June 26, 2024

WW 887: You're Drinking Wood! - Copilot+ PC impressions, Windows Hello ESS, Teams vs EU

2 hours 17 minutes

We're one week into the Copilot+ PC, and the feedback is positive with caution! Key takeaways so far: Much improved performance and reliability, AI features mostly stink, but there is still uncertainty each time you install/do anything.

Windows 11

Week D arrives with preview updates for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 only

The second Patch Tuesday in a row with no 24H2 update (on the day)

This preview update adds 24H2 features to 22H2/23H2 as predicted

Beta channel (last week): Bizarre Start menu extension for Phone Link users

Release preview channel (last week): The 22H2/23H2 builds and features that shipped to stable as a preview update on Tuesday

Canary channel (last week): After pausing the previous build (hint: Recall code), new build arrives with drag-and-drop address bar in File Explorer, notification tweaks

Copilot+ PC

Paul finally got a Copilot+ PC to test, a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14"

App compatibility scorecard: Excellent, but with familiar Arm uncertainties

Hardware compatibility: Excellent, but with the same person-by-person caveat

Gaming: Lots of fiddling, but if you can find a compatible game, some great perf and visual quality. Still better than the Mac, and better than any x64 Ultrabook. But not a gaming PC. No Xbox Game Pass support?? COME ON

In-box AI capabilities: With Recall out, there's almost nothing to see here

Plus, Intel and AMD are gunning for Qualcomm

iFixit reports that Surface Laptop 7/Pro 11 repairability is "astonishingly" good. Granted, the bar was low

Microsoft brings Surface Flex Keyboard to Surface Pro 8, 9, and 11

Microsoft releases recovery images for Surface Pro 11/Laptop 7

Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-In Security (ESS) is one of several Copilot+ PC protections that rendered those security researcher complaints about Recall moot. But Paul now has two PCs that use this feature, and it's even more impressive than you think

The Windows 11 decoder ring

Antitrust

As expected, the European Commission announced preliminary charges against Microsoft for Office/Teams bundling

This is antitrust, not DMA (like Apple)

The EU has not explained WHAT Microsoft can do to fix this (unlike with Apple)

This is based on a complaint from Slack, which was created 7 years after Microsoft first offered this type of app/service

Xbox

-Hot off a terrific Xbox Games Showcase event, Xbox promises its "biggest-ever" booth at Gamescom 2024 (which is now the biggest trade show in Europe, apparently)

-Microsoft details how Auto SR and Prism work in WOA11 to make gaming both possible and decent

-Steam Deck LCD models are on sale

Tips and Picks

-App pick of the week #1: New browser upgrades

-App pick of the week: Proton Drive

-RunAs Radio this week: The Hard Part of Machine Learning with Lynn Langit

-Brown liquor pick of the week: Cragganmore 12

Hosts: Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell, and Mikah Sargent

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