WW 869: Pretty, Pretty Bueno - Xbox business update, ChromeOS Flex, OpenAI's Sora

Microsoft's big Xbox strategy event was exactly what Paul expected it was going to be. Hopefully, this calmed some nerves.

Xbox strategy reveal

It was going to be about Activision Blizzard originally (nailed it)

All first-party games will be in Game Pass on day one (as is the case now)

Game Pass will only be on Xbox (whatever "Xbox" means as it's on PC too)

The strategy is unchanged: Meet gamers where they are

But the best experience is on Xbox (this is like going from "Windows only" to "Windows first" to "Windows best")

Portability across hardware platforms is a key part of the strategy - Backward Compatibility, etc.

A future generation of Xbox console hardware will offer "the largest technical leap you have ever seen in a hardware generation."

Oh, and four games are coming to "other consoles."

Windows 11

Microsoft is quietly adding off-ramps to the Insider Program after killing the Magic window with their screwed-up release schedule

Canary and Dev - 24H2, same builds. New navigation pane in Widgets - new accessibility setting for low-vision users - that same tired weather experience on the lock screen that is already in stable and seriously kill me now I can't stand this company anymore. Oh, and there are ISOs.

Beta - New prompts for that "manage mobile devices" features, updates to Snipping Tool and Notepad (also in RP)

Release Preview - We're testing Moment 5 now, so this is a huge update

Microsoft fixed a bug that let Edge siphon browser data from other browsers

Stardock brings pre-release support for Arm versions of Start11, Fences, and Groupy to new Object Desktop Insider program

Google has an answer for those out of support Windows 10 PCs

Build 2024

Microsoft confirms that Build 2024 is May 21-23 in Seattle. No word on press invites

Microsoft 365

Microsoft will finally unify the Teams clients on Windows and Mac

Microsoft is killing Publisher in 2 years and even though no one uses it, people are freaking out

AI

Microsoft to use Intel Foundry for at least one in-house custom AI chip

Now OpenAI is worth over $80 billion, is world's third-biggest unicorn

OpenAI announces Sora and... HOLY #$%^

Gemini (formerly Duet AI) comes to all Workspace customers

Google brings Gemini down to size with Gemma for free, local use

Adobe Acrobat is getting an AI assistant

Xbox

Game streaming is (probably) coming to all the Xbox games you own

More (non-AB) games are coming to Game Pass in February

Microsoft goes after Apple's non-compliance DMA compliance in the EU

Epic announces a game store for iOS in Europe, will launch this year

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story will release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on March 13

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Androids by Chet Haase

App picks of the week: Dashlane, Firefox 123, Bonjourr

Cocktail of the week: Sumi - This is a "clasicos Baltra" from the most famous bar in Mexico City. Tanqueray Ten Gin, Violet liqueur, Jasmine syrup, Yuzu, Egg white. Serve in a coupe glass, and garnish with dried flowers.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott

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