Windows Weekly (Audio)

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Windows Weekly is about more than Windows. Veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell join Leo for a deep dive into the most valuable company in the world. From consumer to enterprise, AI to Xbox, Windows Weekly is the only Microsoft podcast you'll ever need. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month. New episodes every Wednesday.

WINDOWS WEEKLY

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  1. 1 day ago

    Nicely Frosted - Why Microsoft's Latest Event Left Us Baffled

    Microsoft's latest Windows event left even diehard enthusiasts scratching their heads, with new AI-powered hardware and "RTX Spark" PCs getting top billing but little clear reason for anyone to buy them. If you're wondering what actually matters in the world of AI PCs. or why no one can explain it, you're not alone. Windows We need to talk about last week's Windows event... what the heck was this? Lots of Windows, lots of Surface, a little bit of ecosystem, confusing local AI story, no major new end user features that are unique to RTX Spark, a weird Osborne Effect for RTX Spark, and a stunning lack of self-awareness combine for one of the weirder Microsoft events in memory The RTX Spark era begins this week. How is this different from Copilot+ PC? Patch Tuesday is here and it's a big milestone Minor changes for 24H2, 25H2, 26H2 Big changes for 26H1 This is the first Patch Tuesday for 26H2, the last one for 24H2 (Home, Pro) 1400+ security fixes, a new record(!!) - This is almost 15x the normal number of patches ASUS allows reviewers to show unboxing, so here's the RTX Spark-based ASUS ProArt P16 PC market fell over 20 percent in Q3 as component crisis takes its toll Googlebooks suck, and everyone is finally noticing what I reported last week. But there is another, and it's an unexpected option Tiny11 Builder gets a major update with a WinUI makeover AI/dev This has been the most exciting week in AI advances since this era kicked off in February 2023 ArtCraft releases impressive clones of the top 7 Adobe Creative Cloud apps ArtCraft is also working at replacing Microsoft Office, with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint clones so far - Also clones of AutoCAD and Audacity(?)/audio editor Google Playground lets anyone create a game that you can share with anyone Google AI Studio now lets anyone vibe-code Android and web apps, and you will soon be able to put them in the Google Play Store Big changes to Microsoft 365 for consumers - Family/Premium loses 1 TB per user, goes to a single pool of 2 TB, but all users now share the same Copilot rights Apple makes a long-overdue smart home push thanks to Siri AI finally making sense - New HomeView smart display is the star .NET 11 heads to the finish line XBOX and gaming XBOX creates an XP division for non-game entertainment. They should have called it XBOX One, cough Asha Sharma creates XBOX LABS team to explore how vibe coding changes gaming Microsoft announces an XBOX Nano Controller Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PS5 in January GTA VI coming to the PC in early 2027 Epic Games vibe-coded its new launcher, and it's available in preview for Windows, Mac, and Linux Tips and picks Tip of the week: Just make it App pick of the week: ArtCraft for the win RunAs Radio this week: Choosing Tools in M365 with Joy Apple Brown liquor pick of the week: Bunnahabhain 12 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT PaloAltoNetworks.com/Idira originhq.com/windowsweekly cachefly.com/twit

