We were inundated with new Windows features in 2025, but which ones actually moved the needle? Fortnite isn't just back on iPhone and Android, it's available on Windows 11 on Arm, and it works great! Plus, 2 big mobile wins for Epic Games and some thoughts on the "right" way to roll out AI features.
Windows 11
-External/USB webcams supported by Windows Studio Effects (Copilot+ PC only)
Quick Machine Recovery is the tip of a wave of new foundational features like Admin Protection, Smart App Control (updates), and more that go beyond surface-level look and feelRedesigned Start menu isn't perfect but it's a nice improvementCopilot Vision, though this type of thing may make more sense on phonesAI features in Paint, Photos, Notepad, and Snipping ToolNatural language interactions like the agent in Settings, file search, and more (mostly Copilot+ PC only, but you can do this in Copilot as well)Bluetooth LE support for improved audio quality in game chat, voice callsGaming on Windows 11 on Arm and Snapdragon X: Major steps forward, but the same issue as alwaysLooking ahead to 2026: 26H1, Agentic features that work, potential Windows 12, and AI PCsAn extensive new interview with Mustafa Suleyman confirms why this guy is special and how confusing it is that Copilot is so disrespectedMicrosoft Copilot is auto-installing on LG smart TVs and there's no way to remove itGPT-5.2 is OpenAI's answer to Gemini 3ChatGPT Images is OpenAI's answer to Nano Banana ProDisney invests $1 billion OpenAI, sues GoogleOpera Neon is now generally available for $20 per monthAI is moving quick as we all know but the bigger issue may be the incessant marketing about features like agents that don't even work nowMicrosoft is getting pushback on forced Copilot usage, price hikesGoogle is expanding its use of "experiments" outside of mainstream products with things like NotebookLM, Mixboard, CC, and much more. Maybe this is the better approach: Test separately and then integrate it into existing productsOddly enough, Microsoft does have a Windows AI Lab for this kind of experimentationMany small models vs. one big LLM in the cloudFortnite is back in the Google Play Store in the U.S. as Google plays niceApple loses its contempt appeal, the end of "junk fees" (Apple Tax) is in sightXbox December Update has one big update for the mobile app and one big update for Xbox Wireless HeadphonesThere's a new Xbox Developer Direct coming in JanuaryHalf-Life 3 may really be happening, but it will be a Steam Machine launch title so it could be a whileTip of the year: De-enshittify Windows 11App pick of the year: FortniteRunAs Radio this week: Zero Trust in 2026 with Michele BustamanteBrown liquor pick of the week: Lark Symphony No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/963
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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