WW 889: Works Best With Netscape - OneDrive calms down, Surface firmware, Field Guide resize

Windows Weekly (Audio)

In this episode, Paul seems to be sitting in a familiar room! Could this be a sign that a game-changing enhancement to Notepad is rolling out? That's not all, as OneDrive seems to be undergoing some behavioral changes in a positive direction. After 3 weeks since the Copilot+ PC launch (2 weeks since Paul got his 1st model), the future of Intel and x86 may not be as dire as some think. Plus, Affinity announced that its award-winning Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps are now free for 6 months with no obligation to buy!

The Morning After

• The end of Intel and the x86 era? You guys are cute
• Comparing the HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft entries: A few differentiators, but these things are very, very similar. There's a reason why
• IDC throws cold water on the AI PC/Copilot+ PC parade
• We still need official Windows 11 on Arm ISOs, Microsoft. Until then, there are workarounds.

Windows 11

• GAME CHANGER: Notepad FINALLY supports spell-checking and auto-correct!
• ACTUAL GAME CHANGER: Microsoft is apparently stepping back some of the OneDrive terribleness in Windows 11 version 24H2
• Patch Tuesday: BIG deal for Windows 11 22H2, 23H2 with 24H2 features
• Nothing to speak of for 24H2, as predicted - just security updates
• It's nice when things happen as expected for a change
• Canary: Lock screen widget changes
• Paul put the Windows 11 Field Guide on a diet - and then the other books too
• PDF went from 377 MB to 107 MB, EPUB went from 344 MB to just 86 MB (!)
• Similar gains for Windows Everywhere, Windows 10 Field Guide
• Updated the Win10 add-in that comes with the Windows 11 Field Guide too

Surface

• Surface Laptop 7 and Pro 11 get second firmware updates

AI

• The OpenAI drama consumes Microsoft
• Opera brings Aria AI features to its GX gaming browser too

Xbox

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price hike
• Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on newer Fire TV Sticks. Also, free Fortnite!

Tips and Tricks

• Tip of the week: Get all three Affinity apps on all three platforms for free for six months!
• App pick of the week: Firefox 128 and Vivaldi 6.8
• RunAs Radio this week: The Hardware of Azure with Rani Borkar
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Raasay Single Malt

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Guest: Mary Jo Foley

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