WW 974: DIY Crocs - Project Helix Details From GDC 2026

WW 974: DIY Crocs - Project Helix Details From GDC 2026

Author: TWiT March 11, 2026 Duration: 2:46:57

From bug-busting AI that's transforming Firefox to personal coding breakthroughs, the team breaks down how practical applications are cutting through skepticism and reshaping developer workflows. Plus, hear why lighter Patch Tuesdays are refreshing from time to time!

Windows 11

  • Patch Tuesday's familiar list of updates: Network speed test, Camera tilt and pan controls, sysmon, RSAT improvements, Quick Machine Recovery improvements, WEBP support for desktop wallpaper, Emoji 16.0, etc.
  • It's been a light year so far for Patch Tuesday features - that's a good thing
  • New builds for Canary, Dev, and Beta late last week. Canary is nothing, Dev/Beta get Administrator Protection, Drag Tray refinements, File Explorer improvements, and fixes
  • Android 16 QPR3 brings Desktop Mode to Android devices - and a hands-on with Pixel phones and tablets shows the way forward for Android-based laptops later this year
  • Intel has new gaming processors for creators and gamers and they look excellent and are inexpensive

AI and dev

  • Copilot Cowork is literally Claude Cowork in Microsoft 365 - "Wave 3" for Microsoft 365 Copilot begins with a lot of agentic features, in private preview at first
  • Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive get big Gemini updates for consumers and Workspace customers
  • Mozilla partners with Anthropic to use AI to find bugs, and it's paying off nicely
  • Visual Studio Code moves to a weekly update schedule
  • The .NET 11 Preview 2 is here

Xbox and gaming

  • Microsoft starts talking up next Xbox console! It's called Project Helix and, yes, it will run Windows games
  • New Xbox Mode is on the way
  • Project Helix dev kits to game makers in 2027
  • Satya Nadella explains why he/Microsoft are "long" on gaming
  • Gaming is a core identity for Microsoft alongside platforms, developers, and knowledge workers

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: Nostalgia with a purpose
  • App pick of the week: Stardock Clairvoyance
  • RunAs Radio this week: SQL Server in 2026 with Bob Ward
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Canadian Centennial Rye Whisky

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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For anyone following the vast and often intricate ecosystem of Microsoft, Windows Weekly (Video) offers a consistently insightful look behind the curtain. Hosted by Leo Laporte of TWiT, the conversation is driven by veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, whose combined expertise provides context that goes far beyond surface-level news. While the name suggests a focus on the operating system, this podcast truly serves as a comprehensive analysis of the entire company, from its consumer-facing products like Xbox and Surface to its massive enterprise cloud services and ambitious AI initiatives. Each episode feels like a detailed briefing, unpacking the strategies, successes, and stumbles of the tech giant. The video format adds a valuable layer, allowing you to see the hosts' reactions and follow along with screen shares when they delve into technical previews or software updates. You'll hear informed speculation, historical perspective, and critical debate about Microsoft's direction, making it an essential resource for IT professionals, developers, and dedicated enthusiasts who want to understand not just what is happening, but why. This is the kind of deep dive that turns complex topics into engaging discussion, offering the only Microsoft analysis you'll likely need. For those who prefer an uninterrupted experience, ad-free audio and video feeds are available through Club TWiT.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 16

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week…
WW 978: Pre-Peated - "Copilot Is for Entertainment Purposes Only" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19:19
Julia Liuson is leaving Microsoft. Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella (she worked on Access at first). She helped build the first version of Visual Studio and was the first female corpora…