WW 952: You Can See the Edges of the Bubble - Windows 11, version 25H2 Is Weirdly Identical

Windows 11 version 25H2 is here, but blink and you might miss the difference from last year! Also, Microsoft just hiked Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month and is leaving gamers everywhere weighing their subscriptions—and their loyalty.

25H2 is here?!

• Microsoft announced that 25H2 is GA! But where is it? • And what is it? Microsoft has a list of "new" features

More Windows 11

• Microsoft delivers the 24H2 Week D update in Week E • No, it's not the preview version of 25H2 for some reason • But it is a massive update. And it is essentially 25H2 • Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president and his first change was to bring Windows engineering back in-house and out of Azure • Dev and Beta: Minor changes to File Explorer, Quick settings, Get Started • Photos app is getting AI-based categories • Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to be free-free in the EU

Snapdragon X2

• It's real and it's really better than almost anything out there. The bad news: Not until next year • Hardware prototypes point the way for device makers • Arm is the epiphany we need for everything to just work • Also, apparently Qualcomm still makes phone chips • Qualcomm declares "total litigation victory" against Arm Holdings. More like Harm Holdings, ammmi right?

AI

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella steps aside to focus on engineering • Microsoft enters a new era for Copilot/AI • "More Copilot" is the new "more cowbell" • Microsoft 365 Premium is the AI-powered subscription you were looking for, Copilot Pro is out • This maps neatly to the three app structure model and to Paul's "I will not pay for AI" thing • Tied to this, Microsoft also announced inside app vibe working updates across Office apps • Is this also tied to low uptick on paid AI? Report claims just 8 million seats for Microsoft 365 Copilot • Stevie Bathiche came to Hawaii to talk about the importance of NPUs and on-device AI • "Directive AI, 80 TOPS NPUs enable concurrent AI, AI agents are the "outside app" structure, Orchestration is evolving • Copilot users can talk to a cartoon now

Xbox and gaming

• Major revamp to Xbox Game Pass with some good and some bad • Xbox Cloud Gaming is out of beta after what feels like 17 years, now on all Game Pass tiers • Game Pass Ultimate gets big price hike but also some improvements • Game Pass Premium replaces Standard • Game Pass Essential replaces Core • Amazon Luna got a big update too • You can preorder a ROG Xbox Ally Gaming handheld now • And Microsoft announces how it will handle compatibility • Costco drops Xbox consoles Flight Simulator 2024 • is coming to P5 in 2025 • EA goes private for $55 billion

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Videogames are getting expensive • App pick of the week: Proton Mail • RunAs Radio this week: HaveIBeenPwned with Troy Hunt • Brown liquor pick of the week: Compass Box Vellichor

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Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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