Windows Weekly 696

Microsoft Earnings, Xbox Series X Unboxing

• Microsoft Earnings: for the first time in … forever? … Microsoft announced quarterly earnings just ahead of Windows Weekly!
•  A rundown of the announcement and the key metrics
•  Microsoft Teams now has over 115 million DAUs
•  Windows PC sales, the pandemic, and you
•  Related: How Intel's quarterly results mirror what Microsoft is seeing, and don't.
• Semi-related: Microsoft pushes back return-to-work target to mid-2021, predictably

 

• Microsoft 365
•  Windows 10 version 2004 is now the most popular version by usage
•  Admins can now see why Windows 10 feature updates are blocked
•  Microsoft Edge tabs go vertical in the Dev channel
• Touchpad and mouse support finally comes to Office for iPad
• Related: Apple is allegedly looking to replace Google Search because of antitrust. Is this an inroad for Microsoft?

 

• Xbox
•  Oh happy day: It's unboxing time!
•  Xbox Series X unboxing (photos)
•  Xbox Series S unboxing (FRD video)
•  I can't show you the Xbox Series X|S software experience yet … but Microsoft can, I guess
•  New Game Pass titles flood the Internet ahead of consoles' launch
• 10 more Xbox Game Pass titles have touch controls for mobile
•  Related: Sony talks about media experiences on PS5. Microsoft remains silent.
•  Related: Facebook has a free new game streaming service. For once, I don't despise the company.

 

• Tip of the week: Can't reset Windows 10? Here's a workaround. There's a Reset This PC buy in Windows 10 version 2004. Here's how to work around it.
• App pick of the week: Microsoft Forms. Microsoft Forms comes to consumers and it's free, but you get more with an M365 subscription.
•  Enterprise pick of the week: Lobe. Wondering what happened to Lobe, the AI startup Microsoft bought in 2018? Lobe is now the Lobe app and is free to Windows and Mac users who want to train easily and intuitively machine-learning models locally on their PCS, not in the cloud.
• Codename pick of the week: Sun Valley. Sun Valley could be the name of the UI refresh that's going to be part of the Windows 10 20H2 'Cobalt' feature update, according to Windows Central.
• Cocktail pick of the week: The Harvester
• The Harvester is the perfect Fall cocktail.
• 4 parts whiskey
• 1.5 parts apple cider, 1.5 parts cranberry juice, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part simple syrup
• Shake over ice, serve over ice
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry, lemon slice, or both.
• Can use 3 parts apple cider and no cranberry juice or vice versa if you prefer
• Also, Paul's wife's article about cocktail life lessons: https://psiloveyou.xyz/6-life-lessons-you-can-learn-from-making-cocktails-c895ae4ea698

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 Earnings
• Microsoft: Teams now at more than 115 million daily active users
• Reading the tea leaves around Windows PCs and the pandemic
• Intel Results Underwhelm Investors
• Microsoft pushes back return-to-work target date from January to July 2021
• Windows 10 Version 2004 Usage Surges Into First Place
• Microsoft gives admins easier access to info on Windows 10 feature update blockers
• Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge's vertical tabs feature hits the Dev Channel
• Microsoft Finally Adds Trackpad Support to Office on iPad
• Apple Allegedly Developing Alternative to Google Search
• Xbox Series X Unboxing
• First Ring Daily 927: Microsoft Earnings, Series S Unboxing
• Microsoft Demos Xbox Series X|S Software Experience
• Microsoft Floods Game Pass with New Titles
• Touch Controls Support Comes to 10 More Cloud Gaming Titles
• Apple TV+, Media Remote are Coming to PlayStation 5
• Facebook Launches Free Cloud Gaming Service
• Microsoft Provides Workaround for Reset This PC Bug
• Microsoft Forms survey app now available for personal use
• Microsoft releases preview of Lobe training app for machine-learning
• Microsoft is planning a big refresh to the Windows 10 UI with 'Sun Valley' in 21H2: Report