Windows Weekly 984

Windows Insider Program

• Release Preview channel updates (including 26H1 for the first time? - A preview of the June Patch Tuesday updates - Shared audio, NPU usage in
• Task Manager, multi-app camera support, Magnifier improvements.
• Taskbar updates come to Insiders! Also in Canary, weʼre throwing them a bone this time.

Enshittification remedies all around

• Microsoft just held a WinHEC for the first time since 2018 and thereʼs a new Windows Driver Initiative!
• Microsoft will soon let us remap Copilot key to Right Ctrl, which is what it was in the first place.
• A Linux privacy nut YouTuber confuses privacy and security and doesnʼt understand Windows 11 so…
• … Paul wrote a complete guide to the local account de-Microsoft experience in Windows 11
• Microsoft Edge will stop loading all passwords into clear text on startup like a big boy browser.

Hardware

• Paul came home to an ASUS Zenbook A16 and ohmygodohmygodohmygod

Surface

• Microsoft finally revs Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business, with Intel chips and VERY high prices.
• Snapdragon X2 variants in late 2026 because of supply issues wa-waa-waaaaa.

AI

• MDASH is Microsoftʼs answer to Anthropic Mythos, in-house only.
• Elon Musk and Sam Altman are both terrible but a jury decided against Muskʼs frivolous lawsuit.
• OpenAI and Apple might head to court over Siri promises
• OpenAI Codex is on mobile via the ChatGPT app
• Google unleashes an AI tsunami at Google IO this week. A few relevant takeaways:
• Overview of the major announcements
  • Google advances Android as a developer platform
  • Chrome is turning into a proactive assistant
  • Google AI subscriptions are an incredible value
  • Related: The Gemini Intelligence feature for Googlebooks and more has steep hardware requirements - 12 GB of RAM, flagship SoC  So Pixel 10 series/Galaxy S26 series and newer only etc.
• Just a reminder that Microsoft makes a Linux distribution … for Azure specifically
• More dev
  • WWDC schedule is up for June 8 opening day
  • Build 2026 kicks off June 2 in SFO
  • After another boring .NET 11 preview release, we finally get our first look at a major change: MAUI is switching from the Mono runtime to the CoreCLR runtime.
  • And we should pause for a moment to remember S “Soma” Somasegar, who sadly passed away this week.

Xbox and Gaming

• Next Xbox Elite controller leaks and it is glorious
  • Related: An Xbox Cloud-Connected controller leaks too and it is less than glorious. 
• Forza Horizon 6 is here, and itʼs on Game Pass on Day One.
  • Be sure to read Laurentʼs detailed review.
• Haters gonna keep hating: Fans want Xbox exclusives because their heads are still in the sand.
  • Sony is allegedly returning to this model for single player experiences
  • Related: Sony raises prices on PS Plus
• Fortnite comes back to the Apple App Store worldwide *excluding Australia for some reason.

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Google AI Studio.
• Vibe-code your next app with this incredible free tool.
• Related: A look at Markdown editors.

App pick of the week: DeskScapes 2026

• Stardock DeskScapes 2026 is normally $9.99 but it will cost just $6.99 during the launch period.
• Also: Firefox 151 is a big update on desktop and mobile, the latter gets the AI kill switch
• RunAs Radio this week: UEFI Secure Boot with Richard Hicks
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Daftmill Winter Batch Release 2012

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• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 984 Transcript

Links

• Windows 11’s May Optional Update Lands on the Release Preview Channel
• Windows Insiders on the Experimental Channel Can Try Alternative Taskbar Positions
• Microsoft Announces Driver Quality Initiative for Windows
• You’ll Soon Be Able to Remap the Copilot Key on Your Windows 11 PC
• Switcher 2026: Privacy, Security, and What Really Matters
• Switcher 2026: Minimizing the Microsoft in Windows 11
• Microsoft Edge Will Stop Loading Passwords Into Memory in Clear Text at Startup
• ASUS Zenbook A16 First Impressions
• Microsoft Refreshes Surface for Business Lineup With Intel’s Latest Core Ultra Chips
• Now Microsoft Has an Agentic AI System for Finding Security Vulnerabilities Too
• Elon Musk Loses Frivolous Lawsuit Against OpenAI
• Report: OpenAI Wants to Break Up With Apple Over Unfruitful Siri Integration
• Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller Gets Revealed in New Leak
• Google I/O 2026 Kicks Off With AI Model, Coding, and Agent Updates
• Google I/O: Google Advances the Android Developer Platform
• Google I/O: Chrome is Transforming Into a Proactive Assistant
• Google I/O: Google Updates its AI Subscriptions
• Google Details Strict Hardware Requirements for Gemini Intelligence on Android
• Microsoft Announces Azure Linux 4.0 and Release of Azure Container Linux
• Apple Details WWDC 2026 Schedule
• Microsoft’s Build 2026 Session Catalog is Now Live
• .NET 11 Preview 4 is Now Available
• Microsoft is Moving .NET MAUI to CoreCLR Runtime in .NET 11
• Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller Gets Revealed in New Leak
• New Cloud-Connected Xbox Controller From Microsoft Leaks
• Forza Horizon 6 is Racing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Today
• Forza Horizon 6 Hands-On: More of the Same
• Xbox Fans Express Their Desire for Exclusive Games on New Player Voice Feedback Hub
• Xbox Fans Express Their Desire for Exclusive Games on New Player Voice Feedback Hub
• PlayStation Reportedly Plans to Stop Porting its Future Single-Player Games to PC
• Xbox Fans Express Their Desire for Exclusive Games on New Player Voice Feedback Hub
• Sony Announces PlayStation Plus Price Increases
• Fortnite is Coming Back to Apple’s App Store Worldwide, Except in Australia
• I Just Vibe Coded a Markdown Editor With Google AI Studio
• Switcher 2026: Markdown Editors
• Stardock Releases DeskScapes 2026
• Firefox 151 Arrives With VPN Location Selection, AI Control on Mobile, and More
• UEFI Secure Boot with Richard Hicks
• Daftmill