• Windows 10X leaks
• Windows 10X: Microsoft's 'cloud-powered' Chrome OS competitor inches closer
• Paul Thurrott explores Windows 10X: Setup, Desktop and Start, Taskbar and Action Center, Microsoft Edge, Built-in Apps
• Microsoft touts more Windows 10 PCs, some with LTE options, at BettFest education show
• Microsoft Pushes PCs, Teams at Education Event

• Industry
• Microsoft's Azure marketing chief Julia White joins SAP
• Microsoft invests in General Motors' self-driving subsidiary Cruise
• New Intel CEO Wants to Beat Apple

• Xbox
• Microsoft Announces More Game Pass Titles for January
• Microsoft Highlights the 2021 Xbox Console Exclusives
• Microsoft's Making the Xbox OS More Agile

• Tips and picks
• Tip of the week: Paul Thurrott's next book is on the way.
• App pick of the week: Chrome 88 & Brave
• Enterprise pick of the week: Ignite Part 2 is coming.
• Codename pick of the week: VAIL
• Beer pick of the week: Tree House Brewing New Decade Do-Over

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsor:

• conga.com/twit

• There isn't really TOO much excitement, but major announcements from both Intel and AMD will impact the PC industry in 2021.
• New PCs, as expected, nothing truly unique.
• Intel CEO Swan to be replaced by VMware CEO Gelsinger
• Qualcomm buys CPU design firm Nuvia

PCs

• The PC market surged in 2020, had its best year since 2015.
• Microsoft announced Surface Pro 7+ for businesses and not Surface Pro 8 as expected.
• Windows 10 Dev build adds improvements to that new news feed feature

Microsoft

• Corporate Vice President Brad Anderson is leaving Microsoft for Qualtrics
• Microsoft is finalizing its transition to Azure
• Microsoft rolls out its second vertical cloud bundle – for retail

Xbox

• Microsoft denies Duracellgate is a thing!
• Microsoft Announces Xbox Wireless Controller in Pulse Red

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Paul's photo management system
• App pick of the week: Mozilla Firefox
• Enterprise pick of the week: Microsoft increases file upload size for M365
• Codename pick of the week: Project Peabody
• Beer pick of the week: 3Floyd's Gumballhead

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• The future of Windows 10 (and lack of information): Microsoft tests 'news and interests' feature in the taskbar, and rumor is testers should move soon if they want to keep testing 21H1.
• Microsoft mulligans: New 'Sun Valley' Windows 10 UX for version 2021, 'One Outlook' to unify desktop and web-based clients, and history/tabs sync is coming to Edge.
• Cloud: More on Microsoft's Azure-in-a-shipping-container MDC
• More SolarWinds fallout: Microsoft says hackers viewed some of its source code but didn't try to attack the corporate domain.
• Xbox: Microsoft to address Series X|S shortages, RIP Minecraft Earth, the first Game Pass titles of 2021, and Bloomberg's piece on Xbox's creation and 20-year history.

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Paul's OCD file management tips
• App pick of the week: Newsfeed apps The Old Reader and NewsBlur
• Developer pick of the week: Learn web dev on GitHub
• Enterprise pick of the week: Azure AD is going to four nines
• Beer pick of the week: Threes Brewing Volition

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Our 2021 predictions

• Five Microsoft technologies to watch in 2021

Windows

• Windows 10
• Windows 10X
• Windows on ARM
• Android on Windows 10 (Project Latte)
• Cloud PC
• Windows Server

Surface

• Surface Duo 2
• New Surface Pro, ProX, Book
• Any 10X devices from Surface in 2021? Rumors say no.

