Four years ago this week, Windows 10 was born

• Threshold 1 hit on July 29, 2015
• We first got official word about it in September 2014 (launch of preview); then more in Jan. 2015. Leaks before that.
• The bests and worsts about WaaS. What surprised us re: changes Microsoft made – and didn't -- during the past four years.
• Related: New survey finds one third of companies have at least one XP device still on their network

And in more current Windows 10 news...

• Microsoft explains what happened with self-leaked build last week
• Related: Last week's Win 10 20H1 test build now supports a separate and redesigned Cortana app
• Related: New 20H1 test build today adds snip & sketch updates. No cloud reset/refresh yet
• Windows 10 1903 hits 11.4 percent usage share
• New Win Server 20H1 build out this week adds FIDO2 authentication support
• Original HoloLens won't be getting any more Windows 10 feature updates beyond 1809

Chredge watch

• Walking Cat spotted Beta and Stable channel leaks for Chredge. (I downloaded the beta one – I'm living on the Edge! TM (I think you mean Living on the Chredge! TM)

Skype for Business Online gets a cut-off date: July 2021

• In two years, Microsoft will make Skype for Biz Online inaccessible. Teams is the way forward
• Microsoft also officially committed to providing Skype Consumer to Teams interop by Q1 2020
• What about Skype Consumer's future? MS is not commenting, but Teams for Life seems to be on the way

Xbox

• xCloud moves closer to public testing
• Microsoft is kicking Cortana off Xbox too
• There are new Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Games with Gold titles for August

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Don't travel internationally without this tech
• A good VPN, I use ExpressVPN
• Google Translate
• A travel power strip (U.S.-based) with USB ports - Also, a USB-C mini-hub with Ethernet
• App pick of the week: Google Chrome 76
• App pick of the week: DOOM, DOOM II, and DOOM 3 come to mobile and Switch!
• Enterprise pick of the week: Microsoft buys BlueTalon
• Enterprise pick No. 2 of the week: It's time to check out Microsoft Learn (again)
• Beer pick of the week: Austin EastCiders Rose Dry Cider

Want a cross between a cider and a rose wine? Here you go. From Austin, Texas, a refreshing, dry cider made with hibiscus and rose: https://austineastciders.com/products/rose-cider "This is rose done the Texas way"

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsor:

Microsoft earnings

• Microsoft delivered another blockbuster FY and FYQ4.
• Analysis: FY19 - Xbox (bad), Surface (not the highlight people think), Windows (good, with businesses only), Office 365 (great) and Azure is ... slowing?. The big news: More Personal Computing is not Microsoft's biggest BU for the first time. Entire business in balance for now.

Antitrust

• Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google come under DOJ scrutiny
• Qualcomm is fined by the EU
• Will Microsoft continue to avoid the steely gaze of regulators?

The weirdness that is Windows 10 20H1

• Remember when Microsoft released a 19H2 build with unavailable new features last week? Yeah, some of them are available now. In a new build for some reason.
• And then they released another build, this time with one new feature
• Also, Windows Defender will become Microsoft Defender in 20H1

Plus...

• Microsoft accidentally deployed a Canary (?) build of Windows 10 to all Insiders and it shows the Lite OS Start menu with no live tiles
• Microsoft invests $1 billion in AI! OK, just kidding.
• LinkedIn to finally start using Microsoft technology. It's the least they can do, literally.
• Microsoft makes changes, again, to how it licenses Dynamics 365

Xbox

• Gears 5 multiplayer beta hits again this weekend
• Mixer commits to civility
• Fortnite controller (not) arriving just in time for Fortnite World Cup

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Eloquent JavaScript
• App pick of the week: VirtualBox
• Enterprise pick of the week: Data-sharing agreements/licenses
• Naming pick of the week: Office Online is no more
• Beer pick of the week: Transmitter Hx Raspberry Sour

Hosts: Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott, and Jason Howell

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsor:

In honor of Paul 'emoji hater' Thurrott travelling, it's WORLD EMOJI DAY!

• Inside the Microsoft emoji design studio

Windows 10 updates

• Microsoft is starting to automatically push Windows 10 1903 to Home, Pro users on 1803 or older via Win Update
• The second 19H2 build is out with new features (which no one can test right now)
• Surface Book 2s are blocked from getting 1903 (it makes the GPU "vanish")

Chredge: Now ready for enterprise testers

• Microsoft is encouraging IT pros to start kicking the Chredge tires
• We now have an updated enterprise roadmap listing which features are coming when
• But we still don't have a date for GA or even the Beta channel

Partners: More Inspired (or tired)?

• Crisis averted: Microsoft undid those Internal Use Rights changes that had so many up in arms last week
• But questions remain: When and how will Microsoft try to "fix" this situation again. Also, how did this fiasco happen in the first place?
• Related: Microsoft does a holoportation demo live at Inspire (and it worked!)
• Related: Azure Lighthouse – what is this thing?

Meanwhile, back at the Office...