  2. 8 Oct

    Fat-Washed - RTX Spark and Hybrid AI

    Microsoft and NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops are official, with preorders open and shipping October 16. Prices run from $2,599 (24GB) to $5,899 (128GB, already sold out on Surface). Paul and Leo cover who needs that much RAM, what "hybrid intelligence" means, and why Paul's new Googlebook disappointed him. Windows RTX Spark laptops: from $2,599 (24GB), $3,700 (32GB), $5,899 (128GB). Ships Oct 16 Partners: Microsoft, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI. Paul reviews the HP OmniBook Ultra 16 first Surface RTX Spark Dev Box: $6,000+ "Hybrid intelligence": local AI first, cloud when needed Windows Search gets inline AI actions in Insider builds Cloud Rebuild adds better remove and sanitize options Windows app adds Remote PC connections (preview) Intel Wildcat Lake: Paul's test laptop was slow even with 16GB Googlebook first look: Lenovo Googlebook 15 (~$1,100) is missing basics an iPad has Microsoft has tried to kill Windows many times, including the leaked Project Aion AI/Dev Microsoft AI ships new voice and transcription models Gemini 4 Argon is announced, but limited to cybersecurity partners Google Docs and Drive add native Markdown C# Dev Kit 11 arrives with .NET 11 Xbox and Gaming Rockstar corrects reports of exclusive Xbox GTA VI streaming. Launch is Nov 19 Xbox Elite Series 3 controller leaks again, with a built-in screen October Game Pass: Battlefield 6 and more Sony brings QSSR AI upscaling to the standard PS5 Google Playground lets you vibe-code games Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Desktop98.com, a Windows 98 simulator in your browser App pick: Gears of War: E-Day (Game Pass Ultimate and PC) Brown liquor pick: 1792 Small Batch bourbon Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: helixsleep.com/windows threatlocker.com/twit PaloAltoNetworks.com/Idira trustedtech.team/twit

  3. 30 Sept

    Another Story Ruined By Keith - Windows 11, version 26H2 Is Now Available!

    Why does Microsoft keep stumbling with new devices and software design... and what happens when enthusiasts start favoring AI over old-school Office? Paul, Richard, and Leo dig into shifting loyalties and what that means for the future of the desktop. And with the release of 26H2, it's time to update your install and recovery media. The build number is 26300.9457 Windows Windows 11, version 26H2 is here New features, none unique: Start, Taskbar, Search, etc New defaults for some features: Windows settings backup for commercial customers, etc. The time a UX legend interviewed for a job at Microsoft running Windows UX WSL Containers are generally available in Windows 11 Four new Insider builds, but only Experimental gets anything interesting: Phone companion improvements and Energy recommendations directly in Quick Settings Software Microsoft retires the Microsoft 365 Companion apps for Windows 11 that never made sense in the first place Mozilla ships the new Nova UI in Firefox 157 Hardware Copilot+ PC brand could be on the way out, but it was all over IFA, including on RTX Spark-based PCs Microsoft launches new base Surface Pro and Laptop models with Snapdragon X2 - And a new mouse, for some reason Qualcomm brought (first-gen) Snapdragon X to Googlebook, but it's also bringing X2 to Linux Google quietly reveals that, yes, Chromebooks are on the way out AI Microsoft unveils the Copilot "super app" and the notion that this is basically an OS Open releases about 1000 new updates for ChatGPT Claude Sonnet 5.5 joins Opus 5.5 The AI money pit, part 127: Report details Anthropic losses, spending, and revenues. Report also does a bad job at visualizing that information XBOX and gaming Disc to digital program is live Minecraft Dungeons is here with a new dimension, and it's coming to Minecraft next year too Microsoft has a new casual mobile game for some reason XBOX now has mythic achievements Tips and picks Tip of the week: Get the Windows 11 version 26H2 ISO App pick of the week: Opera on desktop and on mobile RunAs Radio this week: AI and Penetration Testing with Paula Januszkiewicz Brown liquor pick of the week: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: PaloAltoNetworks.com/Idira bitwarden.com/twit