Cloud

• M365: Teams, first-line workers, and bears (oh my)
• Azure – more regions, more AWS-competitive services, more AI
• Universal Search and MetaOS/Fluid Framework

Gaming

• Console
• Cloud streaming

Consumer

• Chredge, Bing, and MSN
• Teams consumer v. Skype

Dev

• Project Reunion
• .NET MAUI
• PWAs

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Lose yourself in a tech podcast
• App pick of the year: Affinity Photo
• Enterprise picks of the week: Using Microsoft 365 Defender to protect against Solorigate, Azure free account users get 5 more services
• Beer pick of the week: Evil Twin Happy New Beer

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Microsoft sort of ends support for Windows 7. The company released a "final" update for Windows 7 in early January.
• Microsoft's Panos Panay gets a promotion, becoming the Head of Windows and Hardware.
• Some cracked Surface Laptop 3 screens result in another "gate" — Crackgate.
• Mary Jo and Paul share the highlights of Microsoft Build 2020.
• Microsoft decides to shutter the streaming platform Mixer.
• Rumors suggest Microsoft may be interested in purchasing TikTok — and the president wants a cut of the profits.
• Leo reviews Microsoft's Surface Duo.
• Microsoft buys Bethesda.
• Microsoft Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Capossela, shares his hidden gems of the year and answers questions from Mary Jo, Paul, and Leo.

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

• Windows 10
• Microsoft brings x64 emulation to Windows 10 on ARM (in Insider)
• Paul tested it

• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft converts most Office apps to M1-compatible universal binaries on Mac
• OneDrive and Teams are notably absent
• Google Workspace user? You can now edit Office documents natively when sent as attachments
• This follows a few years of updates bringing native Office capabilities to Docs, etc.
• Semi-related: Google buys Neverware, which will formally support Chrome OS on any PC.

• Surface
• Surface Duo is coming to four more countries in 2021.

• Xbox
• PS5 destroyed Xbox Series X|S in November, at least in the US
• Microsoft piles on the games in Game Pass this month
• Flight Simulator to come to Xbox Series X|S — but not Xbox One — in 2021
• You can get Master Chief in Fortnite now
• EA Play for Xbox Game Pass for PC is delayed to 2021
• Call of Duty BO CW Season One arrives

• Tips and picks
• Tip of the week: Microsoft Authenticator
• App pick of the week: Brave newsreader, Amazon Luna on Android and the web, Firefox on M1 Macs.
• Enterprise picks of the week: Studio Alpha, Microsoft certifications getting free renewals
• Cocktail pick of the holidays: If Nana Only Knew

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Guest: Chris Capossela

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

• Technology Powers X - WW
• LastPass.com/twit

• Microsoft's holiday 2020 ad is an affront to cat lovers and will not stand
• Microsoft's Holiday Commercial is for the Dogs

• Windows 10
• So why would anyone want to use Android apps on Windows? Which apps make the cut?
• Lightroom finally makes it onto Windows on ARM

• Microsoft 365/Cloud
• Microsoft to change how users can test Teams features
• Azure Government Top Secret cloud is revealed
• Microsoft announces this week two more cloud datacenter regions coming "soon": Denmark and Chile.

• Xbox
• Microsoft delays Halo Infinite to November 2021
• A record year of engagement for Xbox.
• The big news: Confirmation of Cloud gaming on PC, iOS in 2021
• Minecraft RTX is available for Windows 10!
• And Minecraft is the most-streamed game on YouTube ... by far.

• Tips and picks
• Tip of the week: Turn off stupid crap in the Facebook shortcut bar.
• App pick of the week: HBO Max
• Enterprise pick of the week: Deploy SSUs and CUs together
• Developer pick(s) of the week: A few GitHub announcements from GitHub Universe
• Beer pick of the week: Finback Cats are People Too DIPA

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

• expressvpn.com/windows
• Melissa.com/twit
• BANDWIDTH.COM/WW

• Windows 10
• Here comes the first Windows Feature Experience Pack
• Windows 10 version 20H2 is on 9 percent of Windows 10 PCs in the first full month
• Also: Let's revisit the Android apps in the Microsoft Store rumor. Could this be related to Android support coming to WSL?

• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft is dramatically improving the calling experience in Teams
• In the wake of privacy complaints, Microsoft overhauls its Productivity Score feature
• Salesforce to acquire Slack for $27.7 billion.

• Surface + mobile
• Surface Pro 8, Laptop 4 coming in early 2021. Don't expect too much (external) change.
• Update on MJ's Surface Laptop
• Duo about to get international availability and to come in black
• Smartphone sales fell again in Q3

• Xbox
• November 2020 Xbox Console Update heads out to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
• Game Pass explodes with new titles in the first half of December - Including Doom Eternal on PC!

• Tips and picks
• Tip of the week: There are two ways to consolidate multiple email accounts. Neither is perfect.
• App pick of the week: Game streaming.
• Enterprise pick of the week: Take the Power Platform plunge.
• Codename pick of the week: Project Burgundy.
• Beer pick of the week: KCBC Penguins Take Manhattan

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

• Wasabi.com offer code WINDOWS
• BANDWIDTH.COM/WW
• Technology Powers X - WW

• Is the pandemic PC buying frenzy over? Data point: HP PC sales were flat YOY.
• Mary Jo Foley says: Buying a PC right now is not easy. Ask me how I know.
• Chrome support for Windows 7 is extended by 6 months.
• There have been more Insider builds since last week but no new features.
• Microsoft may be looking to allow Android apps in the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft 365

• Microsoft 365 Business Premium is on sale this week.
• Microsoft finally begins adding consumer features to Teams on desktop and web.
• Microsoft adds shopping features to Microsoft Edge.
• There are many other new features for Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft

• Microsoft co-founder looks back on what he got right and wrong in "The Road Ahead".
• Microsoft among firms petitioning court to protect its data from Google during antitrust case.

Xbox

• A weak final 2020 outing for Games with Gold. Is this promotion coming to a close?
• Flight Simulator makes the US look prettier. When is it coming to Xbox?
• Microsoft to bring Game Streaming to smart TVs in 2021. What about console, PC, Mac, web, and iOS?
• No consoles for you in Xbox Black Friday deals.
• Related: GeForce Now comes to iOS via the web too.

Tips and Picks

• Tip of the week: Meet Now is available on the web and in the latest version of Windows 10, on the taskbar.
• App pick of the week: Vivaldi
• Enterprise pick of the week: Salesforce could buy Slack.
• Codename pick of the week: Utopia
• Cocktail pick of the week: Thanksgiving Cranberry Cider Sipper

Hosts: Mikah Sargent, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

• canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT
• barracuda.com/windows
• BANDWIDTH.COM/WW

• Microsoft's Pluton security processor
• What is Pluton?
• Coming to Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors starting next year
• Precursors: TPM ... and then Xbox security processor and the Pluton security subsystem in Azure Sphere

• Macs vs. PCs
• The first reviews of Apple's Silicon devices are in. And, not surprisingly, they're very positive
• Related: Microsoft explains how Office will work on new Macs
• Related: Photoshop comes to Arm on Windows and macOS
• Meanwhile: Microsoft publishes end of device support dates for Surface devices
• What does this mean? Are there any exceptions? How does this relate to the Windows support lifecycle?

• Windows 10
• New Dev Channel build today with fixes/no features and still no word from MS on what's next
• Microsoft pauses optional updates for December for the holidays - It's like Christmas in December!
• A quick check-in on issues affecting Win 10 20H2
• Microsoft Edge notifications are about to get better

• What's next for Microsoft Search?
• Windows Search integration, Dynamics 365 integration, more semantic capabilities, and lots more starting in December

• Project Reunion update
• Preview 3 of WinUI 3 is here
• In other developer news: Look who's working for Microsoft now. All hail the Python BDFL!

• Xbox
• Biggest. Xbox. Launch. Ever. Also, Commercial Cloud.
• Where have all the Xboxes gone? Long time passing. When will they ever learn?
• With the release of Halo 4 for PC, Halo: The MCC is now optimized for Xbox Series X|S

• Tips and picks
• App pick of the week: Google Photos
• App pick of the week #2: Halo 4 remastered for PC and Halo: MCC optimized for Series X|S
• Enterprise pick of the week: Dataflex, Project Oakdale, and now Dataverse
• Codename pick of the week: Sabre
• Beer pick of the week: Torch and Crown King Elizabeth Barleywine

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley, and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

Check out Mary Jo's blog at AllAboutMicrosoft.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsors:

• LastPass.com/twit
• business.eset.com/twit
• expressvpn.com/windows