Windows 11 version 25H2 is here, but blink and you might miss the difference from last year! Also, Microsoft just hiked Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month and is leaving gamers everywhere weighing their subscriptions—and their loyalty.

25H2 is here?!

• Microsoft announced that 25H2 is GA! But where is it?


• And what is it? Microsoft has a list of "new" features

More Windows 11

• Microsoft delivers the 24H2 Week D update in Week E


• No, it's not the preview version of 25H2 for some reason


• But it is a massive update. And it is essentially 25H2


• Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president and his first change was to bring Windows engineering back in-house and out of Azure


• Dev and Beta: Minor changes to File Explorer, Quick settings, Get Started


• Photos app is getting AI-based categories


• Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to be free-free in the EU

Snapdragon X2

• It's real and it's really better than almost anything out there. The bad news: Not until next year


• Hardware prototypes point the way for device makers


• Arm is the epiphany we need for everything to just work


• Also, apparently Qualcomm still makes phone chips


• Qualcomm declares "total litigation victory" against Arm Holdings. More like Harm Holdings, ammmi right?

AI

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella steps aside to focus on engineering


• Microsoft enters a new era for Copilot/AI


• "More Copilot" is the new "more cowbell"


• Microsoft 365 Premium is the AI-powered subscription you were looking for, Copilot Pro is out


• This maps neatly to the three app structure model and to Paul's "I will not pay for AI" thing


• Tied to this, Microsoft also announced inside app vibe working updates across Office apps


• Is this also tied to low uptick on paid AI? Report claims just 8 million seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot


• Stevie Bathiche came to Hawaii to talk about the importance of NPUs and on-device AI


• "Directive AI, 80 TOPS NPUs enable concurrent AI, AI agents are the "outside app" structure, Orchestration is evolving


• Copilot users can talk to a cartoon now

Xbox and gaming

• Major revamp to Xbox Game Pass with some good and some bad


• Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta after what feels like 17 years, now on all Game Pass tiers


• Game Pass Ultimate gets big price hike but also some improvements


• Game Pass Premium replaces Standard


• Game Pass Essential replaces Core


• Amazon Luna got a big update too


• You can preorder a ROG Xbox Ally Gaming handheld now


• And Microsoft announces how it will handle compatibility


• Costco drops Xbox consoles


• Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to P5 in 2025


• EA goes private for $55 billion

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Videogames are getting expensive


• App pick of the week: Proton Mail


• RunAs Radio this week: HaveIBeenPwned with Troy Hunt


• Brown liquor pick of the week: Compass Box Vellichor
  
  

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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