Windows Weekly 977: “Moonshine University”

Date: April 1, 2026
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell
Theme: The push for native Windows apps, Microsoft’s update chaos, AI news, gaming, and a taste of Kentucky bourbon

Episode Overview

This episode explores the evolving state of Windows app development, Microsoft’s ongoing issues with Windows Updates, the controversial integration of advertising in GitHub Copilot PRs, emerging alternatives to Microsoft 365, the muddled strategy around “native” versus web apps, and the always-engaging world of gaming and brown liquor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Windows Update Chaos & Quality Focus

Timestamps: 03:33–09:34, 24:57–30:33

• Paul summarizes the ongoing unpredictability of Windows Update releases, highlighting the latest Preview and emergency “out of band” patches for Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1).
• “This is going to be the rest of my life now describing these updates.” — Paul Thurrott [05:31]
• Quality and stability remain major concerns; recurring hotfixes undercut Microsoft’s stated quality push led by Pavan (“thoughts and prayers”).
• “Just because you pull the throttle back doesn't mean the ship slows down.” — Richard Campbell [09:28]

2. The Push for Native Windows Apps

Timestamps: 10:15–24:05

• Recent Microsoft chatter (e.g., Rudy Huyn on Twitter/X) signals a new drive to create “100% native” Windows apps—not just web wrappers or PWAs.
  • “He’s claiming that these will be 100% native apps, not web apps. Now that’s the type of thing.” — Paul Thurrott [11:22]
  • “Also jump on the whole you shouldn't have to have a Microsoft account to set up Windows.” — Richard Campbell [11:32]
• Paul and Richard debate feasibility: flag major exceptions (Outlook, Clipchamp) that are fundamentally web-based for cross-platform reasons.
  • “The problem with this promise of 100% native is that it's not possible. It's absolutely not possible.” — Paul [13:01]
• Discussion of WinRT, React Native, and Microsoft’s decades-long tension between native and web paradigms.
• “What is the native app that anyone’s looking forward to in Windows that would make a difference to anybody?” — Paul [22:21]

3. Windows Insider Build Mayhem & Feature Experiments

Timestamps: 24:57–33:39

• Canary channel split: regular vs. super-Canary with console upgrades (regex search, inline image support).
• Admin protection returns: “It’s going to come up a lot. If you enable it, it’s going to be really disruptive, you’re going to hate it...” — Paul [29:11]
• Trackpad right-click zones, NPU columns in Task Manager, and the comedy of Windows’ endless tweaks.
• “Microsoft as the Combine in Half Life 2… ‘move along, everything’s fine…we expect your obedience.’” — Paul [31:49]

4. AI in Windows, Copilot, and Broader Industry Moves

Timestamps: 43:50–56:34

• Microsoft Copilot’s proliferation, support for Anthropic’s Claude, and future multi-model orchestration.
  • “There’s a new feature called Critique that will actually use ChatGPT and Claude together to improve the quality of responses… this is orchestration.” — Paul [45:28]
• Apple’s rumored anxiety over Siri and catchup to AI assistants.
  • “In my heart I’m just happy they blinked… apparently AI scared them.” — Richard [48:22]
  • “If you were an Apple guy instead, this Siri thing… this is the worst year of your life.” — Paul [51:29]
• Crowd sentiment on OpenAI: boom and likely bust. Google and others now encourage users to “switch” AIs, import their histories.
  • “ChatGPT, I think, is heading… or OpenAI is heading for a fall.” — Paul [57:05]
  • “It’s weird to me. Did you really think that putting ads in ChatGPT or selling $20/month pro subscriptions was going to put you guys over the top?” — Paul [58:29]

5. Mozilla Firefox’s AI Stance

Timestamps: 73:19–81:26

• Mozilla’s pragmatic AI policy: empowering user choice, offline models for translations, not pushing AI by default.
  • “The Mozilla stance, which is in the middle, is: we’re not an AI company… but we give you the option.” — Paul [74:04]
  • Tooling such as language translation is handled with privacy in mind; awareness of AI biases and “echo chamber” effects.

6. Proton’s Workspace Alternative

Timestamps: 100:21–110:20

• Paul highlights Proton's expanded suite: Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, VPN, Authenticator, and the new “Meet” (encrypted chat/video).
  • “Proton, which is a company I really trust, has kind of closed the loop on this… Proton Workspace is essentially a replacement for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.” — Paul [101:07]
• Discussion on business vs individual plans, privacy posture, and appeal for companies needing data sovereignty, especially in Europe.

