The Windows Central Podcast

In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden break down the latest wave of Windows 11 Insider preview builds and major industry hardware shifts. The episode begins with an overview of incoming Windows 11 quality-of-life updates, including File Explorer context menu overhauls, controller-friendly Xbox Quick Settings for gaming handhelds, deeper Phone Link integration in the taskbar, native speed tests, and rich, actionable search results. Zac also details controversial security adjustments to Windows Hello that force screen-brightening in low-light environments. From there, we dissect Apple's sudden embrace of touchscreen technology and OLED displays on the M5 MacBook Pro, comparing Apple's historical messaging to current market demands. We follow up on the ongoing display debates surrounding the Surface Laptop Ultra's Mini-LED implementation (addressing local dimming claims and ghosting fixes), before examining Big Tech's massive AI capital expenditure trends, market…

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden tackle behind-the-scenes reporting on internal tensions between Microsoft's Windows and Xbox engineering divisions regarding the next-generation Project Helix hardware. Sparked by a detailed report in Fortune, we examine conflicting visions over whether future Xbox hardware—including a rumored 2027 handheld and 2028 home console—should run a streamlined desktop Windows build or iterate on the locked-down, hyper-optimized, containerized Xbox OS. We also breaks down leaked Microsoft internal survey research investigating potential shifts in first-party exclusivity for blockbuster franchises like Fallout and Minecraft. Daniel then details his comprehensive review impressions of the ultralight 3.9 lb ASUS ProArt P16 and the HP OmniBook Ultra 16, followed by an overview of AMD FSR 4.1 rolling out to handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally series to boost frame rates on constrained hardware.

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden regroup remotely following a week of extensive hands-on hardware testing and benchmarking. The central focus is the initial review wave for the Surface Laptop Ultra and the broader Nvidia RTX Spark mobile platform. Zac details his full review of the Surface Laptop Ultra, highlighting its MacBook-inspired design improvements, haptic touchpad, outstanding audio, sleep battery efficiency, and magnetic USB-C connector—while contrasting its 2,000-nit Mini-LED display against competing Tandem OLED panels. Daniel shares first impressions of two rival RTX Spark flagships: the ultralight 3.9 lb ASUS ProArt P16 and the robust HP OmniBook Ultra 16. The hosts dig into real-world local AI and agentic workflows (including tests with Hermes Agent and local LLMs), explain the critical architectural advantage of configurable unified memory allocations for GPUs, discuss gaming performance with DLSS/frame gen, and showcase the newly launched ASUS ROG…

In this special in-person episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden unpack Microsoft's major October hardware and Windows announcements directly from San Francisco. The headline reveal centers on the Surface Laptop Ultra powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark architecture, featuring an unexpectedly competitive starting price of $2,599, a mini-LED display, and an innovative magnetic breakaway USB-C port replacing the proprietary Surface Connect standard. The hosts explore the broader OEM ecosystem supporting RTX Spark—including devices from ASUS, HP, Dell, and Lenovo—as well as the high-end Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. From the software side, they break down Microsoft's aggressive pivot toward agentic AI: running large parameter models locally, containerized agent security via Microsoft Execution Containers, a redesigned actionable Windows Search taskbar experience, and major strides in ARM gaming and Prism emulation. The episode wraps with an extensive community Q&A covering battery life,…

In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden recap major industry developments from Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit and preview Microsoft's upcoming October 7 hardware and platform showcase in San Francisco. Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit & New Surface Gear: Zac shares his impressions from Hawaii, breaking down Qualcomm's announcements alongside Microsoft's surprise reveal of the second-generation Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch. Powered by the 6-core Snapdragon X2 Plus, both devices feature improved power efficiency, brighter 500-nit screens, and a sleek black color option—though accompanied by noticeable price bumps. Microsoft also introduced an updated, ergonomically refined Surface Mouse ($80) featuring native Windows 11 haptic feedback. Exclusive Insights from Surface Lead Brett Ostrum: Zac recounts his one-on-one sitdown with Microsoft's Brett Ostrum, who confirmed that Microsoft is quietly moving away from using the "Copilot+ PC" marketing label for its newest…

In this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden break down the latest Windows 11 insider features, focusing heavily on major overhauls coming to context menus, File Explorer polish, and options to force apps to open full-screen. They also dive into a surprising new Signal 65 processor study highlighting how Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chips stack up against Intel and AMD, wrap up recent Windows 11 improvements from March onward, and touch on various tech ecosystem shifts. This episode of the Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 3 months extra FREE. Sign up today! 00:00 — Introduction & Welcome 03:45 — Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 vs. Intel & AMD: Analyzing the Signal 65 processor study results, showing how Qualcomm beats out Intel and AMD chips in recent laptop testing. 10:15 — Windows 11 Context Menu Overhaul: Breaking down new…

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac and Jez sit down to discuss newly leaked images of an old Windows Phone prototype that looks suspiciously like it could have passed for a Surface Phone back in the day. Is this the Surface Phone finally revealed? Also on the agenda: Microsoft begins its push to unify Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, Windows gains support for Xbox backward compatible games, and the latest news from the gaming world.

