In a recent episode of Windows Weekly, Leo, Richard, and Paul delved into a variety of topics surrounding the latest developments in Microsoft’s ecosystem, including the intriguing transition from Windows 11 to Windows.ai and the introduction of ChatGPT Atlas. Their discussion also touched on the annual report released by Microsoft, alongside insights into Xbox and the gaming landscape.
Windows 11 … Windows.ai??
Microsoft has made headlines with its announcement of new Copilot and AI features designed to redefine the concept of an “AI PC,” effectively shifting the narrative away from Intel. In response to recent issues, the tech giant rolled out an emergency update for Windows 11 following the October Patch Tuesday updates, which inadvertently disabled USB mouse and keyboard support in the Windows Recovery Environment (WRE).
The Windows Insider Program continues to evolve, with several enhancements making their way to various channels:
- Improvements to mobile device settings, File Explorer, and Drag Tray are now available in the Dev (25H2) and Beta (24H2) channels.
- A revamped Start menu, updated battery icons, and Copilot Vision integration in the Taskbar are set to debut in the Release Preview, indicating a preview in Week D followed by a Patch Tuesday release in November.
- A new style is being rolled out in Paint across most Insider channels.
Microsoft
The latest annual report from Microsoft sheds light on its consumer relationships, highlighting three core business segments: Windows, Microsoft 365 Consumer, and Xbox/gaming. Notably, while Xbox/gaming remains the smallest segment with 500 million users, it boasts the highest engagement levels and garners significant attention in the report.
Although the exact percentage of users and revenues derived from consumer bases remains ambiguous, estimates suggest that it constitutes at least one-third of each category.
AI
Looking ahead, Microsoft is set to launch Copilot for Education in December, priced at per student per month. Additionally, Anthropic Claude will be integrated into Microsoft 365 commercial offerings, marking a significant step in AI competition, which now extends to Samsung smart TVs and Opera Neon, both of which are introducing AI research agents.
Xbox and gaming
In the gaming realm, Xbox president has hinted that the next console will be positioned as “very premium,” akin to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. New hardware options, such as the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, are now available for purchase, alongside a fresh wave of games set to join Game Pass across PC, console, and cloud platforms, including anticipated titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and The Outer Worlds 2.
However, following recent console price hikes, the Xbox Development Kit has seen a 33 percent price increase, attributed to steep U.S. tariffs.
Tips and picks
Tip of the week: Laptops are upgradeable again and life is good
For those looking to enhance their laptop experience, many mainstream and business-class models are now designed to be end-user repairable and upgradeable. While RAM upgrades may still be limited on some devices, users can now easily swap out SSDs and other components on most laptops.
