The Windows Central Podcast

Microsoft is making more cuts to Cortana as its functionality is removed from Android, iOS, Invoke, and more. All signs point to the week of August 24 for the release of Surface Duo.

Windows 10 preview build 20175 is available in the Insider Dev Channel. Daniel and Zac also discuss how 2020 has been AMD's time to shine vs. Intel, and they wrap up this week's show with a brief chat about Microsoft's efforts to purchase the US portion of TikTok. Note: This episode was recorded on Friday July 31 before the additional crazy TikTok news over the weekend.

Links:

• Microsoft to cut Cortana from Android, iOS, Invoke, and more | Windows Central
• Surface Duo: Specs, release date, price, and everything we know | Windows Central
• Windows 10 preview build 20175 now rolling out in the Insider Dev Channel | Windows Central
• 2020 is AMD's moment to shine, but they still have challenges from Intel | Windows Central
• President Trump 'doesn't mind' if Microsoft buys TikTok clearing path for acquisition | Windows Central

Daniel and Zac cover all the week's news, including Microsoft's Q4 financials and Surface Duo headed to the FCC for device approval. Mary Jo Foley also chats with Zac about the cloud, Windows 10X, and the future of operating systems at Microsoft.

Links:

• All About Microsoft | ZDNet
• Xbox Q4 revenue surges 64% driven by record engagement amid pandemic | Windows Central
• Microsoft accused of anticompetitive practices by Slack in EU complaint | Windows Central
• Microsoft Surface Duo appears at FCC ahead of possible early launch | Windows Central
• Microsoft Teams finally getting compiled for ARM64 Windows 10 … eventually | Windows Central
• Every announcement from the Xbox Series X July 2020 event | Windows Central

Daniel and Zac chat about the recent Twitter hack and Daniel's inability to access his account in the fallout. Surface Duo has been pushed back but is still supposed to ship earlier than expected.

They also catch up on development of Windows 10X, the launch of Project xCloud, and some changes to Windows 10 build 20170 for Insiders in the Dev Channel.

Links:

• Microsoft Surface Duo and grey Surface Earbuds shown off in tweet from Panos Panay | Windows Central
• Microsoft to launch Windows 10X as a web-first OS without local Win32 app support | Windows Central
• Xbox's Project xCloud launches in September, included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | Windows Central
• Windows 10 build 20170 now rolling out for Insiders in the Dev Channel | Windows Central

Zac and Daniel talk about the apparent internal disconnect within Microsoft when it comes to reliably bringing Windows 10 updates to the Surface product line. There are new updates to Teams that can help make online meetings more tolerable.

They also discuss positioning and expectations for the upcoming Surface Duo — Microsoft didn't set out to make an Android phone. They set out to make a Surface phone that happens to run Android.

An Xbox event is set for July 23 where we expect to see more titles announced and hopefully more in-game footage. The Amazon Prime Video app is out now for Windows 10, and the guys round out the show with some chat about new laptops.

Links:

• Microsoft still blocking Surface devices from latest version of Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Teams 'Together Mode' makes meetings feel like you're in the same room | Windows Central
• Microsoft Teams meetings get more interactive with live reactions, chat bubbles, more | Windows Central
• Microsoft doesn't need to give Android fans good reasons for the Surface Duo's existence | Windows Central
• Xbox Series X games event set for July 23, with Halo Infinite and more | Windows Central
• Amazon Prime Video app for Windows 10 is now live and working | Windows Central

There's a new developer build of Windows 10 available, which features significant changes to the Start menu. Daniel and Zac have the details on that as well as the Arm-based Lenovo Flex 5G.

Speaking of Arm processors, they compare Apple's efforts with their own designs with Microsoft's SQ1. The guys also talk about Xbox Series S Lockhart rumors and even touch on wearable computing with devices like the Oura Ring and Google's acquisition of North.

Links:

• Hands-on with Windows 10 build 20161 showcasing the new Start menu | Windows Central
• 'World's first 5G PC,' the Lenovo Flex 5G, now available on Verizon for $1,400 with a Snapdragon 8cx | Windows Central
• 'Xbox Series S' Lockhart: Everything we know so far | Windows Central
• Microsoft SQ1 is a custom chipset made for the Surface Pro X | Windows Central
• Oura Ring: the most accurate sleep and activity tracker

Zac and Daniel are joined in the first segment of this week's episode by Adam Levenson of Waves Audio to discuss the speaker technology found in Dell's new XPS 15 and XPS 17 laptops.

From there, the guys mourn the closing of Mixer and all of Microsoft's retail stores. They also touch on the decline of Windows 10 stability and Apple's move to ARM-based processors.

Links:

• Maxx by Waves | Intelligent Audio Processing for Consumer Electronics
• Microsoft is closing Mixer — what went wrong? | Windows Central
• Microsoft closing all physical stores as part of 'strategic change' | Windows Central
• Windows 10 stability is going downhill, and not even Surfaces are spared | Windows Central
• Apple's ARM switch will be the end of Boot Camp | Windows Central

The Windows Insider program has been overhauled and rebranded from Rings to Channels, among many other significant changes. Zac and Daniel make sense of everything that's going on and how it will be helpful to enthusiasts and developers.

There are also some new laptops to discuss, Dell is promising a fix to wobbly XPS 15 trackpads, and Razer has teamed up with THX for a cool spatial audio app. Tune in!

Links:

• Microsoft announces Windows 10 version 20H2 coming later this year | Windows Central
• Microsoft is rebranding its Windows 10 Insider Preview channels | Windows Central
• Dell admits to wobbly trackpads on the XPS 15 (9500), will ship improved laptops going forward | Windows Central
• Review: Razer THX Spatial Audio for Windows 10 delivers awesome headphone surround sound | Windows Central

Daniel and Zac check out Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal and how it might compare to Xbox Series X. Surface Duo is still on track for a summer release. As they describe it, Microsoft will be shipping a proof-of-concept that will appeal greatly to fans.

Daniel also provides his review of the Surface Headphones 2, new UWP apps, fresh Windows 10 Insider build, and more.

Links:

• Sony's PS5 reveal just put Xbox Series X's to shame | Windows Central
• Launch 2020 brings over a dozen UWP apps to the Microsoft Store
• Windows 10 preview build 19645 heads out to Fast ring Insiders | Windows Central
• Surface Duo specs: 11MP camera, Snapdragon 855, 6GB RAM and more | Windows Central
• Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 review – A lower price and modest improvements make all the difference | Windows Central

Daniel and Zac briefly address racial injustice in the United States along with Microsoft's work to help affect change in a positive way. They move on to the tech news of the week, including the release of Windows 10 May 2020 Update, the Surface Duo experience, and a review of the 15-inch Surface Book 3. As well, Dell's new XPS 15 (9500) is a complete redesign of their flagship laptop and it looks gorgeous!

In the gaming realm, screenshots have leaked of a new Xbox Store for consoles, codenamed 'Mercury'.

Links:

• Windows 10 May 2020 Update
• Here's what Microsoft's Android apps can do on Surface Duo | Windows Central
• Surface Book 3 15-inch review: More of the same — and that's (mostly) a good thing | Windows Central
• Hands-on: Dell XPS 15 (9500) is every bit as gorgeous as you thought | Windows Central
• Pictures of the new Xbox Store for consoles codenamed 'Mercury' have leaked (update) | Windows Central

Daniel and Zac chat about the most significant announcements from Build 2020 — the biggest news is Project Reunion. They also review Surface Earbuds and discuss expanded availability of HoloLens 2.

Links:

• Microsoft's Project Reunion aims to streamline Win32 and UWP app development on Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Build 2020: The biggest announcements and sessions to watch | Windows Central
• Microsoft Surface Earbuds review: All-day comfort comes at a hard to justify price | Windows Central
• Microsoft confirms plans to bring some Windows 10X features to Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Lists lets you track and manage just about anything with Microsoft 365 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Edge Stable channel nabs extension sync, automatic profile switching | Windows Central
• Microsoft expands HoloLens 2 availability, adds 5G/LTE dongle support | Windows Central