Windows

Microsoft quietly extends the Windows 10 Extended Security Update program one year to October 2027 for consumers

Windows Insider

Windows Update is transitioning to the new Windows Insider experience by default
Plus, five new builds across Beta, Experimental, Beta (26H1), Experimental (26H1), and Experimental (Future Platforms) — new Taskbar size setting is the much-needed new feature

Hardware

Apple raises prices on Macs, iPads, and more, easing pressure on PC makers
Microsoft quietly begins selling 8 GB Surface Pro/Laptop models
Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Go products right when we need them the most
The ASUS Zenbook A16 is nearly perfect, but it's unclear what you get with an X2 Elite Extreme chip

AI

HP partners with OpenAI for its agentic makeover
Anthropic seizes on the "good enough" AI movement with Sonnet 5
Proton Lumo 2.0 is here
Gemini personalized image creator is available for free in the US
Notion blames agentic AI for it killing Notion Mail

Xbox and Gaming
The 2026 Doom and Gloom Watch

Xbox Series X|S prices to go up again, by $150, on August 1 - and the 2 TB X is going away
Undead Labs and Arkane Lyon possible victims of pending closures
Latest rumor: Microsoft to layoff 2.5 percent of workforce next week - that's 5,500 people, less than expected, but that's because of the earlier voluntary buyouts, which apparently met internal expectations
Minecraft Bedrock edition gets closed captions
Sony will stop selling PS physical media in 2028

Tips and Picks

Tip of the week: Help or get out of the way
People who just complain aren't solving problems, they're just making noise and distracting us from the real problems.

App Pick of the Week: Snapdragon Control Panel

If you have a Windows 11 on Arm PC on Snapdragon X or X2, you need this app to make games run as well as possible.
Plus - Settings > System > Display > Graphics for Auto SR and other settings and whatever is in each game

RunAs Radio this week: AI-Accelerated Supply Chain Attacks with Mackenzie Duncan

Brown liquor pick of the week: Rupert's Exceptional Canadian 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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WW 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid - The Doom & Gloom Watch

Windows Weekly (Audio)

WW 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid - The Doom & Gloom Watch