Windows Weekly 935

Richard Campbell is out this week! Microsoft continues to make changes to Notepad as it tests 'lightweight text formatting' in Notepad. 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2 got preview updates. And Microsoft has reportedly delayed its first-party Xbox / Windows gaming handheld.

Windows

THE GREAT NOTEPAD CONTROVERSY OF 2025

• Microsoft announced it was testing “lightweight text formatting” in Notepad.
• This is one of MANY changes its made to Notepad in recent years.
• The community has collectively lost its s#$t - most thought this was RTF support - it’s not.
• Everyone is wrong. In defense of Notepad.

24H2

• Last Tuesday, 22H2/23H2 got a preview update in Week D, but 24H2 did not.
• The 24H2 update appeared later, with a ton of new features as expected - it’s possible an out-of-band update requirement is responsible for the delay.
• Now we know for sure what’s coming on Patch Tuesday next week.
• Windows Insider updates
  • Today, in Canary: Energy saver in Intune, re-rollout of Phone companion, more.
  • Dev and Beta (24H2): Quick machine recovery, Phone Link improvements - Plus,     more just in Dev.
  • Canary: Voice access and some bug fixes.
• Microsoft makes more DMA changes to Windows 11/Edge
  • We all need these changes.
  • Apple needs to pay attention.
  • Also, hilarious: Apple copies what Microsoft did in the 1990s. Twice.
• Earnings:
  • HP
  • Dell
  • Nvidia

Microsoft 365/AI

• Microsoft announces (internally) its third major AI reorg in 15 months - Too … slow?
• Microsoft is killing password management/autofill in the Microsoft Authenticator app (announced previously, but now a warning is showing up in the app).
  • Good, you should use a third-party password manager anyway. Also, it’s really an identity manager. Also, wake up.
  • When/why to use Microsoft Authenticator.
  • And why you should also use Google Authenticator.
• June 2025 update for the new Outlook adds tons of new features.
• Research and Analyst AI agents are now GA in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• You can experiment with short, phone videos on your phone with Bing Video Creator.
• FU, OpenAI! NYT licenses its content to Amazon.
• Samsung may drop Gemini for Perplexity.

Xbox/Gaming

• Microsoft has reportedly delayed its first-party Xbox/Windows gaming handheld.
  • Xbox continues to be in a holding pattern on hardware - Theories include an Arm revolution in waiting and Amy Hood getting serious about trying to make this business profitable.
  • Are handheld gaming PCs the next Netbook or mini-tablet … or this is market real, sustainable, and big enough to matter?
  • SteamDeck/Linux could be a problem here - related to this, Nvidia news.
• Microsoft reaches its first-ever agreement with a game studio union.
• Semi-related: J Allard is one of about 100 former Microsoft execs at Amazon now, and we have an update.

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: You can replace OneDrive/Google Drive with a NAS.
  • My Synology NAS is better than expected as a Little Tech replacement for OneDrive and Google Drive. This changes everything
• App pick of the week: Microsoft Edge 137
  • Edge 137 has quietly emerged as the biggest release of this browser since its inception.
  • Edge 137 adds PIP and business improvements, removes Wallet Hub and some truly pointless features.
  • It adds Windows 11 App action support to PWAs.
  • It brings Game Assist for Game Bar to everyone.
• Photoshop for Android is here and it’s free to everyone during the beta.

Paul's Drink of the Week: 

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• Tech: Defending Notepad: Why Microsoft's Latest Updates Actually Make Sense
• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 935 Transcript

Links

• Microsoft Starts Testing Text Formatting in Notepad
• In Defense of Notepad
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 Gets a Featured-Packed Optional Update
• May 27, 2025—KB5061977 (OS Build 26100.4066) Out-of-band
• Microsoft Delivers New 24H2 Builds to Dev and Beta Channels
• Windows 11 Canary Build 27868 is Now Available
• Microsoft Makes More DMA-Based Changes to Windows 10/11 in the EU
• Gurman: Apple to Rebrand OS Versions with Year Numbers
• HP Revenues Up 3.3 Percent to $13.2 Billion
• Dell Revenues Up 5 Percent to $23.4 Billion
• Nvidia Revenues Up 69 Percent to $44.1 Billion
• Microsoft Announces Yet Another AI Reorg
• Microsoft Authenticator App Will Soon Lose its Password Management and Autofill Features
• Little Tech: It’s Time to Move to a Third-Party Password Manager
• Microsoft Announces June 2025 Update for the New Outlook
• Research and Analyst Agents Are Now Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Bing Video Creator is Now Available and Free, But Only on Phones
• https://www.thurrott.com/a-i/321545/new-york-times-licenses-its-content-to-amazon
• Samsung May Soon Integrate Perplexity AI Into Galaxy Devices
• Report: Microsoft Gives Windows-Based Gaming Handhelds the Priority Over its Own Xbox Model
• Nvidia Launches Native GeForce Now App for Steam Deck
• Microsoft Reaches Tentative Agreement with Game Union, a First
• Former Xbox Leader J Allard is Now Overseeing Amazon’s “Breakthrough” Consumer Products
• Online Accounts 2025: A Little Tech Approach to File Access
• Microsoft Edge 137 Improves Picture-in-Picture Playback, Removes Wallet and Other Features
• PWAs Now Support Windows 11 App Actions
• Microsoft Edge Game Assist is Now Available
• Adobe Brings Photoshop to Android in Beta