Windows Weekly 943

Ten years ago yesterday, Microsoft released Windows 10, fixing the issues with Windows 8.x and giving Windows 7 users a solid upgrade. One historical curiosity: It was the first Windows release without a major launch event. In other news, Microsoft publishes a Nadella email to the troops about the layoffs, but he never really addresses the layoffs.

Windows 10 turns 10

• The Bad: Its legacy is mixed, as this is when the enshittification of Windows began, really
• Windows as a Service
• Ads, crapware, and telemetry — plus some made-up privacy issues
• Terry Myerson gaff about one billion users
• Universal apps/One Windows was a bust, with Windows Phone and HoloLens failures
• Windows 10’s launch was a missed opportunity to make the Store matter
• The Good: Windows Subsystem for Linux was huge
• WinGet was also huge, but is underappreciated and underutilized to this day
• It did reverse the mistakes of Windows 8, and in time it got more stable as Microsoft figured out WaaS (and then went on to abuse it)
• Oh, and the Windows 10 Field Guide is free to celebrate the anniversary

Windows 11

• Microsoft is using Rust for Surface drivers, and it wants all Windows drivers to switch to Rust too
• The Link to Windows app is getting a nice upgrade on Android
• Dev (25H2) and Beta (24H2): Settings agent for x86, SCOOBE changes, Click to Do improvements, Windows Search improvements
• Canary: Just a couple of bug fixes (Actually, two builds, one today also with no features)
• Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder are Now Native on Windows 11 on Arm in beta
• Opera files antitrust case against Microsoft in Brazil for Windows 11/Edge behaviors
• Another app blocking Recall in a slow-drop of negative Recall-related AI privacy news for Microsoft.
• Rant: More importantly, Recall is boring and not useful given the hype around it.
• Intel earnings are flat, but more layoffs are on the way
• Lenovo rollable laptop in action! (ThinkBook Plus Gen 6)
• Lenovo makes a lot of weird laptops now (like the dual-screen Yoga Book 9i Paul reviewed last year) — apparently they didn’t get the message after Microsoft cancelled the Surface Neo and Windows 10X.
• Does the average modern Windows laptop really need a touchscreen? Is this a relic of the Windows 8 era?

AI & Microsoft 365

• Perplexity Comet is real and it shows the way forward for AI web browsers
• Coincidentally, Microsoft suddenly launches Copilot mode for Microsoft Edge. (But I’ve played with Copilot Mode, and it’s no Comet or Dia.)
• Copilot is getting real-time expressions. It’s the return of Clippy!
• Microsoft’s long-term Copilot plans are a lot wilder than you might expect
• Google earned $96.4 billion in one quarter. This shows that it has not been impacted by other AIs yet

Xbox & gaming

• Xbox is coming to Gamerscom in Germany in August, and it’s bringing the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds
• The July Xbox Update is here and it’s all about the PC
• Paul reviewed the Lenovo Legion Go S, and the Windows experience was so bad. Also, PC OEMs are having trouble competing with the Steam Deck’s pricing on gaming handhelds.

Tips & picks

• Tips of the week: Chris and Paul are partnering on his new newsletter
• App pick of the week: Perplexity Pro
• Beer pick of the week: Alesong Rhino Suit

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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• Tech: Windows 10 at 10: A Decade of Innovation & Controversy
• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 943 Transcript

Links

• Windows 10 Turns 10
• Windows 10’s Legacy? It’s Complicated (Premium)
• Windows 10 Field Guide
• Microsoft Pushes Windows Driver Developers to Embrace Rust
• Microsoft Previews Improved Link to Windows App for Android
• Microsoft Releases New Windows 11 Pre-Release Builds to Dev and Beta Channels
• Microsoft Releases Windows 11 Canary Build 27909
• Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Media Encoder are Now Native on Windows 11 on Arm
• Opera Files Antitrust Complaint Against Microsoft in Brazil
• Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature is now blocked by Brave and AdGuard
• Intel Reports Flat Revenues and Deep Cuts to Employees, Manufacturing
• ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable (14-16″ Intel) Laptop
• Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review: Dual monitors on the go
• Apple is right: Touchscreen laptops suck
• Perplexity Comet and the AI-Powered Future of Web Browsing (Premium)
• You Can Now Test Copilot Mode for Microsoft Edge
• Copilot is getting a face, a room — and a place in your life
• Google Revenues Up 14 Percent to $96.4 Billion
• Google Earnings Report Shows Resilience Against ChatGPT
• Satya Nadella Addresses Layoffs in Email to Employees
• Xbox is Coming to Gamescom 2025 and it’s Bringing the ROG Xbox Ally
• July Update for Xbox Delivers Two Major New Features for PC Gamers
• Handheld PC makers are slowly losing touch with Valve's successful Steam Deck template of affordability, and that's very concerning
• Newsletter Changes at Thurrott.com
• Which Perplexity Subscription Plan is right for you?
• Auto Dark Mode
• Get to Know: Rhino Suit