Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell, and Leo Laporte

Apr 15th 2026

Windows Weekly 979

The Nespresso of the PC World

Hosted by Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell

Simplifying the Windows Insider Program

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Category: News

With Microsoft finally doing right by Windows 11 and the Windows Insider Program, it’s time to start testing and provide some feedback. And then we’ll see if we can really trust these people. Also, Stardock’s Connection Explorer 1.0 is here! And if you want one of macOS’s dumbest features on Windows 11, you can get it now.

Windows

  • Yesterday was Patch Tuesday - Another month in paradise
  • 26H1 - Eh, 24H2/25H2 - Narrator, File Explorer, display, Pen settings, WRE, Remote Desktop improvements
  • Microsoft reveals how it will simplify the Windows Insider Program
  • Two top-level channels, but really three
  • A way to enable all features in new builds, finally, and easy channel switching. But there are complexities, of course
  • New builds for Canary, Beta, and Dev - Two for Canary, but nothing new, Beta and Dev get Storage, networking, Windows Security, and Feedback Hub improvements
  • The first Snapdragon X2-based PC is out, and Paul has that waiting in PA, and two more PCs are coming to Mexico
  • PC sales were somehow up 2.5 percent in Q1, but the rest of 2026 will be a bloodbath
  • Also, smartphone sales are doing even worse
  • NVIDIA reportedly wants to buy Dell or HP ahead of a big PC chipset push. Interesting

Surface/Microsoft 365

  • Microsoft is forced to hike Surface prices dramatically
  • Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Hub
  • Microsoft College Offer: 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium, 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a custom Xbox controller when students in the U.S. purchase a PC

AI/Dev

  • Microsoft AI releases a faster and more efficient image model
  • Amazon CEO tries to explain the AI spending
  • Google app for Windows rolls out worldwide, but the Mac gets a Gemini app
  • Claude for Microsoft Word arrives in Beta
  • Claude for Desktop gets a major redesign for multiple AI agents
  • Microsoft’s reported plans to charge for AI agents
  • .NET 11 Preview 3 arrives right on schedule, but there’s nothing to see here
  • Build session catalog is up - joking, but the new Windows native app strategy should just be vibe coding
  • Google I/O registration is open, and you are never going to believe what the main topics will be - number five will shock you

Xbox & gaming

  • New Xbox CEO says Game Pass is too expensive, also that the sky is blue
  • Xbox will show off the next Metro game soon
  • Starfield for PS5 is getting a fix
  • Amazon Luna is stripping down to the basics e.g. “pulling a Stadia”

Tips & picks

  • Tip of the week: It’s time to get involved
  • App pick of the week: Stardock Connection Explorer
  • RunAs Radio this week: Internal Corporate Communications in 2026 with Emily Mancini
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: ScapeGrace Vanguard

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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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