With Microsoft finally doing right by Windows 11 and the Windows Insider Program, it's time to start testing and provide some feedback. And then we'll see if we can really trust these people. Also, Stardock's Connection Explorer 1.0 is here! And if you want one of macOS's dumbest features on Windows 11, you can get it now.

Windows

• Yesterday was Patch Tuesday - Another month in paradise
• 26H1 - Eh, 24H2/25H2 - Narrator, File Explorer, display, Pen settings, WRE, Remote Desktop improvements
• Microsoft reveals how it will simplify the Windows Insider Program
• Two top-level channels, but really three
• A way to enable all features in new builds, finally, and easy channel switching. But there are complexities, of course
• New builds for Canary, Beta, and Dev - Two for Canary, but nothing new, Beta and Dev get Storage, networking, Windows Security, and Feedback Hub improvements
• The first Snapdragon X2-based PC is out, and Paul has that waiting in PA, and two more PCs are coming to Mexico
• PC sales were somehow up 2.5 percent in Q1, but the rest of 2026 will be a bloodbath
• Also, smartphone sales are doing even worse
• NVIDIA reportedly wants to buy Dell or HP ahead of a big PC chipset push. Interesting

Surface/Microsoft 365

• Microsoft is forced to hike Surface prices dramatically
• Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Hub
• Microsoft College Offer: 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium, 12 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a custom Xbox controller when students in the U.S. purchase a PC

AI/Dev

• Microsoft AI releases a faster and more efficient image model
• Amazon CEO tries to explain the AI spending
• Google app for Windows rolls out worldwide, but the Mac gets a Gemini app
• Claude for Microsoft Word arrives in Beta
• Claude for Desktop gets a major redesign for multiple AI agents
• Microsoft's reported plans to charge for AI agents
• .NET 11 Preview 3 arrives right on schedule, but there's nothing to see here
• Build session catalog is up - joking, but the new Windows native app strategy should just be vibe coding
• Google I/O registration is open, and you are never going to believe what the main topics will be - number five will shock you

Xbox & gaming

• New Xbox CEO says Game Pass is too expensive, also that the sky is blue
• Xbox will show off the next Metro game soon
• Starfield for PS5 is getting a fix
• Amazon Luna is stripping down to the basics e.g. "pulling a Stadia"

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: It's time to get involved
• App pick of the week: Stardock Connection Explorer
• RunAs Radio this week: Internal Corporate Communications in 2026 with Emily Mancini
• Brown liquor pick of the week: ScapeGrace Vanguard

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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Julia Liuson is leaving Microsoft. Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella (she worked on Access at first). She helped build the first version of Visual Studio and was the first female corporate vice president at Microsoft. Liuson has been president of Microsoft's Developer Division since 2021. Also, curious about life on the other side of the fence? Paul has a tip for finding games that are optimized for Linux. Plus, Chrome joins the 21st century with vertical tabs and a real reading view. Just be sure to install those anti-tracking extensions.

Windows

• Microsoft promises more native apps for Windows 11, but... which apps? New apps? Replacements for existing apps?
• Thanks for making us revisit the web app vs. native app thing yet again, Microsoft
• Windows 11 version 25H2 is now being pushed to all compatible PCs
• Compatibility milestone, not a big deal because 24H2/25H2 features are identical, same underlying codebase - but some will complain that Microsoft is "forcing" 25H2 on them
• Secure Boot certificate notifications are now available so you can see where your PC is at
• Another month, another emergency Windows Update patch
• New Dev/Beta builds add Xbox Mode, new haptic effects, etc., plus a new Canary build with features we've seen before
• Microsoft is taking the Insider Program on the road
• Component shortages trigger another Raspberry Pi price hike, but also a promise for the future
• The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor will be available from leading retailers starting Apr. 22 with a retail price of $899

AI

• Microsoft's terms of service for Copilot say it's for entertainment purposes only. Yes, really.
• Microsoft AI releases new foundational models for transcription, voice, and images
• Word on iPhone gets Copilot co-create capabilities - used to be AI Mode, you need a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription
• Anthropic has hired away a key AI executive from Microsoft, and what he has to say about the opportunity is interesting
• Anthropic brings Computer Use to Windows
• Google: Seriously, we are not training AI with your Gmail
• Google AI Pro plans now offer 5 TB of cloud storage, yikes

Xbox & gaming

• Xbox is refreshing the look of achievements on the console
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, more coming to Game Pass this month
• Was this the best COD ever? In search of greatness
• Also: Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and playable day one with Xbox Game Pass
• Xbox will hold FanFest events around the world

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: So you want to try gaming on Linux
• App pick of the week: Google Chrome
• RunAs Radio this week: Securing AI Agents with Niall Merrigan
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Corowa Peated Single Barrel 521

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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Microsoft's AI ambitions overflowed into GitHub, sparking backlash when ads appeared in pull requests and raising new concerns about where your code is really going. GitHub is going to automatically use your data to train AI, so Paul tells how to opt-out if you don't want that. Plus, there's a new Microsoft 365 alternative in town, and this one is from a little tech company you can trust.

Windows

• Week D updates go live last Thursday - Smart App Control, many other minor changes
• And here we go again: Microsoft issues emergency patch for March Week D optional update
• Microsoft says it will replace web-based in-box apps and experiences with native apps ... somehow
• Four builds across three channels - Canary with opt-in gets a huge Windows Console upgrade, Dev/Beta get Administrator Protection (again), more
• AMD has a new flagship gaming processor

AI/Dev

• Microsoft Research AI has a new Critique feature that uses ChatGPT and Claude together in an unholy Frankenstein's monster of orchestration
• A week of Siri AI rumors/leaks - This is Apple's version of Microsoft trying to buy TikTok
• Google makes it easier to switch to Gemini - This is like Mac vs. PC, but for AI
• Mozilla's approach to AI in Firefox is both right and correct
• The plan to the save the open web from Big Tech
• The future of Firefox includes a Smart Window mode that works like Private window but for AI
• SwiftUI SDK for Android is now available

Xbox and gaming

• New Xbox chief seeks to reset Xbox brand image - reminder, that's not the same as changing anything
• Xbox announces 14 Day One Game Pass titles coming soon
• Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and Gears of War E-Day Direct are coming in June
• Sony to raise PS5 prices soon
• Nintendo to raise prices for physical Switch 2 games soon

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: Opt-out of training AI on GitHub
• App pick of the week: Proton Workspace with Meet
• RunAs Radio this week: My Home Lab
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Jeptha Creed Six Year Old Wheated Bourbon

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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