Windows Weekly 993

As the tech world catches its breath from AI whiplash and retro gaming returns to the PC, Microsoft quietly kills underused tools and tries to double down on what actually works. This episode blends the excitement of tech and entertainment (like Xbox classics landing on Windows 11) with a poignant look back at the life and legacy of legendary columnist John C. Dvorak.

Windows

• Five new Insider builds released on Monday; the new Start menu comes to the Beta channel
• Experimental (26H1) a day later with no interesting new features
• The Whiteboard app is apparently being retired

AI

• Microsoft expands partnership with Mistral to improve EU AI infrastructure
• Copilot for consumers is losing Podcasts and Deep research features soon
• U.S. judge approves Anthropic $1.5 billion settlement with authors it stole from
• 1Password partners with Anthropic to make AI access to password-protected websites secure
• Google renames NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook
• Google’s next big AI models are delayed, but we got Gemini 3.6 Flash, Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber to tide us over

XBOX and gaming

• Microsoft brings XBOX Backward Compatibility to PC!!
• Here comes Halo: Campaign Evolved, along with more Game Pass titles for the end of July
• Bethesda announces Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters, and Fallout 5 is entering pre-production
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 in Early Access on August 21, Open Beta on August 27
• XBOX July update adds support for longer gamertags, new library customization options, and more
• XBOX teams with Meta to bring Game Pass Starter Edition to Meta Horizon+ subscribers
• Valve says the component crisis dogging Steam Machine pricing will only get worse

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Windows Package Manager for bulk app installs
• App (game) of the week: Doom: The Dark Ages
• RunAs Radio this week: Security Begins at Procurement with Jessie Schofer
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Loup River Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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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Links

• Microsoft Announces Five New Windows 11 Insider Builds
• Microsoft Issues a New Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Build
• Microsoft Whiteboard is being retired
• Microsoft Expands Mistral Partnership for European AI
• Microsoft is Retiring Copilot Deep Research and Podcasts
• U.S. Judge Approves Anthropic’s $1.5 Billion Settlement with Book Authors
• 1Password Partners with Anthropic
• Google Rebrands NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook
• Google Releases New Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber Models
• Microsoft Brings XBOX Backward Compatibility to PC
• Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More Are Coming to Game Pass
• Bethesda Announces Fallout 3/New Vegas Remasters, With Fallout 5 Entering Pre-Production
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta to Kick off on August 21
• Xbox July Update Adds New Social Features and Customization Options
• Meta Horizon+ Subscription Adds New Xbox Game Pass Perk
• Valve Says Memory Crisis is “Still Getting Worse” After Launching $1,049 Steam Machine
• Working Towards a Do Less, Automate More Workflow ⭐
• Doom: The Dark Ages
• Security Begins at Procurement with Jessie Schofer
• NEBRASKA STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY