Insider channels and Windows UI modernization

This week, the hosts go deep on out-of-band updates, unwanted "innovations," and the uneasy cost of tech's latest gold rush. Plus, securing a Microsoft account is not as hard as some think, and neither are passkeys once you get past the jargon. And for developers, AI Dev Gallery offers a fascinating glimpse at what you can do for free with AI used against a CPU, GPU, or NPU.

Windows 11

• Microsoft issues an emergency fix for a borked Windows Update. Right. A fix for a fix.
• Hell freezes over, if only slightly: Microsoft quietly made some positive changes to forced OneDrive Folder Backup. Donʼt worry, itʼs still forced (and appears to be opt-in, but isnʼt). But you can back out more elegantly. So itʼs opt-out, not opt-in, but a step forward. Plus, a new behavior
• Windows 11 on Arm PCs can now download games from the Xbox app (previously only through the Insider program)
• Over 85 percent of Xbox games on PC work in WOA now
• Prism emulator now supports AVX and AVX2 and Epic Anti-Cheat, and there is a new Windows Performance Fit feature offering guidance on which titles should play well.
• Beta: New 25H2 build with account dialog modernization, Click to Do and desktop background improvements. Not for Dev, suggesting itʼs about to move to 26H1
• Notepad and Paint get more features yet again. Notably, these updates are for Dev and Canary only, suggesting these might be 26Hx features (then again, versions don't matter, right?)

AI

• Just say no: To AI, to Copilot, and to Satya Nadella
• Our national nightmare is over: You can now (easily) hide Copilot in Microsoft Edge
• ChatGPT Go is now available worldwide, ads are on the way because of course
• Wikipedia partners with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, more on AI

Xbox & gaming

• January Xbox Update brings Game Sync Indicator, more
• Solid second half of January for Xbox Game Pass
• Microsoft will likely introduce a free, ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming tier because of course

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: Secure your Microsoft account
• App pick of the week: AI Dev Gallery
• RunAs Radio this week: Ideation to Implementation with Amber Vandenburg
• Liquor pick of the week: Estancia Raicilla

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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