May 27, 2026

Windows Weekly 985: Putting the Mental in Experimental

2 hours 35 minutes

Paul has been testing various Linux distributions and other Windows alternatives for months as part of a Switcher series. The zen of Linux can mostly apply to Windows, too: Install and manage software with package managers, and embrace the command line, especially. And if you're going to use a local account, at least be smart about it. Also, Vivaldi 8.0 looks awesome and appears to deliver what Firefox is promising with its Nova UI. Plus, Discord has a native app for Windows 11 on Arm now.

Windows

Week D arrives with a surprise: 24H2/26H1 are aligned and getting the same new features

Shared audio with BT LE, multi-app camera support, many improvements - but the big deal may be the performance and reliability improvements across the board

This is the next Patch Tuesday, today

Friday builds - new accessibility features in Experimental and Beta, more

Microsoft CMO Yusuf Mehdi to leave company after an astonishing 35-year run - started in Windows, but with IE, Bing & MSN, Interactive Entertainment (Xbox), Windows and Devices, and then a SLT position before the end. Incredible run. Paul has three milestones and one throughline to share.

Lenovo revenues surge 27 percent to $21.6 billion

NVIDIA revenues really surged 85 percent to $81.6 billion

AI/dev

Google adds Google Drive sync to NotebookLM, and moves preferred sources into AI Mode and AI Overviews

Saying no to AI: DuckDuckGo usage surges in the wake of Google I/O's AI tsunami

OpenAI releases ChatGPT plugin for PowerPoint

.NET MAUI to get Material You support for Android in .NET 10

Follow-up on last week's vibe coding adventures: Paul talked about this last week, but a lot has happened since then. The Android app creation capability in Google AI Studio is live. A few thoughts on vibe coding with Android Studio, Claude Code, and more

Xbox and gaming

XBOX—and, yes, it's XBOX now—has an official merchandise store to go alongside all its other official merchandise stores

The Steam Deck is back in stock! Also, it's 40 percent more expensive

Tips & picks

Tip of the week: Understanding the zen of Linux can help a Windows user too

App pick of the week: A grab-bag of apps for Windows

RunAs Radio this week: Team Productivity using Loop with Karinne Bessette

Brown liquor pick of the week: John Sleeman & Sons Rye Whisky

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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