A very mustached Leo Laporte takes a look at Microsoft's 2019, from Windows 7's impending doom to the "Scarlett" next-gen console (later named Xbox Series X). Plus, we can never forget Paul's intense tornado warning during episode 623!

Happy Holidays from Leo, Paul, and Mary Jo!

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.

This Week's Stories:

Chris Capossela is back!

• Microsoft CMO Chris Capossela returns for our favorite holiday tradition.

Xbox Series X

• Microsoft unexpectedly announces the name of the next Xbox console
• Yes, it's a terrible name
• The "real" name of the console generation is just... Xbox
• Yes, it's one of at least two console versions (expect an Xbox Series S too)
• Given this, should be called Xbox, Series X.
• Come on, isn't everyone thinking of Windows Phone 7 Series? Do these people ever learn?

Windows 10 vNext (and vNext Next)

• Confusion reigns: Microsoft releases a new Fast ring build that is post-20H1
• But it contains improvements that may or may not be in the next version of Windows 10. And the one after that...

Windows 10

• You can now make/receive phone calls with Your Phone! (Android only)
• Your Phone will soon support 2000 phone photos (up from 25)
• Bing Visual Search comes to Windows 10
• Semi-related: Invoke users experiences weird outages over the past two weeks. Resetting seems to help, but expect this speaker to continue losing functionality over time.

Microsoft Edge

• Microsoft will very aggressively push aside legacy Edge in January when the new Edge appears
• It's like the old Edge never happened
• Developers can now publish extensions to the new Edge extensions store

Xbox

• Halo: The Master Chief Collection is off to a fast start on PC. Hey Mikey! They like it!
• Microsoft announces remaining Game Pass for console titles for December
• Activision cites massive success for latest Call of Duty

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Stay tuned for the Chris Cap giveaway! Check-in with Thurrott.com this week for the details about the Microsoft hardware and software giveaways for Windows Weekly.
• App pick of the week: Adobe Lightroom (Microsoft Store version)
• Enterprise pick of the week: Windows Server 20 04
• Codename pick of the week: Alta
• Beer pick of the week: Prairie Christmas Bomb

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

Guest: Chris Capossela

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.

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Windows 7, we had a good run

• Microsoft will push a full-screen EOL warning to Windows 7 users in January
• Windows 7's Security Essentials AV software is going away after January 14, too
• Have our expectations changed about the impact the EOL will have on Windows 10 adoption?

Hell freezes over

• Microsoft Teams is available on Linux. No, it's not April 1st.
• MS says other Office apps on the way
• The Way Back Machine: Paul had a 1999 scoop about Microsoft Office on Linux

Windows 10

• 20H1 isn't quite done yet, but Microsoft keeps releasing new builds with no functional changes. - Another one last Friday too
• Your Phone now supports digital pens
• Collections goes live in Microsoft Edge Canary and Dev

Hardware

• Microsoft patent application brings digital pen writing surface to Surface Book wrist rest
• Four more games come to Project xCloud

Mobile + Web

• Office Mobile apps on iOS and Android are getting a makeover
• Office apps for Windows Mobile EOL in January 2021 - But what about on Windows 10 for PCs?
• Wunderlist is finally getting shut down
• New Slack design looks a little familiar
• Sticky Notes is coming to the web (via Outlook)

Xbox + Games

• Cross play FINALLY comes to Minecraft on PS4
• Gears 5 Operation 2 is out
• Halo: MCC off to a big start on PC

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Check out the MSDN/TechNet archives
• Plus: Thanks to a Thurrott Premium promotion, I will update the Windows 10 Field Guide through the end of 2020
• Plus: Take the 2020 Thurrott.com reader survey
• App pick of the week: Outlook mobile
• Enterprise pick of the week: Dynamics 365 Human Resources
• Enterprise pick No. 2 of the week: Campaign Views
• Beer pick of the week: The Chai Life

Next week: It's the year and decade finale with our annual ChrisCapmas show!

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.

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Windows 10: The year in review

• The year in Windows 10
• Microsoft changed Windows 10 development in major ways in 2019, and some changes are likely permanent, while others may not be
• Two feature updates, one real (that failed) and one fake (that succeeded)
• 20H1 completed much earlier than expected by non-tea-leaf readers
• What does this all mean for 2020?