• Microsoft has more AI tricks up its sleeve with Cortana reminders - heads up emails
• Teams is now at 13 million daily active users. Is that a lot?
• Skype is going to lose its SMS Connect feature at the end of August

Xbox news

• Microsoft Finds the Tipping Point for the All Digital Xbox One
• New Xbox Game Pass titles

Tomorrow is MS Q4 earnings: Any predictions?

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Surface Code Name – Serenity
• Enterprise pick of the week: Rust
• Rumor pick of the week: Microsoft buys Adobe
• Beer pick of the week: x

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Brad Sams

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

Microsoft partners are on a rampage

• Microsoft is cutting internal use rights for its products and services, meaning no more free ride on product licensing for partners
• Not a good look for Microsoft the week before its annual partner rah-rah fest. And potentially a risky move, too
• Is it really all about the money? Or is this also a way to winnow down the partner contingent, eliminating smaller partners
• Also bad timing: The week before its Ready sales kick-off Microsoft is cutting jobs and moving folks around

Windows 10: As the Insider builds turn

• ISOs are out for 18932 (Windows 10 20H1)
• A new Windows Server 20H1 build is out. What's new? No idea
• All the existing Windows 10 variants (1507 to 1903) got Cumulative Update patches on Patch Tuesday
• Related: Remix3D.com shutdown is imminent. (Wait, it's still there?)

Non-Windows Microsoft news

• Microsoft Android apps getting house ads - What are we to make of this?
• Look who's on the private Linux developer list
• Microsoft is not moving to manufacture out of China
• Feeling British? Try these new Surface skins

To the cloud

• Microsoft's Desktop Analytics service now in preview. And of course, it's got an AI angle
• ServiceNow becomes the latest ISV to make Azure its 'preferred cloud'

Xbox

• July 2019 Xbox Update is here
• Microsoft patents a cool mobile controller
• Cuphead is going to be a Netflix series. I assume it will be as violent as Game of Thrones.

Tips and picks

• App pick of the week: Firefox 68
• App pick #2: Windows 1.11 is a (lame) Stranger Things tie-in
• App pick #3: New Outlook on the web is heading out to everyone on Office 365 commercial
• Enterprise pick of the week: SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 have left the building
• Enterprise pick No. 2: MJFChat on Petri.com
• Beer pick of the week: Highland Park Brewery No Rest

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

Windows 10

• 19H2 FINALLY - The first 19H2 build heads to the Slow ring. Mary Jo was right: It's an R2/SP type release.
• Also: Why does Microsoft keep promising things and not doing them, and then belittling customers when they ask about it?
• Windows 10 version 1903 continues to roll out very slowly
• Another new 20H1 test build for the Fast Ring with minor tweaks is out today (July 3)
• Your Phone can now show Android notifications in Windows 10
• Cortana is getting pushed aside even further in Windows 10. Will it be removed from the OS next?

Office 365/Microsoft 365

• Microsoft readies Office for virtual desktop services, including Windows Virtual Desktop
• Microsoft wants to start marketing Microsoft 365 as a single product in its new fiscal year

Xbox

• More games come to---and leave---Xbox Game Pass this month - including some of 11 indie games coming to the service
• Here are the Games with Gold titles for July - one is a personal favorite
• Major Cuphead DLC Release Delayed to 2020

More

• Microsoft ebook refunds start arriving
• Corel reportedly sold for $1 billion

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Consider joining Microsoft's Insider programs
• Tip #2: A Windows 10 Field Guide update
• Tip #3: Enable tracking protection in the new Edge
• Codename pick of the week: M365 FX
• Beer pick of the week: Cigar City Jai Ali

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsor:

Get ready for Mandroid?

• Microsoft is rumored to be considering enabling Android apps on Windows Lite devices like Centaurus
• This isn't the first time Microsoft's been rumored to adding Android app support

Speaking of Android, Bill Gates says losing out to it was his biggest mistake.

OneDrive

• More storage for subscribers; more paid storage plans for Office 360 users and Personal Vault
• Still no plans to offer consumers the option of buying more than 2TB of storage

'Modern' apps

• Credge: Now available in preview for Windows 7/8/8.1 (canary only) and with a better dark mode as well.
• Related: The Credge version of WebView is not as powerful as the EdgeHTML version
• Windows Terminal is now in preview in the Microsoft Store

Windows 10

• New Fast Ring build today?
• Yet another week with no news about 19H2

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Learn the history of Windows from another perspective
• App pick of the week: Not Chrome
• Enterprise pick of the week: Adobe Document Cloud PDF Experience for Office 365 web app
• Codename pick of the week: Excalibur
• Beer pick of the week: Dogfish Head Slighty Mighty

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

Why is Microsoft not among this year's antitrust trial targets? It is currently the most valuable company in the world.

