Podcast Summary: Windows Weekly 934: OK, JK

Host Introduction and Guest Updates Windows Weekly kicks off with Leo Laporte welcoming listeners and introducing the hosts, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell. Richard joins from Cape Town, South Africa, after enduring a long flight, joking about his ongoing battle with jet lag.

Post-Mortem of Microsoft Build Conference The episode delves into a comprehensive post-mortem of the recent Microsoft Build conference. Paul Thurrott remarks on the influx of new features announced, emphasizing the integration of AI across Microsoft's ecosystem.

Windows 11 Updates: Week D and New Features Paul discusses the latest Windows 11 updates, particularly Week D, unveiling enhancements to native applications like Paint, Notepad, and the Snipping Tool. He highlights:

• Paint

  • "Paint now includes an object selection tool, similar to what's available in Photoshop, allowing for more sophisticated image editing." [17:34]

• Notepad

  • "Notepad is getting AI writing tools for drafting from prompts, rewriting text, and more, but these features require a Microsoft 365 subscription." [20:43]

• Snipping Tool

  • "The Snipping Tool has evolved to include screen recording capabilities and an OCR feature that extracts text from images, which I use almost daily." [19:47]

Windows Update to Include Third-Party Apps A significant portion of the discussion centers on Microsoft's initiative to update third-party applications through Windows Update. Paul explains:

• "Microsoft is allowing third-party app developers to manage updates via Windows Update, aiming to streamline the update process and reduce interruptions." [35:13]

Richard adds concerns about the potential lack of control over specific app versions:

• "I would like to use winget to keep a specific version installed, but it’s unclear how that will be managed with this new system." [43:15]

AI Integration in Windows and Applications The hosts explore the broad integration of AI within Windows 11, touching on features announced at Build:

• Copilot Features

  • "Microsoft announced over 1,100 new Copilot features across Windows and Microsoft 365, enhancing user interactions and productivity." [08:24]

• Post-Quantum Encryption

  • "Windows is working towards post-quantum encryption, with initial support added to the Canary channel, marking a significant step in securing data against future threats." [08:43]

• Customization and Widgets

  • "Users will soon be able to customize lock screen widgets individually, moving away from the all-or-nothing approach currently in place." [06:23]

Windows Versioning and Naming Conventions A lively debate ensues regarding Microsoft's versioning scheme for Windows:

• "It's almost certainly called 25H2, but Microsoft hasn't officially confirmed it, leading to much speculation among insiders." [07:57]

• Richard compares this to Linux's approach:

  • "Linux offers choice with LTS and rolling distributions, something Windows seems to be struggling with due to its complex update and versioning system." [25:30]

Comparison with Alternative Operating Systems The conversation shifts to comparing Windows with Linux and macOS:

• "Linux provides users with the option to choose between stability with LTS releases or cutting-edge features with rolling distributions, offering flexibility that Windows lacks." [26:43]

• "Apple's approach to versioning, using years instead of numeric versions, simplifies the user experience, something Microsoft could learn from." [25:23]

Browser Developments and AI Integration The episode covers advancements in web browsers, particularly with AI integration:

• Agentic Browsers

  • "Browsers like Arc and Opera Neon are pioneering AI-driven features, allowing users to perform complex tasks like booking trips or creating websites through conversational interfaces." [83:43]

• Microsoft Edge and Copilot

  • "Microsoft is embedding Copilot features directly into Edge, integrating AI into the browser's UI for a more interactive and assistance-driven browsing experience." [84:25]

Market Insights: Lenovo and the PC Industry Paul shares insights into Lenovo's financial performance and the broader PC market:

• "Lenovo reported $16.9 billion in revenue with a 23% year-over-year gain, signaling a robust recovery in the PC market." [57:29]

• "IDC now forecasts a 4% growth in PC unit sales for 2025, up from the previous 1.3%, driven by migrations to Windows 11 and the phasing out of Windows 10." [60:01]

AI and the Future of Technology The discussion broadens to the rapid advancements in AI and its implications:

• "AI-generated voices and avatars are becoming indistinguishable from real humans, posing both exciting opportunities and ethical challenges." [71:02]

• Leo demonstrates AI-generated voices, highlighting their uncanny realism:

  • "We can now have AI characters that look and sound just like real people, blurring the lines between reality and artificiality." [68:44]

Closing Remarks and Future Topics As the episode wraps up, the hosts tease upcoming segments and topics, including discussions on AI ethics, browser innovations, and the evolving landscape of operating systems.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott on Windows Update changes:

  • "This might have delayed the preview update, so perhaps while we're doing the show, more likely tomorrow we'll get the preview update." [04:48]

• Richard Campbell on AI-driven Windows features:

  • "If you have an MPU, it can run off of that. If they don't, you could have it run off the cloud or off the CPU, GPU, whatever you have." [12:24]

• Leo Laporte on versioning complexity:

  • "The divergence of Windows capabilities with different versions must be hard because how do you write a field guide?" [22:22]

Conclusion Windows Weekly 934: OK, JK offers an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in Microsoft's ecosystem, the integration of AI across applications, and the ongoing challenges with Windows versioning and updates. The hosts provide valuable insights into the current state of the PC market and the future trajectory of technology, making it a must-listen for tech enthusiasts seeking comprehensive coverage of these topics.