  4. 24 Sept

    Only B & D Matter - Big Reorganization & Job Cuts Within XBOX

    Windows Week D arrives, and this time we get updates - a preview of Octoberʼs Patch Tuesday 24H2/25H2 Minor update with new Copilot key remaps, Wi-Fi in WRE, more 26H1 Major update that brings all new 26H2 features—Start, Taskbar, Search —to 26H1. Finally. Windows Insider Program Four new builds last Friday - Biggest change is Cloud Rebuild in WRE (in Experimental) gaining new capabilities. Software 30 years ago, Dave Plummer created Task Manager, and now heʼs vibe-coded a modern version that works on Mac and Linux too. Stardock announces a new Windows 11 utility called Snipboard. Clipchamp does AI upscaling to 4K now Hardware The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15p Aura Edition is nearly perfect, with 11 hours of battery life. Googlebook revealed! Questions answered - $899 starting price is much lower than expected. This is Androidʼs Copilot+ PC moment - An AI PC? What a concept! AI/dev Microsoft announces a OneDrive + Copilot event in October - Also a separate Copilot event before then. Financial Times reveals internal OpenAI prediction of $278 billion in losses over the next five years. NYT copyright case discovery reveals what Microsoft and OpenAI really think about stealing content. Anthropic merges Cowork into chat, adds Docs and Slides. Google Labs CC turned into Gemini Daily Brief, so now itʼs an AI agent for families. Google opens up its Home smart home ecosystem to other AI assistants. XAML.io is a web-based vibe coding IDE for .NET apps and it looks amazing. XBOX and Gaming A big reorg and a small number of layoffs at XBOX sets off a new round of hand wringing. Tip and Picks Tip of the week: Get Auto SR on Panther Lake-based laptops Auto SR was designed to make gaming viable on Windows 11 on Arm/Snapdragon X/X2, but now itʼs available on Intel Core Ultra Series 3-based PCs and it is worth experimenting with. App Pick of the Week: Affinity Possibly the greatest free app in existence, Affinity just got 60 new features and is even better. Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit originhq.com/windowsweekly

  5. 16 Sept

    Corporate Surveillance With Watercolors - Out-of-Band Updates & the New Normal for Windows

    Microsoft's record-breaking Patch Tuesday unleashed nearly a thousand fixes, but the bonus story is in the chaos that followed as out-of-band updates and AI-driven bug hunts left admins scrambling to keep up. Windows Patch Tuesday was so buggy Microsoft had to release an emergency fix to address all the issues New Release Preview builds for 24H2/25H2 - I guess we're moving past the features that are also in the initial 26H2 release - New Copilot key remapping feature, they will get it right eventually Five builds across Experimental and Beta channels - All over the map as you'd expect Google releases the Gemini app for Windows Adobe released Photoshop and Premiere Elements 2027 AnyType is a top-tier Notion alternative and it's about to get very interesting Microsoft previews an October Windows + Surface event that's clearly all about Nvidia - but is this also tied to 26H2 release? HP announces a new Ryzen-based portable workstation with an interesting detail about unified memory Apple announced iPhone 18 Pros, iPhone Duo, Watch 12 + Ultra 4, AirPods 5, and then released its '27 OS updates - And sure whatever AI AI fear-mongering reaches new heights (or new lows): Is this just PR from Big AI to keep the money rolling? Bill Gates says Gates Foundation will donate $1+ billion to solve AI inequality Big AI could solve the PR problems by actually doing something positive for mankind. Just a thought Copilot Work and Copilot Studio get app building capabilities Google will bring MCP to Google Home, in early preview now Mozilla and Mistral partner on Firefox Smart Window AI XBOX and gaming Gears of War: E-Day and more is coming to Game Pass in the second half of September XBOX is going to the Tokyo Game Show and a nice surprise for Kojima fans Valve opens up Steam Frame preorders and it's only $1060! Amazon Prime Gaming and Luna are having a pretty g26ood September Apple is reportedly making an iPhone game controller for some reason Tips and picks Tip of the week: There's a new MSA bypass for Windows 11 Setup App pick of the week: Google Dreambeans RunAs Radio this week: Patching in 2026 with Susan Bradley Brown liquor pick of the week: Art of the Spirits Honored to Serve 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: trustedtech.team/twit

  6. 9 Sept

    Ensheepified - Patch Tuesday Shatters Vulnerability Fix Records!

