Podcast Summary: Windows Weekly - Episode 970: "Token Kill! - What Version 26H1's Scoped Release Implies"

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell, Leo Laporte
Podcast Description: A deep dive into the latest Microsoft news, focusing on Windows, AI, and Microsoft’s broader strategy.

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the implications of Windows 11's upcoming "26H1" release, which marks a potentially transformative shift in Microsoft's approach to quality, security, and hardware alignment. The hosts dissect Microsoft’s renewed commitment to Windows engineering, how antitrust and enterprise customers may be shaping internal priorities, and explore the wider technology landscape including AI, Xbox, and even whiskey tours.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tragic News in British Columbia (00:54 – 02:38)

• Richard Campbell opens with somber news: a mass shooting in Tumblr Ridge, BC—the worst in Canada in a decade, expressing condolences and community solidarity.
  • “It's terrible and we're all devastated.” (01:27, Richard)

2. A Surprising Positive Outlook for Windows (03:00 – 06:11)

• Paul Thurrott expresses uncharacteristic optimism, recalling Windows' neglect and "enshittification" over the past decade, but now citing "really good news".
  • "I don't remember the last time I felt this good about Windows." (54:02)
• Microsoft’s reversal of unpopular changes is discussed—such as OneDrive’s folder backup—and recent quality-focused reorganizations.

3. Microsoft's New Focus: Quality & Security at the Top (05:01 – 07:10)

• Satya Nadella has appointed new engineering and security leads (Charlie Bell and a returning executive) reporting directly to him.
  • Microsoft is publicly committing to improved security and quality, with foundational technologies in development.
  • Nadella’s direct involvement signals a shift: “Satya is now the engineering CEO...” (41:51, Richard)

4. Announced Security and Transparency Changes in Windows (07:11 – 15:24)

• New Initiatives Announced:
  • Windows Baseline Security Mode: Only properly signed apps/drivers will run by default; admins can override on an app-by-app basis.
  • User Transparency and Consent: Adopting a more phone-like security model where resource access requires explicit user permissions—similar to iOS/Android.
    • "Meaning user trust in Windows. Both are using...consent first approaches...” (08:30+, Paul)
• Potential friction: UI and prompts may initially confuse users.

5. 26H1's "Scoped Release" and What It Means (17:17 – 28:09)

• What is 26H1?
  • Only for new Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 silicon; not available as a traditional upgrade for previous versions or hardware.
  • Devices shipping with 26H1 won't get 26H2 later; instead, "future Windows release" (possibly Windows 12).
  • Structural Shift: 26H1 has “a different Windows core” than previous versions; echoes similar shifts as in 24H2.
  • Possible raising of hardware requirements, aligning with Copilot+ PCs (minimum 16GB RAM, stronger NPU, etc.)
• Memorable Quote:
  • "26H1 is what Microsoft is calling a scoped release. It's designed only for PCs running select new silicon...the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2." (20:48, Paul)
  • “Those on 26H1 will eventually have a path to update in a future Windows release.” (22:44, Paul)

6. Quality vs. Enshittification: What (and Who) Forced Microsoft’s Hand? (32:07 – 45:04)

• Drivers of Change:
  • Growing regulatory (antitrust) pressure in EU/US, especially after Microsoft Teams probe.
  • Enterprise resistance to unwanted AI features and quality problems.
  • “How bad does Microsoft 365 Copilot have to be when...companies are still choosing Cloud or ChatGPT or even Gemini, right?” (44:41, Paul)
• Paul's View: Microsoft isn't responding to enthusiasts or consumers—Fortune 500s and regulators got their attention.

