WW 993: The Columnist Savant - Reflecting on John C. Dvorak's Influence & Impact

WW 993: The Columnist Savant - Reflecting on John C. Dvorak's Influence & Impact

Author: TWiT July 23, 2026 Duration: 2:19:16

As the tech world catches its breath from AI whiplash and retro gaming returns to the PC, Microsoft quietly kills underused tools and tries to double down on what actually works. This episode blends the excitement of tech and entertainment (like Xbox classics landing on Windows 11) with a poignant look back at the life and legacy of legendary columnist John C. Dvorak.

Windows

  • Five new Insider builds released on Monday; the new Start menu comes to the Beta channel
  • Experimental (26H1) a day later with no interesting new features
  • The Whiteboard app is apparently being retired

AI

  • Microsoft expands partnership with Mistral to improve EU AI infrastructure
  • Copilot for consumers is losing Podcasts and Deep research features soon
  • U.S. judge approves Anthropic $1.5 billion settlement with authors it stole from
  • 1Password partners with Anthropic to make AI access to password-protected websites secure
  • Google renames NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook
  • Google's next big AI models are delayed, but we got Gemini 3.6 Flash, Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber to tide us over

XBOX and gaming

  • Microsoft brings XBOX Backward Compatibility to PC!!
  • Here comes Halo: Campaign Evolved, along with more Game Pass titles for the end of July
  • Bethesda announces Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters, and Fallout 5 is entering pre-production
  • Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 in Early Access on August 21, Open Beta on August 27
  • XBOX July update adds support for longer gamertags, new library customization options, and more
  • XBOX teams with Meta to bring Game Pass Starter Edition to Meta Horizon+ subscribers
  • Valve says the component crisis dogging Steam Machine pricing will only get worse

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: Windows Package Manager for bulk app installs
  • App (game) of the week: Doom: The Dark Ages
  • RunAs Radio this week: Security Begins at Procurement with Jessie Schofer
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Loup River Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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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: 33

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 992: Gassy Jack - Largest Patch Tuesday in Microsoft History! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:12
Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday just shattered records with hundreds of bug fixes, and AI is the force behind the surge. Are we witnessing the beginning of a safer Windows, or is this flood of vulnerabilities the new…
WW 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid - The Doom & Gloom Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39:55
Windows 10's Extended Security Update program quietly gets extended for another year for consumers. Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Go products & is now selling 8 GB Surface Pro & Laptop models. And Xbox Series X & S…
WW 989: Deer Hate MSDN - Point-in-Time Restore Arrives for Windows 11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41:44
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 sledg…
WW 988: Bubbleable - XBOX Could Be Facing a Moment of Reckoning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:51:13
With major leadership shakeups and rumors of studio closures, the future of XBOX inside Microsoft suddenly looks uncertain. Is this the beginning of a Game Pass overhaul, or could XBOX face an outright split from the com…
WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:00
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…