Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week because you cannot relax. Also, Microsoft GA's WinApp CLI, announces the Windows Platform Skills plug-in for native app creation, and you're not going to believe what Paul did next. OK, you will believe it

Build + Computex = OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD

• NVIDIA finally announces Arm-based N1X as the RTX Spark
• RTX Spark is an Arm-based portable workstation chip for Windows 11
• Microsoft announces Surface Laptop Ultra - It and other RTX Spark-based PCs will appear in late 2026
• Some of this leaked earlier, including a lower-end N1 chipset
• Microsoft continues to optimize and evolve Windows 11 for developers
• Windows Developer Configuration, Windows Developer Skills + WinApp CLI, Terminal, more Linux, and more on-device ("unmetered") AI - Tied to this, Copilot+ PC features are coming to more PCs, with CPU/GPU support - this, plus the RTX Spark stuff hints at answers to some obvious questions but there's nothing concrete from Microsoft
• Microsoft Edge is getting three new on-AI features
• Scout is a personal work agent powered by OpenClaw
• GitHub Copilot app arrives on desktop for your agentic coding and management needs
• Microsoft AI announces seven new foundation models
• Stevie Bathiche is back, baby! And he's talking about those AI app structures and how they've led to Project Solara

Windows

• Microsoft discusses the progress it's made on Windows 11 pain points
• You can now test the new Start menu in Experimental - Paul did so along with the new Taskbar
• Qualcomm announces low-cost Snapdragon C for $300+ PCs to take on MacBook Neo
• And Acer is the first to announce a Snapdragon C laptop
• New Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 leaks for June release (!)
• Dell XPS 13 is coming soon with Intel Wildcat (also to take on MacBook Neo)
• Dell revenues are through the roof, but not because of PCs
• HP revenues are up, and it is because of PCs

AI and dev

• Anthropic gets a new valuation exceeding OpenAI and then it files for an IPO
• OpenAI adjusts GPT5.5-Instant for less sucking-up and releases computer use in Codex on Windows
• Flutter takes the lead on Flutter desktop development

XBOX and gaming

• Asha Sharma says you can't please everyone and then immediately jumps the shark trying to please everyone
• XBOX delays Fable reboot because of GTA VI
• New titles coming to Game Pass in early June across platforms
• XBOX starts early testing of new console features
• ASUS announces ROG Xbox Ally X20 with OLED display and XReal R1 glasses
• Intel announces Arc G-series for gaming handhelds
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is next and it's the COD we've been begging for

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Now you can vibe code a native Windows app from the CLI
• App pick of the week: iA Writer
• RunAs Radio this week: Data API Builder and SQL MVP with Jerry Nixon
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Malt Casking of Longmorn 20

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/986

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Paul has been testing various Linux distributions and other Windows alternatives for months as part of a Switcher series. The zen of Linux can mostly apply to Windows, too: Install and manage software with package managers, and embrace the command line, especially. And if you're going to use a local account, at least be smart about it. Also, Vivaldi 8.0 looks awesome and appears to deliver what Firefox is promising with its Nova UI. Plus, Discord has a native app for Windows 11 on Arm now.

Windows

• Week D arrives with a surprise: 24H2/26H1 are aligned and getting the same new features
• Shared audio with BT LE, multi-app camera support, many improvements - but the big deal may be the performance and reliability improvements across the board
• This is the next Patch Tuesday, today
• Friday builds - new accessibility features in Experimental and Beta, more
• Microsoft CMO Yusuf Mehdi to leave company after an astonishing 35-year run - started in Windows, but with IE, Bing & MSN, Interactive Entertainment (Xbox), Windows and Devices, and then a SLT position before the end. Incredible run. Paul has three milestones and one throughline to share.
• Lenovo revenues surge 27 percent to $21.6 billion
• NVIDIA revenues really surged 85 percent to $81.6 billion

AI/dev

• Google adds Google Drive sync to NotebookLM, and moves preferred sources into AI Mode and AI Overviews
• Saying no to AI: DuckDuckGo usage surges in the wake of Google I/O's AI tsunami
• OpenAI releases ChatGPT plugin for PowerPoint
• .NET MAUI to get Material You support for Android in .NET 10
• Follow-up on last week's vibe coding adventures: Paul talked about this last week, but a lot has happened since then. The Android app creation capability in Google AI Studio is live. A few thoughts on vibe coding with Android Studio, Claude Code, and more

