Windows Weekly 876

On this episode, Paul shares his thoughts on the Snapdragon X Elite chip with Leo and Richard. Windows 11 24H2, AI, NPUs, and SoCs from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are all on the way this year. But a schedule is finally starting to emerge. And it looks like we’ll soon have answers to the questions about how or why AI will matter on PCs.

Windows, AI, and the future

• Windows 11 version 24H2 - staggered release schedule as discussed last week
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite-based PCs in May/June - nothing but good news to date, but Paul went hands-on last week. It’s the real deal.
• Intel’s first-gen Core Ultra chipsets are lackluster, but now we have big promises for Arrow Lake in late 2024
• Microsoft Build 2024 is in mid-May, and now we have a session list with some nice clues. For example, Introducing the Next Generation of Windows on Arm
• Microsoft is expected to unveil 24H2 and new X Elite-based Surface PCs at Build
• Computex and other milestones, and then back-to-school and holiday selling periods

Windows 11

• Moment 5 arrives in stable with yesterday’s Patch Tuesday (which is now called the General Availability channel, by the way). Of course, we still don’t have all the features. In particular, waiting on Android phone as a webcam.
• IDC says PC market grew by 1.5 percent in Q1 and acts like it’s the turnaround of the century
• Microsoft is manually blocking certain registry keys related to default browsers now: Apple-like non-EU belligerence or pragmatic protection of user choice? Why can’t it be both? 
• Beta channel (last week) - Copilot actions improvements
• New Store app update improvements performance dramatically
• The Windows 11 de-ensh*ttification experiments continue
• Does Windows 11 Enterprise solve the problem? No. So it’s time to move on

Hardware

• TSMC gets some of that sweet, sweet CHIPS Act money to expand its US operations

AI

• Three AIs comparison
• Blockbuster report claims OpenAI/Microsoft, Google, and Meta stole content at scale to train AI
• Microsoft opens a new AI hub in London
• Google mulls charging for generative AI in Search
• Spotify lets user create AI playlists using text prompts now
• Brave brings Leo to iOS, so it’s on all supported platforms now. And it added Leo to Brave Talk Premium too
• Google rebrands Studio Bot to Gemini in Android Studio, still in preview. This is their GitHub Copilot

Xbox

• Microsoft rolls out April updates for Xbox consoles, Xbox app on PC
• Xbox reorgs, Kareem Choudhry leaves Microsoft
• A rumored game preservation team is too obvious not to be true

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Microsoft Store hosts its annual Spring Sale
• App picks of the week: Standard Notes & Beeper
• RunAs Radio this week: Securing AI with Sarah Young
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Dalwhinnie 15
   

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 876 Transcript

Links

• The Snapdragon X Elite is Real
• Intel Claims Big AI Performance Gains in Next Core Ultra Chips
• Microsoft’s Build 2024 Session Catalog is a Glimpse of What’s to Come
• Introducing the Next Generation of Windows on Arm
• April Patch Tuesday Update Enables “Moment 5” Features on Windows 11
• IDC: PC Market Grew 1.5 Percent in Q1
• Microsoft Escalates its War Against Default Browser Workarounds (Premium)
• New Windows 11 Beta Build Improves Copilot Actions
• Windows 11 Microsoft Store is About to Get a Major Speed Boost
• A Windows 11 Enshittification Checklist (Premium)
• From the Editor’s Desk: Problems, Fixes, and Workarounds (Premium)
• Hands-On with Windows 11 Enterprise: Are You Enshittified?
• U.S. Hands $11 Billion in Loans and Grants to TSMC
• Report: OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Meta Stole Content at Scale to Train AI
• Microsoft to Open New AI Hub in London
• Google Could Make its Search Generative Experience a Paid Feature
• Spotify Tests AI Playlists Created From Text Prompts
• Brave Brings Leo AI to iPhone and iPad
• Brave Adds Leo AI to Brave Talk
• Google Rebrands Studio Bot to Gemini in Android Studio
• Microsoft Releases New Xbox Features on PCs and Consoles
• Kareem Choudhry is Leaving Microsoft Following New Xbox Reorg
• Report: Microsoft Has a New Team Working on Game Preservation
• Microsoft Store is Hosting its Annual Spring Sale
• Proton Acquires Standard Notes
• Automattic Acquires Beeper
• Securing AI with Sarah Young
• Dalwhinnie 15