    With Microsoft shattering records for patched vulnerabilities and AI exposing even more bugs, Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell debate whether this tidal wave of fixes signals progress or just bigger trouble ahead for Windows users. Also, Sonos is back and here's something no one has been able to say for, well, forever: It's new app is great! Plus, Gemini's Daily Brief is surprisingly useful, and it's available for free to everyone in the U.S.MICROSOFT MAKES MAJOR FINANCIAL REPORTING CHANGE The canary in the coal mine has finally been rewarded: Microsoft will dramatically change how it reports earnings, effective immediately. The good: Didn't see this coming, Microsoft will allegedly be transparent about Azure revenues every quarter The bad: A simpler structure means more revenues are being hidden and you can only make accurate YOY comparisons dating back two years now The unknown: What this will really look like in practice How is it possible that Paul has been all over this for years and Wall Street has mostly ignored it? Windows Patch Tuesday arrives - And, yes, it's basically 26H2 New Start, Taskbar, and Windows Search are generally available Is the "real" 26H2 still on track for October or does it just happen whenever? Microsoft fixed almost 1000 security vulnerabilities this month (974), with 723 of them in Windows and 112 of them critical-severity. It has already released over double the number of security patches this year (2760) as it did in all of 2025 (1139). Five new builds drop just ahead of Patch Tuesday updates with three minor new features Project Zenith is a misguided attempt to make Windows better for developers that shows they've learned nothing Microsoft Edge team promises two contrary improvements: Faster extension approvals, better quality It came from IFA Lenovo: Two AMAZING prototype PCs, one of which is imminent as a shipping product. Two killer NVIDIA RTX Spark-based laptops. Colorful laptops and AIO deflate the MacBook Neo balloon nicely. New ThinkCentre desktops and ThinkBook laptops, including a killer AMD-based workstation that can be daisy-chained HP: Three new NVIDIA RTX Spark PCs, one of which is a desktop PC Acer: RTX Spark, gaming handheld, more Key takeaway: NVIDIA RTX Spark is a game-changer Apps Vivaldi adds PWA and address bar improvements Yes, Virginia, Brave is still the fastest web browser AI and dev Newsday and The Seattle Times sue OpenAI and Microsoft for stealing copyrighted content at scale There's a great new documentary about the making of Visual Studio Code out and it's free This is a modern example of how tech limitations can spur innovation, something that happened a lot in the early home computer era and happens a lot less now .NET 11 heads to release candidate phase ahead of November release XBOX and gaming XBOX Cloud Gaming is getting usage caps starting in November and a standalone service is on the way XBOX app is coming to TCL smart TVs XBOX Insiders are testing startup animation choices, Showcase customization, an improved Remote Play experience, background downloads for Cloud Gaming, and more Tips and picks Tip of the week: Gemini offers a useful and free daily briefing App pick of the week: Sonos RunAs Radio this week: State of WSUS with Adam Brown These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/1000 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: cachefly.com/twit

