Windows 11 version 25H2 is here, but blink and you might miss the difference from last year! Also, Microsoft just hiked Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month and is leaving gamers everywhere weighing their subscriptions—and their loyalty.
25H2 is here?!
- Microsoft announced that 25H2 is GA! But where is it?
- And what is it? Microsoft has a list of "new" features
More Windows 11
- Microsoft delivers the 24H2 Week D update in Week E
- No, it's not the preview version of 25H2 for some reason
- But it is a massive update. And it is essentially 25H2
- Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president and his first change was to bring Windows engineering back in-house and out of Azure
- Dev and Beta: Minor changes to File Explorer, Quick settings, Get Started
- Photos app is getting AI-based categories
- Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to be free-free in the EU
Snapdragon X2
- It's real and it's really better than almost anything out there. The bad news: Not until next year
- Hardware prototypes point the way for device makers
- Arm is the epiphany we need for everything to just work
- Also, apparently Qualcomm still makes phone chips
- Qualcomm declares "total litigation victory" against Arm Holdings. More like Harm Holdings, ammmi right?
AI
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella steps aside to focus on engineering
- Microsoft enters a new era for Copilot/AI
- "More Copilot" is the new "more cowbell"
- Microsoft 365 Premium is the AI-powered subscription you were looking for, Copilot Pro is out
- This maps neatly to the three app structure model and to Paul's "I will not pay for AI" thing
- Tied to this, Microsoft also announced inside app vibe working updates across Office apps
- Is this also tied to low uptick on paid AI? Report claims just 8 million seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Stevie Bathiche came to Hawaii to talk about the importance of NPUs and on-device AI
- "Directive AI, 80 TOPS NPUs enable concurrent AI, AI agents are the "outside app" structure, Orchestration is evolving
- Copilot users can talk to a cartoon now
Xbox and gaming
- Major revamp to Xbox Game Pass with some good and some bad
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta after what feels like 17 years, now on all Game Pass tiers
- Game Pass Ultimate gets big price hike but also some improvements
- Game Pass Premium replaces Standard
- Game Pass Essential replaces Core
- Amazon Luna got a big update too
- You can preorder a ROG Xbox Ally Gaming handheld now
- And Microsoft announces how it will handle compatibility
- Costco drops Xbox consoles
- Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to P5 in 2025
- EA goes private for $55 billion
Tips and picks
- Tip of the week: Videogames are getting expensive
- App pick of the week: Proton Mail
- RunAs Radio this week: HaveIBeenPwned with Troy Hunt
- Brown liquor pick of the week: Compass Box Vellichor
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
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