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 because you cannot relax. Also, Microsoft GA's WinApp CLI, announces the Windows Platform Skills plug-in for native app creation, and you're not going to believe what Paul did next. OK, you will believe it
Build + Computex = OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD
- NVIDIA finally announces Arm-based N1X as the RTX Spark
- RTX Spark is an Arm-based portable workstation chip for Windows 11
- Microsoft announces Surface Laptop Ultra - It and other RTX Spark-based PCs will appear in late 2026
- Some of this leaked earlier, including a lower-end N1 chipset
- Microsoft continues to optimize and evolve Windows 11 for developers
- Windows Developer Configuration, Windows Developer Skills + WinApp CLI, Terminal, more Linux, and more on-device ("unmetered") AI - Tied to this, Copilot+ PC features are coming to more PCs, with CPU/GPU support - this, plus the RTX Spark stuff hints at answers to some obvious questions but there's nothing concrete from Microsoft
- Microsoft Edge is getting three new on-AI features
- Scout is a personal work agent powered by OpenClaw
- GitHub Copilot app arrives on desktop for your agentic coding and management needs
- Microsoft AI announces seven new foundation models
- Stevie Bathiche is back, baby! And he's talking about those AI app structures and how they've led to Project Solara
Windows
- Microsoft discusses the progress it's made on Windows 11 pain points
- You can now test the new Start menu in Experimental - Paul did so along with the new Taskbar
- Qualcomm announces low-cost Snapdragon C for $300+ PCs to take on MacBook Neo
- And Acer is the first to announce a Snapdragon C laptop
- New Surface Pro with Snapdragon X2 leaks for June release (!)
- Dell XPS 13 is coming soon with Intel Wildcat (also to take on MacBook Neo)
- Dell revenues are through the roof, but not because of PCs
- HP revenues are up, and it is because of PCs
AI and dev
- Anthropic gets a new valuation exceeding OpenAI and then it files for an IPO
- OpenAI adjusts GPT5.5-Instant for less sucking-up and releases computer use in Codex on Windows
- Flutter takes the lead on Flutter desktop development
XBOX and gaming
- Asha Sharma says you can't please everyone and then immediately jumps the shark trying to please everyone
- XBOX delays Fable reboot because of GTA VI
- New titles coming to Game Pass in early June across platforms
- XBOX starts early testing of new console features
- ASUS announces ROG Xbox Ally X20 with OLED display and XReal R1 glasses
- Intel announces Arc G-series for gaming handhelds
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is next and it's the COD we've been begging for
Tips and picks
- Tip of the week: Now you can vibe code a native Windows app from the CLI
- App pick of the week: iA Writer
- RunAs Radio this week: Data API Builder and SQL MVP with Jerry Nixon
- Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Malt Casking of Longmorn 20
These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/986
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
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