  7. 3 Sept

    Physical Goods - Acer SFF RTX Spark Desktop Design Showcased at IFA 2026

    While Microsoft pushes Copilot+ PCs, NVIDIA storms into the Windows ecosystem with AI-focused Spark machines and game-changing specs, igniting new rivalries with Apple and upending expectations for what local hardware can do. Plus, Atari revives 39 Activision classics for a price that will make retro fans blink, while the Sonos saga continues as it pivots to an open AI platform that might finally win back old loyalties. Finally, Paul's Markdown book will be released sometime in the next week. Windows The mystery of 26H2 is now less mysterious Last week: Week D came and went without a preview release, triggering speculation Microsoft issues Windows 11 version 26H2 to Release Preview, a first This means a September or October release to stable. Just guessing, but Preview Update in September, general Update in October is most likely Version numbers don't matter much anymore. There are no unique 26H2 features, just a few unique 26H2 presets - These include Point-in-time restore and Memory Integrity Protection being on by default Two 26H1 pre-release builds with little to speak of IFA 2026 is underway in Berlin Acer is first out of the gates with dozens of new PCs, including one based on the NVIDIA RTX Spark EU General Court confirms that Microsoft Edge is not a gatekeeper Visual Studio Code now has a full Markdown Editor experience Brave now offers free email aliases, and will have a premium option soon Firefox for iOS now has integrated ad blocking NVIDIA - $96.2 billion in revenues, up 106 percent YOY Dell - record $47 billion in revenues, but it's all from server/infrastructure HP - $15.7 billion in revenues, up 12.5 percent - $11.8 billion from PCs, vs. $15 billion for all Dell client products AI/dev Sony and Warner sue Anthropic for stealing their music Gemini Notebook gets first Expert Intelligence upgrade with integrated e-book support Sonos announces Sonos 27 OS with major AI functionality Microsoft moves WinUI development fully to GitHub ahead of open-sourcing it XBOX and gaming Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, more coming to Game Pass Every Activision title for the Atari 2600 is being reissued in cartridge form, but it's going to cost you Tips and picks Tip of the week: Markdown: A Field Guide for Writers App pick of the week: ImageGlass 10 RunAs Radio this week: Reimagining Intranets with Susan Hanley Brown liquor pick of the week: Macaloney's Cath-Nah-Aven 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit helixsleep.com/windows

  8. 26 Aug

    Laptop Fort - Bill Gates Warns About the Dark Side of AI

    Microsoft tries to prove Windows on ARM is ready for prime time, but behind the PR push, unresolved questions about compatibility, branding, and a tepid market threaten to derail the company's ambitions. Also, PowerToys 0.101 is here with Windows Hopper and multiple improvements! Plus, Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac launches. Windows If a Week D falls in the woods and no one installs it, did a Week D really happen? Theory: This is the big one, with the three big changes Microsoft promised this year. Basically, this is Windows 11 version 26H2 Three new builds across Beta, Experimental, and Experimental (26H1) with a modernized AutoPlay experience and a new "Open apps maximized" accessibility feature Microsoft reminds business customers that Windows on Arm is terrific ahead of Nvidia RTX Spark launch Totally coincidental that this happened on the same day that Apple announced a new Mac Mini with M6 and M5 Pro and Mac Studio with M5 Ultra and M5 Max Microsoft 365 OneDrive for Mac gets native sync engine Proton Mail gets automatic and customizable category filtering AI/dev Bill Gates issues a strong warning on the dangers of AI. And you're not going to believe what number two is WSJ report echoes the complaints that Paul has been making for years. Again Adobe Firefly gets production-quality music, speech, and sound effect generation capabilities Apple Music will start labeling AI-generated music .NET Conf 2026 on track for November with .NET 11 XBOX and gaming XBOX testing long-awaited disc to digital entitlements The ASUS ROG XBOX Ally X20 is available now for $1299, or in a $2499 bundle Rumor: Microsoft prepping an Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console for November Update: it's real. The XBOX 25th anniversary collection arrives November 13 Microsoft announces (third party) Designed for XBOX 25th Anniversary Collection of hardware peripherals IKEA has designed some XBOX-influenced furniture and it is amazing Rockstar Games weighs in on leaks as GTA VI reveal arrives (tomorrow) Commodore announces Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection for PC, consoles NVIDIA brings GeForce Now to Firefox Tips and picks Tip of the week: Expose yourself to other points of view App pick of the week: PowerToys RunAs Radio this week: Security Features of PowerShell 7 with Mike O'Neill Brown liquor pick of the week: SpiceBox Spiced Whisky 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. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT

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About

Windows Weekly is about more than Windows. Veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell join Leo for a deep dive into the most valuable company in the world. From consumer to enterprise, AI to Xbox, Windows Weekly is the only Microsoft podcast you'll ever need. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month. New episodes every Wednesday.

Information

  • Creator
    TWiT
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
  • Show Website
    Windows Weekly (Audio)
  • Provider

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