Chredging at the Edge

• Microsoft improves Edge tracking protection. But will it ever rival Brave or Safari?
• Related: Microsoft shouldn't be adding consumer features to the new Edge (and Edge mobile)

Amazon re: Invent and how it's key to understanding Azure (and Ignite)

• re:Invent – 60K attendees and a gazillion announcements
• Ignite – 30K attendees and almost a gazillion announcements. Microsoft wants Ignite to become re:Invent

Mobile + Dev

• Microsoft Remote Desktop gets a major update on iOS
• Microsoft releases a Chinese language learning app on Android
• Seeing AI for iOS comes to 5 new languages
• Microsoft ships .NET Core 3.1

Xbox

• Halo: Reach comes to PC. And you can get it on Steam! What's next?
• Related: Hands-On with Halo: Reach for PC
• PS5 dev kit leaked
• Plus: Scarlett/Lockhart rumors resurface

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Help Mary Jo get the Notepad she deserves
• App pick of the week: Firefox 71
• Enterprise pick of the week: Azure Dedicated Hosts
• Codename pick of the week: Verona
• Beer pick of the week: Sonoma Sour Stout

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.

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'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the house, Windows Insiders are losing their s#$% because Microsoft just named 20H1...

• Plus, PWAs creep to life again at Microsoft ... It's The Walking Dead Web Apps!
• Does Microsoft have a Cortana strategy?
• Windows Terminal gets support for multiple panes.
• Xbox One X All Digital Edition being offered at $149.99
• Xbox Black Friday Deals
• Apple just can't get iOS right, so it's starting over. Again!
• Outlook.com can be used like a real app
• ODI: What's next?
• Chredge for commercial users
• Beer of the week: Proclamation Ale Co. Tendril

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.

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Windows 10 20H1 ... is this really it?

• Microsoft keeps releasing new Windows 10 versions 20H1 with no new features or minor features at best. Is this all we're getting?
• Let's revisit what actually is in 20H1 so far

Teams

• Microsoft says it has 20 million daily active users on Teams
• Not so fast, Slack says: We have higher engagement

More Microsoft

• Amazon officially challenges Microsoft's JEDI contract
• Microsoft partners with ... Salesforce?!
• Microsoft confirms shutdown of Cortana on mobile
• Facebook says it is making Visual Studio Code its default dev environment

Xbox

• Google Stadia stumbles drunkenly out of the gate - At least they added 10 more games for launch - This thing is DOA because Project xCloud already supports 50 games
• Google Assistant comes to Xbox One ... is Windows 10 next?
• Microsoft improves Mixer for Streamers

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: You need to know about the changes Microsoft made to Windows 10 Setup this year
• Related: The Windows 10 1909 ISO is now available
• App pick of the week: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020
• Enterprise pick of the week: Azure shuts the Front Door
• Codename pick of the week: Project Turing (revisited)
• Beer pick of the week: Offshoot Beer Co.'s Pawz

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.

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Windows 10 version 1909 arrives

• Blink and you'll miss it because it's really just a small cumulative update, not a real feature update.
• 1909 is codenamed Vanadium and it appears to be going out broadly, contrary to Microsoft's description
• Windows 10 version 1909 review: There ain't much to say here
• Nothing major was removed or deprecated in 1909
• Is Microsoft going to repeat its cumulative update/R2 update pattern with 20H2? I am hearing no. But they won't say publicly
• Microsoft didn't fix feature updates. It just pretended that a small CU was a feature update.

More Windows 10

• Yes, Microsoft discussed the future of its Windows 10 app platform at Ignite
• Another major milestone: Windows 10 version 20H1 heads to the Slow ring.
• And Microsoft continues to release new 20H1 builds with absolutely no new features.

HoloLens 2

• Mary Jo and Paul both got to try out the new AR headset again. Here's what's new.

More Microsoft

• Microsoft will support CCPA everywhere
• Bye-bye MS Invoicing, Outlook Customer Manager and Skype Translator bot
• More goodbyes: Harry Shum is out as head of AI and Research. Kevin Scott is in

Xbox/games

• New Elite controller is now available. You can't afford it, and you don't need it
• Early Access to "Minecraft Earth" is Available Now in the U.S.
• So much for Google being ahead: Stadia to launch with just 12 games

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Find and Watch Every Ignite 2019 Session
• App pick of the week: Brave
• Enterprise pick of the week: Microsoft Endpoint Manager
• Developer pick of the week: GitHub for mobile
• Beer pick of the week: Troegs Troegenator

Hosts: Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott, and Mikah Sargent

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.

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We're at Ignite in Orlando, Florida this week, and there's a lot going on!

