Observed Tech PODCAST

We catch up on the Windows 10 19H1 development cycle as it begins in earnest plus we discuss the status of the delayed October 2018 Update. Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 landed in retail channels this week so that means a bevy of reviews are also out on the new hardware. There are also new apps, app features, and other hardware that were announced/shared this past week including further integration of Microsoft To-Do into other inbox apps on Windows 10. Of course, there are other tidbits sprinkled throughout the show including Cortana's 3.0 beta on Android and iOS, Microsoft's continued anti-hacking and anti-piracy efforts, and the latest with the next update for Xbox Insiders. Be sure to listen all the way until the end so you get all the headlines.

In this show we catch up with the latest on the fixes and re-release of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update after its inauspicious start a couple of weeks ago. Plus we discuss some of the latest takes about the Windows Insiders Program, semi-annual feature update releases, and what could change to make things more reliable. Then we cover some app updates for a few popular apps for Windows 10, hardware updates, and Google's huge hardware launch earlier this week. Of course, I have a few space related tidbits to add this week so be sure and listen all the way to the end. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!

We were supposed to be kicking this show off with all the details around the launch of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update along with the news from the Microsoft hardware/software event held in New York City this past week. We will still talk about those events however, it will be tempered with the fact that this sixth feature update's roll out has been halted by Microsoft. We will discuss the reasons behind that abrupt change and other aspects of the roll out. Still, despite that breaking news from late last week about this update, the announcements made at the New York City event were significant. What we heard and saw about new hardware and software from Microsoft were important elements of the companies strategy moving forward and answers a few questions about the future.

Last week was crazy busy in Orlando, Florida as Microsoft hosted 30,000 IT Professionals, managers, and executives for their massive annual tech conference - Microsoft Ignite. The sheer amount of news was enough for the companies marketing arm to create a Book of News to summarize everything that was announced during the week. Of course, we will talk about some of those key items and we catch up on the latest from the Windows Insider Program as the October 2018 update release approaches. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!

This week I share some insight about how straight forward an Xbox One console reset is when you need to get back to basics and then discuss the fact that Microsoft is not starting a new monthly charge for all Windows users despite some stories which want you to think otherwise. It has also been a busy week for Windows Insiders with multiple build releases across all branches plus I share my thoughts about where we stand when it comes to the end of Redstone 5's development cycle and release. I also share details about Microsoft's planned deprecation of the Disk Cleanup Utility in Windows 10 and a fresh rumor about the October Microsoft hardware event in NYC. Of course there are tidbits throughout the show including news about Xbox, updated apps in Windows 10 and on the web, Chromebooks with Windows network connectivity and Microsoft's servicing criteria for Windows. Make sure you listen from start to finish so you catch all the items we cover this week. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!

This week I begin with some tech troubles as I hit the 10 device limit while setting up a new device for my stable of test machines. I also share the news that this podcast is now listed at iHeartRadio so listeners can get access through that platform. This has been a regular request over the last couple of months so glad to deliver that capability to listeners! We then discuss all the new Windows Insider builds and where we stand with Slow Ring, Fast Ring and Skip Ahead development. We also reiterate that we are not at final release yet - getting close for sure - but we are not there yet. Next up is Microsoft's recently announced hardware event in New York City at the beginning of October plus we have app updates galore to share details about. Of course, there are headlines throughout the show so be sure to listen all the way until the end. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!

It is official! The Windows 10 Redstone 5 feature update, the sixth feature update for the operating system, will be called the October 2018 Update. This is right in track with the new naming scheme they began tis past Spring with the April 2018 Update for Redstone 4. We had a good week with build releases for Redstone 5 Fast Ring, The Windows 10 RS5 SDK and Windows Server 2018 Insider Preview however, no Skip Ahead releases for Windows 10 19H1 - the seventh feature update that is expected in the March/April 2019 timeframe. We have hardware news from IFA 2018 in Europe along with several app updates, the confirmation of Xbox All Access and a big change to home based Office 365 subscriptions. Of course, there are all kinds of tidbits sprinkled throughout the show so be sure you listen all the way until the end. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!

This week's show begins with a stroll down memory lane to about 23 years ago when Windows 95 was released to the public. It corresponds with the early beginnings of this very website and where I am today. Next we talk about Windows Insidering with new Redstone 5 Fast Ring Builds, two of them this week once again, as we get closer to the public release of what is expected to be called the October 2018 Update. We also have news about a new Office 365/Microsoft 365 merged roadmap before Ignite next month and a bunch of Xbox related news from Gamescom in Europe this past week. Of course, those are just snapshots into the content in this weeks show so be sure to listen all the way until the end for all the details. As always, thanks for listening.

This week was busy for Windows Insiders with new client builds as we learned Skip Ahead for Windows 10 19H1 is now closed for new comers. In addition, one of the Fast Ring builds confirmed that Redstone 5 will be known officially as Windows 10 Version 1809. There was tons of app news this week with updates to several inbox and third party apps plus one instance of an app being pulled from production devices. Of course, there are many other items sprinkled throughout the show so stay tuned all the way until the end. As always, thanks for listening.

This week ended up being a solid Windows Insider week with the release of three builds for testers. We update the news around Surface Go which was released almost two weeks ago. A few more in depth reviews have been published but we are also noticing that some deals are coming available for other Surface hardware. Plus, we learn that sales of Surface Go are doing pretty well. Then we catch you up on the latest for the official Twitter app on Windows 10, Microsoft's return to the Movies Anywhere library and an update to Microsoft Pay. Of course we have plenty of other tidbits throughout the show including Xbox, OneNote, Skype and the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Be sure to stay tuned throughout the show to catch all the headlines. As always enjoy the show and thanks again for listening!