WW 996: Security Through Lack of Features - MV3 in Edge, Quake Turns 30, & AltTabby

WW 996: Security Through Lack of Features - MV3 in Edge, Quake Turns 30, & AltTabby

Author: TWiT August 12, 2026 Duration: 2:21:57

Microsoft's AI investments reveal a bizarre financial loop where billions pour into infrastructure, yet profits remain elusive. The hosts break down why the industry's most hyped tech might just be a high-stakes game of circular accounting. Plus, a developer has resurrected Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to run natively on Windows 11! Lastly, Stardock's latest utility replaces Alt + Tab for $7.99.

Windows

  • 25H2: new touchpad gestures, Windows Hello ESS improvements, Widgets improvements, Windows Search improvements, more
  • 26H1: Windows Update calendar-based pausing, Picture Password EOL, Point in time restore, multi-camera support, user folder customization in Setup, etc.
  • Over 420 bug fixes, but that's over 200 less than last month
  • Follow-up on Microsoft's AI spending. It's much worse than we knew - And also much worse than we know now
  • Yes, Microsoft Edge is going all-in on Manifest V3
  • Proton Drive - Now with a CLI and business features, and it's coming soon to Linux
  • A developer ported Word for Windows 1.1 to x64

AI

  • Gemini now has one billion users. But how many pay? - Plus the new Pixel phones are one step sideways, one step back
  • OpenAI brings ChatGPT to Linux (!)

Xbox and gaming

  • A new Xbox Elite Series 3 controller leak shows it will have a mini display
  • Microsoft tests new console features with Xbox Insiders
  • Id Software brings a new episode to Quake to mark 30th anniversary!
  • Minecraft is coming to Switch 2
  • Here comes GTA VI
  • A Valve partner was hacked, Steam Machine customers warned
  • Nintendo revenues decline 9.5 percent to ¥518 billion

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: View Git status directly in File Explorer
  • App pick of the week: AltTabby
  • RunAs Radio this week: The Content Management System Landscape with Matt Garrepy
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: Sideshow Lincoln Straight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

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…