WW 889: Works Best With Netscape - OneDrive calms down, Surface firmware, Field Guide resize

Published: July 10, 2024, 7:21 p.m.

In this episode, Paul seems to be sitting in a familiar room! Could this be a sign that a game-changing enhancement to Notepad is rolling out? That's not all, as OneDrive seems to be undergoing some behavioral changes in a positive direction. After 3 weeks since the Copilot+ PC launch (2 weeks since Paul got his 1st model), the future of Intel and x86 may not be as dire as some think. Plus, Affinity announced that its award-winning Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps are now free for 6 months with no obligation to buy!

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The Morning After

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  • The end of Intel and the x86 era? You guys are cute
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  • Comparing the HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft entries: A few differentiators, but these things are very, very similar. There's a reason why
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  • IDC throws cold water on the AI PC/Copilot+ PC parade
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  • We still need official Windows 11 on Arm ISOs, Microsoft. Until then, there are workarounds.
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Windows 11

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  • GAME CHANGER: Notepad FINALLY supports spell-checking and auto-correct!
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  • ACTUAL GAME CHANGER: Microsoft is apparently stepping back some of the OneDrive terribleness in Windows 11 version 24H2
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  • Patch Tuesday: BIG deal for Windows 11 22H2, 23H2 with 24H2 features
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  • Nothing to speak of for 24H2, as predicted - just security updates
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  • It's nice when things happen as expected for a change
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  • Canary: Lock screen widget changes
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  • Paul put the Windows 11 Field Guide on a diet - and then the other books too
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  • PDF went from 377 MB to 107 MB, EPUB went from 344 MB to just 86 MB (!)
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  • Similar gains for Windows Everywhere, Windows 10 Field Guide
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  • Updated the Win10 add-in that comes with the Windows 11 Field Guide too
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Surface

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  • Surface Laptop 7 and Pro 11 get second firmware updates
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AI

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  • The OpenAI drama consumes Microsoft
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  • Opera brings Aria AI features to its GX gaming browser too
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Xbox

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  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price hike
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  • Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on newer Fire TV Sticks. Also, free Fortnite!
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Tips and Tricks

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  • Tip of the week: Get all three Affinity apps on all three platforms for free for six months!
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  • App pick of the week: Firefox 128 and Vivaldi 6.8
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  • RunAs Radio this week: The Hardware of Azure with Rani Borkar
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  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Raasay Single Malt
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Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Guest: Mary Jo Foley

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Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

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Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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