Windows Weekly 989

Windows 12 is stalled and the real reasons go far beyond software. The conversation unpacks how soaring hardware prices, AI chaos, and market confusion have Microsoft in a holding pattern. Also, Paul finally took a sledgehammer to the subscription services he pays for, and more is on the way. Plus, one of Paul's favorite Markdown editors supports authorship on Windows now and an integrated Search/Outline view on Mac, iPad, and iPad.

Windows

• Week D is here with a preview of July’s Patch Tuesday
• Point-in-time restore is now generally available in Windows 11, sort of
• Quieter widgets, which is nice! Plus, Screen tint, Windows Update improvements, more
• Tied to this, sort of, something wonderful is happening to the Windows 11 Field Guide
• Five new builds, plus some 26H2 news (and still no news about what 26H1 becomes, see below…)
• Mostly minor fit-and-finish improvements
• So… what about Windows 12? The history is interesting, and Copilot+ PC was what Paul originally thought Windows 12 would be. But now we’re talking agentic capabilities that will handle local/cloud/hybrid orchestration per last week’s discussion, and maybe that will be it. 
• We knew that Surface Laptop and Surface Pro would come in 8 GB configurations. But they’re available now with just 256 GB of storage and the prices are $950 and $850 and up, respectively. Plus all the usual Surface limitations, like one color choice. (16 GB is $1150 and $1050, respectively, so $300 more.)
• Once again, it’s time to just get a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x for $850. It has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage and is awesome.
• Tim Cook just admitted that Apple will raise hardware prices because of the component crisis. If this is hitting Apple hard, the rest of the industry is screwed.

AI

• Cory Doctorow’s new book is out and let’s just say his new neologism isn’t as catchy as enshittification
• Reverse centaur (groan)
• Surprisingly centrist view on the pros and cons of AI
• Highlights the Microsoft financial shenanigans I point out every quarter: Microsoft “invests” $10 billion of “tokens” in OpenAI, but there’s no volume discount and Microsoft books the transaction as $10 billion in AI revenues as OpenAI simply uses its infrastructure. It gave $10 billion to OpenAI so that it could spend $10 billion on Azure.
• Google Home Speaker is the Gemini speaker and it’s now shipping to first customers as Google discontinues Nest Audio and Nest Mini speakers. Can we trust this company with hardware? And why are there no Apple or Google home theater setups?
• Adobe brings its creative agent to Firefly and the biggest apps in Creative Cloud

XBOX & gaming

• No movement yet on the massive changes we expect in XBOX soon
• Microsoft has “dozens” of gaming IP-based movies and TV shows in the works
• XBOX Insiders can now test updates to Gamertags, Game Hub, and Wish List
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are being ported to modern PS consoles. Sadly, not remakes or remasters.
• GTA VI will cost $79.99 and up - Arrives in November, can preorder on June 25
• Steam Machine to cost $1049 and up, and that’s with no controller

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: How to save $100 a month
• App pick of the week: iA Writer
• RunAs Radio this week: Securing Developers with Tanya Janca
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Glen Breton Rare 10

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 989 Transcript

Links

• Microsoft Releases Optional June Updates for Windows 11
• Point-in-Time Restore for Windows 11 is Generally Available
• Status Update: Windows 11 Field Guide 2026 Edition
• Microsoft Announces New Insider Builds, a Bit of 26H2 News
• Ask Paul: June 19 ⭐
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x Gen 11 Review: It’s Another Snapdragon Miracle
• Price Increases for Apple Products Are “Unavoidable” Due to Memory Crisis, Tim Cook Says
• The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence—Before It's Too Late (affiliate)
• Google’s Gemini-Powered Home Speaker Launches on June 25 for $99.99
• Google Has Discontinued its Nest Audio and Nest Mini Speakers
• Adobe Expands Creative Agent Across Firefly, Photoshop, Premiere, More
• Report: Microsoft has “Dozens” of Movie and TV Projects Based on its Gaming IPs
• Xbox is Adding Support for Longer Gamertags, Cloud Play During Game Downloads, More
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Are Being Ported to Modern PlayStation Consoles
• GTA VI Gets a $79.99 Price Tag, Physical Version to Include a Download Code
• Valve’s Steam Machine Starts at $1,049 Without a Controller
• Rockstar Games Reveals GTA VI Cover Art, Pre-orders Begin on June 25
• An Inconvenient Truth: A Day of Reckoning, A Month of Savings ⭐
• iA Writer for Windows is Getting Authorship Capabilities
• iA Writer Now Offers Direct Purchasing on Mac and Windows
• Securing Developers with Tanya Janca
• Glen Breton Rare 10 Year Old Single Malt