Windows Weekly 998: Laptop Fort

Microsoft tries to prove Windows on ARM is ready for prime time, but behind the PR push, unresolved questions about compatibility, branding, and a tepid market threaten to derail the company's ambitions. Also, PowerToys 0.101 is here with Windows Hopper and multiple improvements! Plus, Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac launches.

Windows

• If a Week D falls in the woods and no one installs it, did a Week D really happen?
• Theory: This is the big one, with the three big changes Microsoft promised this year. Basically, this is Windows 11 version 26H2
• Three new builds across Beta, Experimental, and Experimental (26H1) with a modernized AutoPlay experience and a new "Open apps maximized" accessibility feature
• Microsoft reminds business customers that Windows on Arm is terrific ahead of Nvidia RTX Spark launch
• Totally coincidental that this happened on the same day that Apple announced a new Mac Mini with M6 and M5 Pro and Mac Studio with M5 Ultra and M5 Max

Microsoft 365

• OneDrive for Mac gets native sync engine
• Proton Mail gets automatic and customizable category filtering

AI/dev

• Bill Gates issues a strong warning on the dangers of AI. And you're not going to believe what number two is
• WSJ report echoes the complaints that Paul has been making for years. Again
• Adobe Firefly gets production-quality music, speech, and sound effect generation capabilities
• Apple Music will start labeling AI-generated music
• .NET Conf 2026 on track for November with .NET 11

XBOX and gaming

• XBOX testing long-awaited disc to digital entitlements
• The ASUS ROG XBOX Ally X20 is available now for $1299, or in a $2499 bundle
• Rumor: Microsoft prepping an Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console for November
• Update: it's real. The XBOX 25th anniversary collection arrives November 13
• Microsoft announces (third party) Designed for XBOX 25th Anniversary Collection of hardware peripherals
• IKEA has designed some XBOX-influenced furniture and it is amazing
• Rockstar Games weighs in on leaks as GTA VI reveal arrives (tomorrow)
• Commodore announces Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection for PC, consoles
• NVIDIA brings GeForce Now to Firefox

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Expose yourself to other points of view
• App pick of the week: PowerToys
• RunAs Radio this week: Security Features of PowerShell 7 with Mike O'Neill
• Brown liquor pick of the week: SpiceBox Spiced Whisky

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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