design and it’s not a s#$t show like it was three years ago
- No builds for the second Friday in a row
- Improvements to Settings AI agent, intelligent text actions in Click to Do, a few small changes come to 24H2 in Dev and Beta channels
- Copilot Vision gets Highlights and 2-App Support across all channels
- Google’s big Android reveal includes Material Expressive, big Wear OS update. Android, like Windows 11 (and iOS) is just being updated all the time now
Windows 10
- Extended support program
- Will support Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 through October 2028
- Those time frames are identical
- So what about those Surface PCs that can’t upgrade to Windows 11? Microsoft has an answer (for all unsupported PCs) and it’s not as cynical as you think
- Microsoft quietly discontinued entry-level 13.8-inch Surface Laptop and 13-inch Surface Pro when it introduced those smaller new models last week
Layoffs
- Microsoft just made $70 billion, so naturally it’s laying off employees. How to explain this?
- The FTC’s losing streak against Microsoft continues
- A proposal for solving the “Mozilla problem” in U.S. v. Google
- Fortnite could return to the iPhone App Store as soon as today
AI
- OH MY GOD IS THERE NO AI NEWS FOR ONCE. OK, three small items
- OpenAI brings OneDrive and SharePoint integration with ChatGPT for paid business customers
- “AI mode” could replace “I’m feeling lucky” on the Google home page
- Spotify’s AI DJ keeps improving
Dev
- Build is next week in Seattle, a few thoughts
- .NET 10 Preview 4 is out
Xbox & Games
- Today’s the day: DOOM: The Dark Ages goes live at 8:00 ET tonight!
- Xbox Insiders can now play cloud-enabled games with mouse and keyboard
- Paul reviews the Backbone Pro controller
- Nintendo revenues slide big ahead of Switch 2 - 15m consoles expected in first year
- Sony sold 18.5 million PS5s in the most recent fiscal year, down 11 percent YOY
Tips & Picks
- Tip of the week: Windows 11 notifications make iOS look sophisticated
- App pick of the week: Proton Drive
- RunAs Radio this week: Active Directory in 2025 with Liz Tesch
- Brown liquor pick of the week: Limeburners Albany Tawny Cask
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Links
- May 2025 Patch Tuesday Updates Enable Recall and Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs
- “Hey Copilot” Wake Word Starts Rolling out to Windows Insiders
- Microsoft Details the New Windows 11 Start Design
- New Pre-Release 24H2 Builds Come to Dev and Beta Channels
- Copilot Vision in Windows 11 Gets Two New Features in Insider Preview
- Google Announces Major Updates Across Android, Wear OS, Gemini, and More
- Microsoft Shares Pricing Details for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for Consumers
- Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 to Get Security Updates Until October 2028
- Microsoft Explains Which Surface PCs Can Upgrade to Windows 11
- Microsoft Quietly Discontinued $999 Entry-Level Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7
- Microsoft is Cutting 3 Percent of its Workforce
- FTC Loses Yet Another Bid to Block Microsoft Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
- Google, Mozilla, and the Future of the Web (Premium)
- Epic Games Has Submitted Fortnite to the US App Store
- Exclusive: Microsoft's Office-Teams offer will likely stave off EU antitrust fine, sources say
- Google is Testing New ‘AI Mode’ Button on its Search Homepage
- Spotify’ AI DJ Now Accepts Music Requests
- Microsoft Delivers .NET 10 Preview 4
- Xbox Insiders Can Try Playing Cloud-Enabled Games With Mouse and Keyboard
- Backbone Pro Review
- Nintendo Annual Revenues Nosedive 30 Percent Ahead of Switch 2 Launch
- PlayStation 5 Sales Declined 11 Percent Last Year
- Windows 11 Puts the Not in Notifications (Premium)
- Active Directory in 2025 with Liz Tesch
- Proton Drive Gets Highly Requested Albums Feature
- Limeburners
- Barrel Lane Whisky Club