7. AI Landscape and Agentic Competition (39:00 – 45:04 & 93:41 – 105:40)

• Discussion of Anthropic Cloud Opus 4.6 and OpenAI GPT 5.3 Codex launching nearly simultaneously.
  • AI agents now rapidly entering Office-productivity territory, sometimes outpacing Microsoft’s internal teams.
  • “Features like arguably the people least qualified to make a great LLM for Excel are the guys making features in Excel.” (40:06, Richard)
• Fast mode and agent spawning in Claude 4.6—pay more for faster response and for concurrent agent execution.
  • "It's not smarter, it's just faster...just wait a second, you'll be OK." (100:06, Leo & Paul)
  • “How did that happen? Oh, don't worry, we can auto charge you if you want.” (100:52, Leo)

8. The Return of Engineering Discipline (54:10 – 63:36)

• Deep foundational improvements and security hardening are ongoing; Paul and Richard draw parallels with previous times Windows rebounded from mismanagement.
  • "Windows went through intentional neglect." (56:03, Richard)

9. Patch Tuesday: Security Updates & Secure Boot (64:24 – 70:52)

• Smart App Control updates and fingerprint support enhancements.
• Secure Boot certificate updates required by June 2026; older devices may need firmware upgrades.
  • “If you have an older computer...you will be getting a firmware update sometime in the next, I don’t know, couple months.” (65:48, Paul)

10. Store CLI—Command Line App Management (73:40 – 78:37)

• Introduction of Store CLI (command line interface) for managing Store apps, with enhanced search/browse commands.
• Raises speculation about AI integration; possible redundancy with existing Winget tool.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I don't remember the last time I felt this good about Windows." (54:02, Paul)
• “Satya is now the engineering CEO... Is he building up this cross cutting team that goes across the whole organization that works on the engineering problems they have—starting with quality and security?” (41:51, Richard)
• "How bad does Microsoft 365 Copilot have to be when Microsoft is offering incredible discounts and companies are still choosing Cloud or ChatGPT or even Gemini, right? People aren't just ambivalent about Copilot, they seem to hate it." (44:41, Paul)
• “Features like arguably the people least qualified to make a great LLM for Excel are the guys making features in Excel.” (40:06, Richard)
• “If you have an older computer and it's still supported by Windows 11, you will be getting a firmware update sometime... before June to ensure that you're up to date with this new generation of certificates." (65:48, Paul)
• "This is literally pure information." (105:32, Paul on TUI/CLI tools)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:06] – Tragic news and condolences for Tumblr Ridge, BC.
• [05:01] – Discussion of Microsoft's new executive structure.
• [08:30] – Introduction of user consent and transparency initiatives.
• [17:17] – 26H1 release specifics and hardware targeting.
• [32:07] – Analysis of what forced Microsoft to improve Windows.
• [39:00] – Dueling AI agent announcements (Anthropic/OpenAI).
• [54:02] – “I don't remember the last time I felt this good about Windows.”
• [64:24] – Patch Tuesday updates: security improvements.
• [73:40] – Store CLI, Windows app management via terminal.

Extras: Back of the Book & Off-topic Segments

Xbox Excellence Awards (110:03)

• Quick rundown of top Xbox games by sales, engagement, store ratings (Arc Raiders, Borderlands 4, Call of Duty Black Ops 7).

Financials Recap (85:19)

• Big tech companies throwing $650+ billion into AI CapEx.
• Wall Street skepticism rising; Apple remains fiscally conservative.
• Spotify achieves profitability (750M MAUs).

Scotch Tour Story (129:25 – 150:30)

• Richard shares a detailed whisky adventure at Macallan, including a £175 tour capped by a taste of the elusive, £6,000 Reflection M.
  • “This whisky is otherworldly. I... I couldn't even call it whisky. I don't know what I drank. It was profound and, and at that same time, just kind of shocking.” (141:27, Richard)

Conclusion & Tone

The episode is both technical and reflective. Paul’s rare optimism for Windows is a standout, shaped by real engineering improvements at Microsoft. Richard’s analysis grounds the conversation in enterprise and regulatory realities. The hosts remain candid, at times irreverent, and always insightful—a must-listen (or -read!) for anyone invested in Windows or the broader Microsoft ecosystem.

For deeper analysis, user concerns, or back-of-the-book tips, see the corresponding show notes and links at Twit.tv.