Windows Weekly (Audio) – Episode WW 922: "There's Never a 'Not OK' Button – End of Skype, MWC25, Rust-inovich"
Release Date: March 5, 2025

Hosts:

• Leo Laporte
• Paul Thurrott
• Richard Campbell

1. Farewell to Skype

Microsoft's Decision to Discontinue Skype: Microsoft announced plans to retire Skype in May 2025, marking the end of an era for one of the early pioneers in online communication. The decision stems from Skype's declining usage as Microsoft Teams becomes the dominant platform for both consumer and enterprise communications.

Historical Context and Challenges: The hosts discuss Skype's integration into Microsoft’s ecosystem and its struggles during the pandemic when competitors like Zoom surged in popularity. They highlight the difficulties users face in transitioning from Skype to Teams, especially due to the lack of features like "Skype Out" which allowed users to call phone numbers directly.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [72:12]: "Microsoft announced this week that they're going to kill Skype in May pretty quickly, actually."
• Leo Laporte [73:18]: "They still make Skype, which honestly, is kind of a very normal response to it."

2. Microsoft Copilot App Updates

Frequent Updates and Lack of Transparency: Microsoft continues to iterate on the Copilot app for Windows 11, shifting from a web-based interface to a native XAML-based UI. This frequent updating cycle leads to inconsistencies and confusion among users.

Privacy Concerns: Paul Thurrott raises significant concerns regarding the default settings in Copilot that enable model training on user text inputs without explicit consent. This shift towards data harvesting ignites worries about user privacy and data security.

User Experience Issues: The installation process for new features like Recall involves multiple manual updates, causing frustration due to extended setup times and repeated prompts for installations.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [07:28]: "Microsoft is updating the Copilot app on Windows 11 for what I'm going to call the 127th time."
• Richard Campbell [09:43]: "They're training their model now on whatever you type in there, unless you find this UI and change it back."

3. Recall Feature on Windows

Functionality Overview: Recall is a semantic search tool within Copilot that allows users to locate previously accessed files or information seamlessly. While it holds potential for non-technical users, its implementation has been problematic.

Cumbersome Update Process: Enabling Recall requires installing multiple AI models through separate updates, leading to a frustrating user experience with frequent interruptions and limited functionality until all updates are complete.

Usability Criticisms: The hosts criticize the overly manual process required to activate and maintain Recall, questioning its practicality and overall value to the average user.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [08:52]: "It's written in xaml... they're not explaining it."
• Richard Campbell [09:43]: "By default, they're training on what you type, so, yeah, it is, actually."

4. Adoption of Rust Programming Language

Microsoft’s Shift to Rust: In a significant move towards enhancing security and performance, Microsoft is increasingly adopting the Rust programming language across its codebases, including the Windows kernel and Office suite. This shift aims to eliminate memory-related errors inherent in C and C++.

Implementation Challenges: Integrating Rust presents substantial challenges, particularly concerning interoperability with existing C code. The transition requires extensive alterations to development workflows and toolchains.

Leadership and Support: Mark Russinovich, CTO of Azure, spearheaded this initiative and received strong backing from Microsoft’s leadership, including CEO Satya Nadella, underscoring the strategic importance of this transition.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [40:20]: "I watched Mark Russinovich, actually...he recently said something to the effect of C is a great language...purposefully obfuscated."
• Leo Laporte [40:43]: "Rust is very C like, though. I mean, it's not."

5. Enhanced Phone Integration with Phone Link

New Features in Phone Connection: Microsoft has revamped the Phone Link app, now rebranded as Phone Connection, to offer deeper integration with Android devices. Users can set alarms, send texts, and perform other tasks directly from their PCs.

Privacy and Data Harvesting Concerns: The update enables Copilot to access a wide array of phone data, raising alarms about potential data harvesting beyond user consent. This integration blurs the lines between user convenience and privacy invasion.

Usability Issues: Paul Thurrott shares personal frustrations with unintended actions triggered by Phone Connection, highlighting the need for more refined controls and better user experience design.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [15:12]: "And so you can share your messages and your contacts and. Yikes. Is there a way to take my phone off the Internet forever?"
• Richard Campbell [15:21]: "No, we're harvesting your data."

6. Browser Updates and Privacy Policies

Emergence of New Browsers: The hosts discuss new browser options like ZenBrowser, which combines Firefox’s engine with Arc’s user interface, aiming to offer the best of both worlds. Additionally, Opera is previewing an AI agent designed to control and enhance browser interactions.

Privacy Policy Changes: Firefox's recent updates to its Terms of Use and privacy policies have sparked criticism for inadequately protecting user data, leading to user confusion and concerns over data misuse.

AI Integration in Browsers: The integration of AI tools within browsers poses both opportunities and challenges, with concerns about how user data is managed and the overall impact on privacy.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [125:14]: "Google this week added the ability to remove yourself from search results..."
• Leo Laporte [125:15]: "Then partner recommendations. Great, ZenBrowser app."

7. Mobile World Congress (MWC25) Highlights

AI Developments at MWC25: Highlights from MWC25 include significant advancements in AI for mobile devices, particularly on Android platforms and Pixel phones. Google is enhancing its Gemini model to integrate more AI-driven features across its services.

Processor Innovations: Intel showcased its latest VPRO processors designed for commercial Windows PCs, focusing on improved AI performance and security features. Dell and HP presented new AI-based hardware solutions aimed at enhancing enterprise computing.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [120:53]: "Stability AI has partnered with ARM holding to begin with on generative AI audio..."
• Leo Laporte [121:29]: "Steve Gibson said he's fine with what they said, but this is another reason why I picked up Stevenson."

8. Security and Secure by Design

Discussion on Secure by Design: In a conversation with Karim Bassett, the hosts emphasize the importance of building secure systems from the ground up, minimizing the use of superuser privileges to enhance overall system security.

Implementation Obstacles: Retrofitting existing systems with secure design principles is challenging, especially when dependencies require elevated privileges. The conversation underscores the necessity of proactive security measures in software development.

Notable Quotes:

• Richard Campbell [133:02]: "He's a container for a bottle of whiskey called Napo Castle."

9. Hardware and NPU Integration

Neural Processing Units (NPUs) in PCs: The integration of NPUs in Windows PCs is becoming more prevalent, offering substantial performance gains for AI-related tasks. The hosts discuss various prototypes and upcoming products that incorporate NPUs for enhanced computational capabilities.

Comparison with Existing Solutions: Comparisons are made between integrated NPUs and external solutions like Google's Coral, highlighting the evolving hardware landscape aimed at supporting advanced AI functionalities.

Notable Quotes:

• Richard Campbell [136:03]: "You can look for those models that work off the gpu."

10. Gaming and VR Updates

Xbox Game Pass Expansions: New additions to the Xbox Game Pass lineup include classic titles like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4, although the hosts express skepticism about their current relevance and popularity.

PlayStation VR 2 Challenges: The PlayStation VR 2 headset has faced hurdles, including high costs and limited adoption, prompting calls for improvements and reevaluations of its market strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Thurrott [119:53]: "Why would I know any of these games? This is apparently a big deal."

11. Personal Stories and Whiskey Review

Timmy the Parrot and Home Automation: A lighthearted segment recounts the hosts' experiences training a parrot, Timmy, to interact with home automation systems, illustrating quirky applications of technology in everyday life.

Irish Whiskey Review – Napo Castle 1951: The episode wraps up with a detailed review of the Irish whiskey "Napo Castle 1951," discussing its rich history, tasting notes, and availability. The hosts praise its smoothness and complex flavors, making it a fitting tribute to Skype's legacy.

Notable Quotes:

• Richard Campbell [142:07]: "He would speak into the microphone. And that was his way of saying, I want to go to bed."

Conclusions and Insights

• Microsoft's Strategic Shifts: Microsoft is actively evolving its product ecosystem by phasing out legacy services like Skype in favor of integrated solutions like Teams and Copilot. However, this transition is met with both strategic benefits and user frustrations, particularly concerning privacy and usability.

• Rise of AI and Security Concerns: The rapid integration of AI into various platforms raises significant privacy and security issues. Hosts emphasize the need for secure-by-design principles to mitigate risks associated with data harvesting and unauthorized access.

• Adoption of Rust for Enhanced Security: Microsoft's move to adopt Rust highlights a broader industry trend towards safer, more reliable programming languages. While beneficial for security, this transition presents notable challenges in terms of interoperability and developer adaptation.

• Evolving Hardware Landscape: The integration of NPUs in PCs and advancements showcased at MWC25 indicate a shift towards more powerful, AI-capable hardware. This evolution is crucial for supporting the increasing demands of AI-driven applications.

• Legacy Services and User Adaptation: The discontinuation of services like Skype underscores the ongoing challenge of phasing out legacy technologies while ensuring users can adapt to new solutions without significant disruptions.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Paul Thurrott [07:28]: "Microsoft is updating the Copilot app on Windows 11 for what I'm going to call the 127th time."
• Paul Thurrott [09:43]: "They're training their model now on whatever you type in there, unless you find this UI and change it back."
• Paul Thurrott [40:20]: "I watched Mark Russinovich, actually...he recently said something to the effect of C is a great language...purposefully obfuscated."
• Richard Campbell [15:21]: "No, we're harvesting your data."
• Paul Thurrott [27:19]: "Just never do this again."
• Richard Campbell [133:02]: "He's a container for a bottle of whiskey called Napo Castle."

This episode of Windows Weekly offers a comprehensive dive into Microsoft's current strategies, AI integrations, and the ongoing phasing out of legacy services, all while highlighting the critical balance between innovation and user-centric design.