Azure goes to the edge

• Microsoft's new hybrid 2.0 strategy includes other clouds

Power Platform

• Microsoft rebrands Flow to Power Automate, adds no-code virtual agents
• Related: Microsoft relents on Power Platform self-servicing purchase changes

Microsoft 365/Office 365

• Microsoft announces Project Cortex
• Microsoft puts Cortana in Outlook Mobile (and other mobile apps, plus a new male voice)
• Related: Microsoft is killing the standalone Cortana app on mobile(!)
• Microsoft Office app is going to Android and iOS
• Excel gets natural language queries
• Outlook gets a modern new look everywhere but Windows
• Teams heads to Linux, gets major features update

Microsoft Edge

• The new Edge will be the only Edge starting January 15
• Microsoft reveals new Edge logo over the past weekend and then ships it in a new build
• Here's how to get it immediately if you're already using Edge
• Here's how Microsoft will refer to old Edge and new Edge

Surface

• Surface heads into businesses with a three-pronged strategy
• Related: New Surface PC experience updates - Paul - Mary Jo

Dev

• WinUI 3.0 goes into alpha preview

Windows 10

• New Windows 10 20H1 build adds a new feature, finally: It's called Quick Searches
• Skip Ahead Ring is going away

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Get ready for Black Friday!
• App pick of the week: OneNote 2016
• Enterprise pick of the week: Is the Azure cloud full?
• Enterprise pick No. 2 of the week: Microsoft Managed Rooms
• Beverage pick of the week: Writers' Tears Irish Whiskey

Hosts: Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott, and Mikah Sargent

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 earnings

• Is bazillion a thing? It should be - for the quarter ending September 30, Microsoft posted a net income of $10.7 billion on revenue of $33.1 billion, and both were well above estimates.
• MJ: Microsoft 365 is the new number to watch
• PT: It's all about AI and Commercial Cloud, and not at all about Xbox and Surface - Plus, developers, developers, developers!

Major Windows 10X leak confirms our laptop claims

• We've been saying that Windows 10X/LiteOS is not just for dual-screen PCs. That's been confirmed by a new leak, which also shows off how much like Chrome OS this thing looks.

More Windows

• Microsoft Terminal gets an improved tabbed UI
• MJF's Surface Laptop 3 review is in (after one week of use)

JEDI

• Microsoft wins $10 billion JEDI contract, but Amazon is going to fight back

Xbox

• Xbox All Access provides a roadmap to Scarlett
• Designed for Xbox goes mobile for Project xCloud
• Another hugely popular streamer heads to Mixer

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Pin frequently-used websites to the taskbar with the new Edge
• App pick of the week: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Enterprise pick of the week: The new Project service is ready and rolling out
• Codename pick of the week: Project Turing
• Beer pick of the week: Prairie Birthday Bomb

Hosts: Mikah Sargent, 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:

Alert: Windows 10 version 20H1 is heading to the Slow ring soon

• That means your magic window is about to close if you want to stay on 19H2. Also, it means that the Insider Program folks are back to communicating poorly.
• So what's next? Windows 10X also should RTM around the same time as 20H1 and "Manganese" (20H2) testing should kick-off

Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop 3 arrive

• Mary Jo just got her Surface Laptop 3 on Tuesday afternoon
• Paul chimes in on the Pro 7
• Plus: The new Surface get day-zero updates

Cloud

• Javier Soltero bolts from Microsoft now leads Google G Suite team
• About that latest Azure/O365 authentication issue (that led to a 3-hour problem on Friday for N. American users)

More Windows 10

• Windows 10 version 1909/19H2 is done. And it's great. It should always be this way.
• The 1909 client and server ISOs are already on MSDN.
• Microsoft issued a new 20H1 build last night, but no new features - Last week's build added swifter Swift Pair
• What is a Secure-core PC?

Xbox

• Project xCloud Preview expands to more users
• Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10 picks up FPS counter, Achievement tracking
• Google Stadia controller not supporting wireless at launch is everything you need to know about the schedule

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Let's make some Windows applications
• App pick of the week: Stardock TouchTasks
• Plus: Firefox 70 adds a nifty online tracker dashboard
• Plus: Opera gets colorful on Android
• Enterprise pick of the week: Power Platform licensing is about to change in a big (and not good) way
• Enterprise pick 2 of the week: About that Microsoft-SAP deal announced this week...
• Beer pick of the week: Austin Eastciders Spiced Cider

Hosts: Mikah Sargent, 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.

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