• Lessons Apple, Google, Facebook, etc. can learn about antitrust trials from Microsoft
• A recap of how the MS vs. USDOJ trial got its start
• Related: Google is accused of stealing. But ... It didn't steal. Why did everyone immediately believe that it had?
• Related: Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency Windows 10: where are we now?
• Last week, we got the first 20H1 build with WSL2. Where the heck is 19H2? And WHAT the heck is 19H2?
• First Windows Server 20H1 test build is out
• Reminder for 1803 users: Microsoft is planning to start to "push" 1903 to you starting in June (but we're not exactly sure how/when)
• MS fixes the privacy settings screen bug that affected a "small" number of 1903 users
• Related: MS highlights new accessibility features in 1903
• Related: Another Windows 10 in S Mode device is born (but why??) Kano PC
• Related: Let's talk about using a Windows 7/8.x key to install/activate Windows 10. It still works. Why? Why hasn't Microsoft shut this down? And why won't it discuss this?
• Related: Hyper-V Server 2019 is finally released (after 8 months of being MIA) New Microsoft Edge
• There are a number of things coming to Google Chrome that should/could impact the new Edge:
• New PWA install experience
• Changes to ad-blocking
• Themes
• Related: More evidence Chredge is likely coming to Linux Office
• PowerPoint users get a 'coach' and more Designer options
• Would you use an Office key on your keyboard?
• Microsoft To-Do is now in the Mac App Store Xbox
• Microsoft announces more Xbox Game Pass titles for June ... and for the first time, this includes PC titles.
• Microsoft releases first "Eyes First" games Tips and picks
• Tip of the week: Xbox Game Pass member? Know this
• App pick of the week: Game services for the PC curious
• Enterprise pick of the week: Azure Bastion
• Codename pick of the week: EPIC
• Beer pick of the week: Keanu is Immortal from Henhouse Brewing Company

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

Xbox at E3

• Scarlett, next-gen console, won't appear until 2020
• Next-gen Elite Controller finally announced
• Literally NO xCloud news. Whaaaaat?
• But ... Backwards Compatibility is done for Xbox One, focus on future now
• And you'll be able to stream Xbox One games to your own devices (for free)
• Related: What does xCloud/Game Pass mean about ownership?
• Halo: Infinite will launch with the new console next year
• Plus: Halo on PC details - plus Gears 5 and Flight Simulator
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass for PC are now available
• Related: Google announces Stadia pricing and availability, Founder's Edition, and games. New Edge
• Mac version of new Edge is available in Dev Channel now too
• An ARM-based version of the new Chromium-based Edge has leaked.

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Understand what's happening with Xbox on Windows 10
• App pick of the week: Xbox (Beta) app for Windows
• Also: iCloud is in the Microsoft Store now for some reason - And it uses Files On Demand!
• And: Microsoft To-Do is coming to the Mac on June 17
• Enterprise pick of the week: Dynamics 365 Wave 2
• Codename pick of the week: Delphi
• Beer pick of the week: Burley Oak Lost

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

This Week's Stories

• Microsoft loomed large over Apple's WWDC
• Related: iTunes is the walking dead on Windows
• Semi-related: Looks like the US is going after Big Tech, finally
• Microsoft adds more Your App features to latest Windows 10 20H1 build
• Qualcomm plots a Snapdragon 7cx for low-end of the PC market
• Microsoft showed off a dual-screen Surface device internally. Is Centaurus really going to make it to the shipping phase?
• E3 is next week
• Microsoft releases Xbox-branded deodorant
• Purple Xbox One S arrives ($300)
• Microsoft flagship retail store is coming to London, while the kiosk stores all have been closed

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: "Greatest" Xbox sale of the week is on
• App pick of the week: Sigil
• Enterprise pick of the week: Skype (consumer) federation likely coming to Teams
• Codename pick of the week: "Teams for Life"
• Beer pick of the week: Oedipus Brewing Offline White Ale

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

This Week's Stories

• Modern OS: It's the future of Windows, vaguely. In a boring blog post about new PCs, Microsoft suddenly---if vaguely---starts discussing something called Modern OS. And it is not Windows 10. Or is it?
• Related: PCs continue evolving despite the down market, and I like what they've become. Plus, Lenovo, the world's biggest PC maker, is somehow experiencing big PC sales growth.
• Dell tips something called Windows 10 Home Ultra. This is almost certainly the new name for Windows 10 Home Advanced, which Thurrott.com revealed a year ago. But Microsoft says "Ultra" does not exist.
• Windows 10 version 1903 ekes out into the world, slowly.
• Much ado about nothing with new Microsoft Edge, again
• Microsoft celebrates 10 years of Bing. Which was not its first search engine. Or 2nd or 3rd either. When did Bing finally turn a profit? 2015
• Microsoft is making a Pro IntelliMouse for some reason.
• There's a purple Xbox One S on the way!
• New messaging experience comes to Xbox app
• Related: PS Now is the biggest game streaming service today

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Configure Paste Options in OneNote for Windows 10
• App pick of the week: Use your iPhone camera to turn a photo of table data into a spreadsheet
• Enterprise pick of the week: Admins deploying 1903: Check this box
• Codename pick of the week: Kumo
• Beer pick of the week: Edmund's Oast Brewing Company Fountain Drink

NEXT WEEK: We will be in Amsterdam! But never fear: The Windows Weekly show will go on. Usual time, except we'll be at ExpertsLive NL.

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

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

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors: