Description
Paul Thurrott gets hands-on with NVIDIA’s new RTX Spark AI PCs and reveals why all that power isn’t translating into practical results for certain users. Expect strong opinions and a few surprises about the state of local AI on computers. Plus, Tolaria is a free, open source, vibe-coded replacement for Notion that’s based on Markdown files. And now it’s on mobile too! Llama Windows is also free/open source and natively supports Windows 11 on Arm and RTX Spark. It may be the easiest way to interact with local AI on Windows.
Windows
• Microsoft discusses second round of pain points updates for Windows 11, starting with a new Photos app plus the ability to work well with just 8 GB of RAM
• Six (!) new builds, including two to the Release Preview Channel
• Microsoft Edge is working towards no-reboot updates
• Opera Air gets a nice refresh
• The Proton roadmap is spectacular
• RTX Spark: HP OmniBook Ultra 16
• RTX Spark: Lenovo Pro 9n 15
• RTX Spark: ASUS ProArt P16 arrives with 128 GB of RAM
Microsoft 365
• OneDrive is getting a Copilot-infused upgrade for files and photos in the AI era
AI/dev
• RTX Spark hands-on: Local AI is more frustrating than useful
• Microsoft is working on a comprehensive strategy to secure AI agents
• OpenAI releases an AI coding model for Visual Basic, other older programming languages
XBOX and gaming
• Report: Project Helix starts with a gaming handheld in 2027, not a console, with a new console in 2028
• Microsoft reveals standalone Cloud Gaming costs - 10 hours for $3.99, 25 for $7.99, 50 for $11.99
• ASUS ROG XBOX Ally X20 is here for $1300 and up
• ASUS ROG XBOX Ally X20 is here for $1300 and up
• AMD is bringing FSR Upscaling 4.1 to XBOX consoles, ROG XBOX Ally
• Final Fantasy VII Remake is the star of the late October Game Pass releases
• NVIDIA touts games already optimized for RTX Spark
• XBOX highlights new indie titles coming to PC, console, and Game Pass over the next year
• EA is shutting down BioWare
Tips and picks
• App pick of the week: Tolaria
• App pick of the week #2: Llama Windows
• RunAs Radio this week: OWASP Top 10 for Agentic Applications with Will Velida
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Ardnahoe Inaugural Release 5 Year Old
Hosts: Mikah Sargent, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell
Windows Weekly episode 1006
More Info: https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/1006
Sponsors:
• http://trustedtech.team/twit
• http://PaloAltoNetworks.com/Idira
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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