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

Pa

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/935

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott

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Microsoft shakes up Windows Update with third-party app integration while AI features flood into Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool. Plus, the browser wars heat up as Arc pivots to agentic AI and Opera launches Neon, while Richard calls in from Cape Town with whiskey wisdom.

Windows 11

• It's Week D! Microsoft issues preview updates for 23H2/22H2 - Windows Key + C for Copilot, Drag tray, FAQs in Settings, Lock screen widget customization, IT admin controls for Taskbar
• Windows Insider Program
  • Canary - Microsoft adds support for asymmetrical key encryption that won't be vulnerable to quantum computing attacks
  • Beta (24H2) - New Microsoft 365 text actions in Click to Do, Lock screen widget customization, multiple dashboards in Widgets, App recommendations in Open with dialog, PC to PC migration experience in Windows Backup
  • New Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool features in Canary and Dev - Paint sticker generator and Object select tool, Snipping Tool perfect screenshot and color picker, Notepad writing tools (draft from prompt, rewrite text, etc.)
  • Now Windows Update is going to update third-party apps too
  • As promised last week, Notion is now available in the Microsoft Store
  • Signal will explicitly prevent Recall from screenshotting the app
  • Related: Why is Lenovo doing so well financially?
    • Also related: IDC predicts 4.1 percent growth in PC market this year to 274 million units

AI and Web Browsers, Oh My

• Browsers go agentic
  • The Browser Company says it will no longer offer functional updates to Arc as it focuses on Dia
  • Opera announces Neon, its agentic AI web browser
• Hand-wringing as OpenAI buys Jony Ive's newish company
• Duck.ai if you ask it nicely (and use the right model)
• Yes, Google is going to put ads in Search AI Mode
• Vivaldi 7.4 arrives for desktop and for mobile
• Firefox 139 is a minor update - maybe it's time to move to a 6 week schedule?

Xbox and Games

• Xbox's Copilot for Gaming Launches on iOS and Android in Beta
• FTC drops its bid to unwind Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard
• Sony discounts PS5 and peripherals temporary to undercut Switch 2

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the Week: 'Fear and Loathing in Seattle' and 'More Fear and Loathing in Seattle'
• App Pick of the Week: Instapaper
  • Plus: Fences 6 is GA on Windows 11
• RunAs Radio This Week: How to Talk to Security with Sarah Young
• Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Aerstone 10 Sea Cask

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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Agentic AI is the theme of the show this year, and this time its multi-agent with orchestration! But first, we need to discuss the protestors. Paul and Richard have stories. So many stories!

Build 2025

• New Microsoft 365 Copilot features are rolling out now because it's a day that ends in y
• Tuning is the unexpected Build Bingo center square term - rolling out to agents
• GitHub Copilot is open source in VS Code, more
• Win32 app support improvements, no more fees in Microsoft Store
• A shift in making Windows 11 the best place for developers - some things said, some left unsaid
• Edge gets new AI features too of course
• New native app capabilities in Windows App SDK, React Native
• And, pre-Build, 50 million Visual Studio users
• Copilot for consumers does image generation now. Fun tip: You can Minecraft-ize photos
• OpenAI has a coding agent too, obviously
• And OpenAI is buying Jony Ive!

Windows

• Administrator Protection is coming soon - And not just for businesses. This feels very much like the firewall in XP SP2, it's going to be disruptive
• New 24H2 features in Release Preview: New text actions in Click to Do, a lot more
• New 24H2 features in Dev and Beta: AI actions in File Explorer, Advanced Settings, Search improvements, more
• New 23H2 features, Windows 10 features in Release Preview
• Surface Laptop Studio RIP
• Calendar companion app for Windows 11/M365
• Microsoft may finally put the Teams antitrust issue in the EU behind

Xbox

• Fortnite returns to the Apple App Store
• Apple blocked it first, Epic complained to judge
• And Microsoft files a legal motion against Apple and for Epic Games
• Qualcomm job listing confirms Xbox plans to some degree
• What happens when you combine Qualcomm NPU with Nvidia GPU?
• Xbox May Update arrives and it's a big one
• Retro Classic Games for Xbox Game Pass
• Game Bar updates, Edge Game Assist, GeForce now etc. on PC
• Custom Xbox gift cards
• More streaming of your own games
• Hellblade II is coming from Xbox to PS5
• Many more games coming to Xbox Game Pass across platforms

Tips and Picks

• App pick of the week: You can try Microsoft's command line editor now
• Game pick of the week: Doom: The Dark Ages
• RunAs Radio this week: PowerShell 7.5 and DSC 3.0.0 with Jason Helmick
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Tamnavulin Sherry Cask

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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