WW 862: One Click to Malware - Windows Mixed Reality deprecated, NY Times sues Microsoft & OpenAI, malicious MSIX packages

Microsoft finally kills Windows Mixed Reality

Just in time for Christmas, Microsoft revealed that its long-dead WMR platform is now officially dead

Windows 11

Moment 5 is allegedly coming in February
Microsoft quietly reissues Windows 11 version 23H2 installation media
Microsoft kills install from web capabilities in Windows App Installer (MSIX)
Dev (today): Richer weather experience on Lock, more Voice access improvements
Canary (today): Same Voice access changes, no more WordPad or People in a clean install, Steps Recorder deprecated, new Energy Saver icon in the system tray, Nearby Sharing can name your PC

Surface

New Surface Pro 6 and Laptop 6 are expected in Spring 2024 with Intel and Qualcomm chipsets.
Microsoft's first "real" AI PCs. FU, Surface Laptop Studio 2 buyers!

Microsoft 365

Something to consider for 2024: Have Microsoft's core platforms gotten too complex? And when/if this will drive away customers?
Standalone Copilot app launches on Android ... and then, days later, on iPhone and iPad - And it offers a ChatGPT4 mode, interestingly

AI

New York Times sues Microsoft, OpenAI for massive copyright infringement
GitHub Copilot Chat is now GA. Requires $10/month GitHub Copilot sub, but it may be the single best example of how AI can improve our lives so far

Xbox

New Xbox Game Pass titles for early January: Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Resident Evil 2 remake, more
Does something smell better around here? Bobby Kotick has left the building
PlayStation: Just kidding, you can keep your stupid Discovery shows
Meta Quest 2 gets a permanent price cut
Steam no longer supports Windows 7 or 8.1

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Properly secure your Microsoft account
App pick of the week: MSEdgeRedirect
Bonus pick: MediaSorter
RunAs Radio this week: Doing More with Less in 2024 with Erin Chapple
Brown liquor pick of the week: Elijah Craig Small Batch

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Sponsor:

kolide.com/ww