Jan 3rd 2024
Windows Weekly 862
One Click to Malware
Windows Mixed Reality deprecated, NY Times sues Microsoft & OpenAI, malicious MSIX packages
Records live every Wednesday at 2:00pm Eastern / 11:00am Pacific / 18:00 UTC.
Microsoft finally kills Windows Mixed Reality
- Just in time for Christmas, Microsoft revealed that its long-dead WMR platform is now officially dead
Windows 11
- Moment 5 is allegedly coming in February
- Microsoft quietly reissues Windows 11 version 23H2 installation media
- Microsoft kills install from web capabilities in Windows App Installer (MSIX)
- Dev (today): Richer weather experience on Lock, more Voice access improvements
- Canary (today): Same Voice access changes, no more WordPad or People in a clean install, Steps Recorder deprecated, new Energy Saver icon in the system tray, Nearby Sharing can name your PC
Surface
- New Surface Pro 6 and Laptop 6 are expected in Spring 2024 with Intel and Qualcomm chipsets.
- Microsoft’s first “real” AI PCs. FU, Surface Laptop Studio 2 buyers!
Microsoft 365
- Something to consider for 2024: Have Microsoft’s core platforms gotten too complex? And when/if this will drive away customers?
- Standalone Copilot app launches on Android … and then, days later, on iPhone and iPad - And it offers a ChatGPT4 mode, interestingly
AI
- New York Times sues Microsoft, OpenAI for massive copyright infringement
- GitHub Copilot Chat is now GA. Requires $10/month GitHub Copilot sub, but it may be the single best example of how AI can improve our lives so far
Xbox
- New Xbox Game Pass titles for early January: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Resident Evil 2 remake, more
- Does something smell better around here? Bobby Kotick has left the building
- PlayStation: Just kidding, you can keep your stupid Discovery shows
- Meta Quest 2 gets a permanent price cut
- Steam no longer supports Windows 7 or 8.1
Tips and Picks
- Tip of the week: Properly secure your Microsoft account
- App pick of the week: MSEdgeRedirect
- Bonus pick: MediaSorter
- RunAs Radio this week: Doing More with Less in 2024 with Erin Chapple
- Brown liquor pick of the week: Elijah Craig Small Batch
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Links
- Microsoft is Sunsetting its Windows Mixed Reality Platform
- Windows 11 “Moment 5” Update is Reportedly Coming in February 2024
- Microsoft Issues Revised Windows 11 Version 23H2 Installation Media
- Microsoft Disables Key Windows App Install Tech Used to Distribute Malware
- Microsoft Releases the First Windows 11 Insider Builds of 2024
- Report: Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 Are Coming in Spring 2024 With Intel and Qualcomm Chips
- The Escalating Complexity of the Microsoft Ecosystem (Premium)
- Following My Own Advice: Writing Tools (Premium)
- The New York Times Sues Microsoft, OpenAI for Copyright Infringement
- GitHub Copilot Chat is Now Available
- Microsoft Launches Standalone Copilot App on Android
- Microsoft Copilot Comes to iPhone and iPad
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Resident Evil 2 Remake Are Coming to Game Pass
- PlayStation Will No Longer Remove Discovery Shows From Users’ Libraries
- Meta Quest 2 Gets a Permanent Price Cut
- Steam Drops Support for Windows 7 and 8, macOS 10.13 and 10.14 Are Next
- Tip: Properly Secure Your Microsoft Account
- The Secret Lives of Passkeys (Premium)
- Tip: Use Passkeys With Your Microsoft Account
- MSEdgeRedirect Adds a Europe Mode to Uninstall Edge
- Digital Decluttering: Resolutions (Premium)
- MediaSorter
- Doing More with Less in 2024 with Erin Chapple
- ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH