Windows Weekly 612

Windows

•  Microsoft is ready to start nagging users about Windows 7's end of support deadline. So here come the pop-ups. Luckily, you can turn them off completely.
•  Plus: Microsoft brings DirectX 12 to Windows 7 … for some reason.
•  Windows 10 19H1 users start testing Android app-mirroring.
•  Breaking: Windows 10 19H1 Home edition may allow you to defer updates by 35 days! (This is in A/B testing it seems)
•  Windows 10 now on more than 800 million active devices. Right on schedule!
•  Microsoft makes good on its year-old promise to give consumer app devs a 95% cut of revenues.
•  Microsoft says it is now able to remove faulty Windows 10 updates without user intervention – but are they? A mysterious support article mentions this with no details

Xbox + Gaming

•  Microsoft demos xCloud game streaming service.
•  There's a cool new controller, but it's not the Elite rev we all want
•  Minecraft is FINALLY coming to Xbox Game Pass in April
•  Master Chief Collection is FINALLY coming to Windows
•  Plus: Microsoft announces 13 new ID@Xbox titles
•  Plus: Xbox and PS gamers can now play Fornite together
•  Plus: Google is about to announce some big gaming news. But first, their controller.

Microsoft

•  Microsoft cuts 200 jobs in commercial sales
•  Microsoft sues Foxconn parent Hon Hai over 2013 patent-licensing deal

Tips and picks

•  Tip of the week: Crackdown 2 is now free on Xbox One
•  Plus: Spotify Premium users can get free (ad-supported) Hulu
•  App pick of the week: Google Chrome 73
•  Plus: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019 is here, and you can get it on the Mac too!
•  Plus: our favourite podcast app.
•  Enterprise pick of the week: No more Semi-Annual Channel releases for System Center
•  Developer pick of the week: DTrace is coming to Windows 10 19H1
•  Beer pick of the week: Two Roads Brewing Co. Irish Exit

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.

Links

• Microsoft to start nagging users in April about the January 2020 Windows 7 end-of-support deadline
• Microsoft Brings DirectX 12 to Windows 7 … For Some Reason
• Microsoft starts testing Android app-mirroring on Windows 10
• Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18353 Heads Out to the Fast Ring
• Windows 10 Home users will be able to pause updates up to 35 days in version 1903
• Windows 10 is Now in Use on Over 800 Million Devices
• Microsoft is now giving consumer app developers up to 95 percent of their Store app sales
• Spotify’s Complaint Against Apple in EU Could Drive Real Change (Premium)
• Windows 10 will automatically remove updates, drivers that break booting
• A Few Thoughts About xCloud and the Future of Xbox (Premium)
• Microsoft’s Translucent Xbox Controller Is Now Available in White
• Minecraft Is Coming to Xbox Game Pass
• Microsoft Makes it Official, Master Chief Collection is Coming to the PC
• Microsoft Announces 13 New ID@Xbox Titles Ahead of GDC 2019
• Fortnite’s Latest Update Forces Xbox One and PS4 Users to Play Together
• Buy an Xbox One, Get a Free Game
• Patent Reveals Google’s Upcoming Gaming Controller
• Microsoft sues Foxconn's parent company Hon Hai over patent payments
• Surface for Business Expands With New Device Configurations
• Crackdown 2 is Now Free on Xbox One
• Spotify Premium Subscribers Can Now Get Hulu for Free
• Google Brings Dark Mode, PWA Support to Chrome on Mac
• Google Quietly Adds DuckDuckGo to Chrome 73
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019 Arrives with a Version for Mac Too
• I Need a Better Podcast App (Premium)
• Microsoft is dropping 'Semi Annual Channel' feature releases for System Center
• Popular open source Unix tool is now a part of Windows, too.
• Irish Exit