Xbox and gaming

• XBOX—and, yes, it's XBOX now—has an official merchandise store to go alongside all its other official merchandise stores
• The Steam Deck is back in stock! Also, it's 40 percent more expensive

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: Understanding the zen of Linux can help a Windows user too
• App pick of the week: A grab-bag of apps for Windows
• RunAs Radio this week: Team Productivity using Loop with Karinne Bessette
• Brown liquor pick of the week: John Sleeman & Sons Rye Whisky

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Windows Insider Program

• Release Preview channel updates (including 26H1 for the first time? - A preview of the June Patch Tuesday updates - Shared audio, NPU usage in
• Task Manager, multi-app camera support, Magnifier improvements.
• Taskbar updates come to Insiders! Also in Canary, weʼre throwing them a bone this time.

Enshittification remedies all around

• Microsoft just held a WinHEC for the first time since 2018 and thereʼs a new Windows Driver Initiative!
• Microsoft will soon let us remap Copilot key to Right Ctrl, which is what it was in the first place.
• A Linux privacy nut YouTuber confuses privacy and security and doesnʼt understand Windows 11 so...
• ... Paul wrote a complete guide to the local account de-Microsoft experience in Windows 11
• Microsoft Edge will stop loading all passwords into clear text on startup like a big boy browser.

Hardware

• Paul came home to an ASUS Zenbook A16 and ohmygodohmygodohmygod

Surface

• Microsoft finally revs Surface Laptop and Surface Pro for Business, with Intel chips and VERY high prices.
• Snapdragon X2 variants in late 2026 because of supply issues wa-waa-waaaaa.

AI

• MDASH is Microsoftʼs answer to Anthropic Mythos, in-house only.
• Elon Musk and Sam Altman are both terrible but a jury decided against Muskʼs frivolous lawsuit.
• OpenAI and Apple might head to court over Siri promises
• OpenAI Codex is on mobile via the ChatGPT app
• Google unleashes an AI tsunami at Google IO this week. A few relevant takeaways:
• Overview of the major announcements
  • Google advances Android as a developer platform
  • Chrome is turning into a proactive assistant
  • Google AI subscriptions are an incredible value
  • Related: The Gemini Intelligence feature for Googlebooks and more has steep hardware requirements - 12 GB of RAM, flagship SoC So Pixel 10 series/Galaxy S26 series and newer only etc.
• Just a reminder that Microsoft makes a Linux distribution ... for Azure specifically
• More dev
  • WWDC schedule is up for June 8 opening day
  • Build 2026 kicks off June 2 in SFO
  • After another boring .NET 11 preview release, we finally get our first look at a major change: MAUI is switching from the Mono runtime to the CoreCLR runtime.
  • And we should pause for a moment to remember S "Soma" Somasegar, who sadly passed away this week.

Xbox and Gaming

• Next Xbox Elite controller leaks and it is glorious
  • Related: An Xbox Cloud-Connected controller leaks too and it is less than glorious.
• Forza Horizon 6 is here, and itʼs on Game Pass on Day One.
  • Be sure to read Laurentʼs detailed review.
• Haters gonna keep hating: Fans want Xbox exclusives because their heads are still in the sand.
  • Sony is allegedly returning to this model for single player experiences
  • Related: Sony raises prices on PS Plus
• Fortnite comes back to the Apple App Store worldwide *excluding Australia for some reason.

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Google AI Studio.
• Vibe-code your next app with this incredible free tool.
• Related: A look at Markdown editors.

App pick of the week: DeskScapes 2026

• Stardock DeskScapes 2026 is normally $9.99 but it will cost just $6.99 during the launch period.
• Also: Firefox 151 is a big update on desktop and mobile, the latter gets the AI kill switch
• RunAs Radio this week: UEFI Secure Boot with Richard Hicks
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Daftmill Winter Batch Release

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/984

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Sponsors:

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