7. Gaming Check-In: Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox, and Rising Consoles Prices

Timestamps: 61:47–94:33

• Leo bought the Switch 2, is impressed with the OLED screen, game install options, and “adult” gaming options like Cyberpunk.
• Sony announced a PS5 price hike (from $549 to $649), echoing similar moves by Raspberry Pi and portending more expensive hardware across the industry.
  • “If that Steam machine is less than a thousand bucks, I’m going to be impressed.” — Paul [90:17]
• Xbox branding reset: New head Asha Sharma trashes “This is an Xbox” slogan for more hardware focus, but core strategy (“everything is an Xbox”) remains in the cloud.
  • Upcoming Xbox showcase (June 7) and highlights from Indie and AAA titles, including Super Meat Boy 3D and Stalker 2 expansions.

8. Notable Moments and Quotes

• On April Fool’s/AI Era:
  “Now somebody pointed out it's April Fool's every day, thanks to AI slop. You never know if it's real or not.” — Leo [01:48]
• On Windows Update:
  “Updates are CFRs, so they're not going to show up immediately for most people. They'll show up randomly. The only one of note is Smart App Control you can now toggle on and off.” — Paul [04:19]
• On Outlook’s Future:
  “Outlook… is written entirely with web technology, in part because the extensibility system that runs throughout Office today is all web based. That's not changing.” — Paul [13:01]
• On Copilot Ad Intrusion:
  “They were inserting advertisements into push requests. Supposed to be tips… but it's like an ad, but it's not. We don't call it that.” — Richard & Paul [98:01]
• On Proton/Privacy:
  “Proton, which is a company I really trust... now they're offering what is essentially a replacement for various Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 tiers. Proton Workspace.” — Paul [101:07]
• On Gaming Guilt:
  “I feel guilty about playing games.” — Leo
  “Why? Do you feel guilty about reading?” — Paul [71:46]

Important Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Start/April Fool’s & AI confusion | 01:33 | | Windows Update issues/frequency/quality focus | 03:33–09:34 | | Native apps vs. web debate, Outlook/Clipchamp | 10:15–24:05 | | Insider build chaos, admin protection, NPU stuff | 24:57–33:39 | | CPU/RAM innovations, PC vs. Apple Silicon | 33:39–43:50 | | Copilot/AI/Anthropic/Apple Siri anxiety | 43:50–56:34 | | Firefox AI stance, coding echo chambers | 73:19–81:26 | | Swift for Android | 81:26–82:42 | | Xbox: Branding, hardware focus, pricing trends | 83:02–94:33 | | GitHub/Copilot ads & AI training opt-out | 97:43–100:20 | | Proton Workspace, privacy, and data sovereignty | 100:21–110:20| | Brown liquor pick: Jephtha Creed | 115:56–132:33|

Memorable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

• “It's April Fool's every day, thanks to AI slop. You never know.”
  — Leo Laporte [01:48]
• “The problem with this promise of 100% native is that it's not possible. It's absolutely not possible.”
  — Paul Thurrott [13:01]
• “You can't hire young C developers. That's as rare as hen’s teeth. The dev you can get is a web dev.”
  — Richard Campbell [15:21]
• “If it just worked, would anyone care [if it was web-based]? And I think the answer is no.”
  — Paul Thurrott [17:39]
• “Just because you pull the throttle back doesn't mean the ship slowed down.”
  — Richard Campbell [09:34]
• “ChatGPT... is heading for a fall. I mean, to Richard’s point, they’re on the cusp of one of the biggest collapses in literally history.”
  — Paul Thurrott [57:05, 59:24]
• “The Mozilla stance is: we're not an AI company. But we're going to give you the option.”
  — Paul Thurrott [74:04]
• “If that Steam machine thing is less than a thousand bucks, I'm going to be impressed. I don't know how they do this.”
  — Paul Thurrott [90:17]
• “This is the weeded bourbon, the six year old... stunning and that craftsmanship story I love so, so much.”
  — Richard Campbell [130:04]

Additional Notable Segments

Proton's Workspace Alternative

• Proton emerges as a credible, privacy-centric Google/Microsoft 365 alternative.
• Open-source, European (non-US) legal regime, and encrypted by design.

GitHub Copilot Ad-controversy & Opt-Out

• Brief ad placement in pull requests—labeled a “mistake.”
• GitHub to default train Copilot AI on user content unless users opt-out by April 24.

Brown Liquor Pick: Jephtha Creed Wheated Bourbon

• Deep-dive into Kentucky bourbon craftsmanship and the “bloody butcher corn” varietal.
• “Family farm, mother-daughter team, nine barrels a day—a craftsman product.”

Summary

This episode delivers a signature Windows Weekly blend—deep technical dives, irreverent banter, skepticism of marketing hype, and a global perspective. The push for “100% native” Windows apps is questioned both in feasibility and importance; the hosts are critical of Microsoft’s patchwork Update system and the messy march of AI into every product, with Firefox’s user-centric approach standing out. Meanwhile, Proton challenges the productivity suite giants, and gaming is framed by both rising hardware prices and the enduring value of portable play.

As ever, the show finishes with Richard's rich story of Kentucky bourbon—an ode to lineage, craft, and local flavor.