Windows Weekly 974

From bug-busting AI that’s transforming Firefox to personal coding breakthroughs, the team breaks down how practical applications are cutting through skepticism and reshaping developer workflows. Plus, hear why lighter Patch Tuesdays are refreshing from time to time!

Windows 11

• Patch Tuesday's familiar list of updates: Network speed test, Camera tilt and pan controls, sysmon, RSAT improvements, Quick Machine Recovery improvements, WEBP support for desktop wallpaper, Emoji 16.0, etc.
• It’s been a light year so far for Patch Tuesday features - that’s a good thing
• New builds for Canary, Dev, and Beta late last week. Canary is nothing, Dev/Beta get Administrator Protection, Drag Tray refinements, File Explorer improvements, and fixes
• Android 16 QPR3 brings Desktop Mode to Android devices - and a hands-on with Pixel phones and tablets shows the way forward for Android-based laptops later this year
• Intel has new gaming processors for creators and gamers and they look excellent and are inexpensive

AI and dev

• Copilot Cowork is literally Claude Cowork in Microsoft 365 - “Wave 3” for Microsoft 365 Copilot begins with a lot of agentic features, in private preview at first
• Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive get big Gemini updates for consumers and Workspace customers
• Mozilla partners with Anthropic to use AI to find bugs, and it’s paying off nicely
• Visual Studio Code moves to a weekly update schedule 
• The .NET 11 Preview 2 is here

Xbox and gaming

• Microsoft starts talking up next Xbox console! It’s called Project Helix and, yes, it will run Windows games
• New Xbox Mode is on the way
• Project Helix dev kits to game makers in 2027
• Satya Nadella explains why he/Microsoft are “long” on gaming
• Gaming is a core identity for Microsoft alongside platforms, developers, and knowledge workers

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Nostalgia with a purpose
• App pick of the week: Stardock Clairvoyance
• RunAs Radio this week: SQL Server in 2026 with Bob Ward
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Canadian Centennial Rye Whisky

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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Links

• Microsoft Releases March 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates
• Microsoft Drops New Canary, Dev, and Beta Insider Builds
• Android 16 QPR3 Delivers Long-Awaited Desktop Mode
• A Peek at Our Android Laptop Future ⭐
• Intel Announces Core Ultra 200S Plus Desktop Processors
• Microsoft Announces Claude-Powered Copilot Cowork Agent
• Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive Get Major Gemini Updates
• Mozilla Partners with Anthropic to Better Secure Firefox
• Microsoft Releases .NET 11 Preview 2
• Next Xbox Console to Play PC Games
• Satya Nadella Explains Why Microsoft is “Long on Gaming”
• From the Editor’s Desk: What We’ve Lost ⭐
• WinUIpad: AI to the Rescue ⭐
• WinUIpad: Adding New Features with AI and a Peek at the Future ⭐
• WinUIpad: We Can Rebuild It ⭐
• Clairvoyance
• SQL Server in 2026 with Bob Ward
• CENTENNIAL 10 YEAR OLD CANADIAN RYE WHISKY