In this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden sit down with Marcus Ash, Corporate Vice President of Design and Research for Windows at Microsoft. The discussion centers on the user experience vision for Windows 11, balancing modernization with legacy app compatibility, and optimizing system efficiency across diverse hardware configurations. The Windows Central Podcast is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Unlimited devices, access your content from anywhere, and auto-block malware on Windows, Edge, and other platforms from $2.50/mo, with 4 months extra FREE. Register today!

Welcome back to the Windows Central Podcast! It's Daniel Rubino and Jez Corden in the driver's seat this week, tackling a massive news cycle in the Xbox and tech space. We kick things off with a frustrating trend: LG monitors forcing McAfee pop-ups, and we get a little philosophical about the "enshittification" of our hardware. On the gaming front, we dive deep into the newly discovered OG Xbox emulation coming to Windows PCs and what it means for the future of game preservation. Jez also gives us the behind-the-scenes breakdown of his exclusive interview with Todd Howard, contextualizing the recent, devastating Bethesda layoffs with the push for Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5. We also unpack the latest reports on Xbox studio heads pushing back against Game Pass, break down that surprise 86% spike in Xbox console sales in June, and get a little bit of sticker shock over the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8.

The tech world is sweating, and it's not just the summer heatwave. This week on the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel Rubino, Zac Bowden, and Jez Cordon sit down to unpack a massive wave of Microsoft layoffs. We break down Asha Sharma's internal memo revealing a staggering 14 layers of middle management at Xbox, why the gaming division has struggled to capitalize on massive acquisitions like Fallout and Minecraft, and whether turning Xbox into an independent subsidiary is the brand's last chance for survival. Zac walks us through the shocking Discord leak of "Project Ion," an experimental, web-native Copilot Operating System built entirely inside Microsoft Edge. Finally, we break down the quiet arrival of Snapdragon X2-powered Surface devices, the new 24 GB RAM "sweet spot," and why sources tell us the Surface Go lineup is officially dead.

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac and senior Xbox editor Jez Corden sit down to discuss the current state of Xbox, and where the business is headed. It has been a wild month since Asha Sharma took the reins as Xbox CEO. While the team has been working to re-capitalize the brand and bring back some big-name exclusives, the narrative over the last week has taken a sharp negative turn. Between heavy rumors of Microsoft looking to sell off or close down certain first-party studios, console price hikes hitting shelves, and a massive rethink of what the next-gen hardware looks like, we wanted to figure out what's actually going on with Xbox as a business. In this episode, we break down the brutal economic realities hitting the industry. From the "RAM apocalypse" destroying console profitability to how free-to-play giants like Fortnite and Roblox have completely upended the old hardware subsidy model. We also look ahead at the next-generation "Helix" console, discussing whether Microsoft can…

Welcome back to the Windows Central Podcast! In this special drop episode, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden dive deep into Microsoft's massive new wave of Surface devices announced this week. While the consumer versions are slated for later this summer, today is all about the brand-new commercial portfolio. We break down the three newly refreshed business devices: The Surface Laptop 8 (the 13.8-inch and 15-inch flagship) The Surface Laptop 13-inch (the mid-range option) The Surface Pro 12 (the 13-inch flagship 2-in-1) (And yes, we spend a few minutes laughing about how incredibly confusing Microsoft's naming conventions have gotten!) 💻 Hands-On with the Surface Laptop 8 Daniel gives his first-hand impressions of the new 13.8-inch Laptop 8, which packs some serious under-the-hood upgrades despite keeping last gen's nearly perfect exterior design. We talk about the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" X7 chip, the surprisingly capable B390 GPU, and just how quiet those fans stay under a heavy lifting load.…

Is the era of Windows dominance finally coming to an end? This week, Zach Bowen and Ben Wilson dive deep into Google's latest project: the Googlebook. Google is officially moving past the "budget" reputation of the Chromebook and bringing native Android to the premium laptop space. With the "Magic Pointer" AI experience, seamless Gemini integration, and a sleek new interface, Google is striking while the iron is hot. On this episode, we're breaking down: Android for PC: Why Google is swapping Linux for an Android-native core and what that means for your favorite apps. The "Magic Pointer": Is shaking your cursor for AI assistance actually innovative, or just another gimmick?. Windows 10's End of Life: How Google and Apple (with the MacBook Neo) are perfectly timing their new hardware to poach Windows users this fall. The "Nickelback" Effect: Why it's become "cool" to hate on Windows and how Microsoft's fragmented AI strategy is driving users away. Windows 12 & Legacy-Free Computing: Our pitch for a "Modern…

This week on the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac are back to break down a massive turning point for Microsoft. It feels like the company is finally "looking in the mirror," and we've got the inside scoop on what that means for your favorite devices and services. In this episode: The Return of Xbox: We discuss the major internal reorg as Microsoft Gaming officially rebrands back to simply "Xbox." From new @xbox.com emails to a leadership overhaul under Asha Sharma, the "rebel" spirit is back. A "Quality" Revolution for Windows: We go deep on Project K2, the code-named initiative dedicated to fixing Windows 11. We're talking about the new WinUI 3 Run box, the ability to pause updates indefinitely, and a "Low Latency Profile" that could boost your app launch speeds by 40%. The Copilot Correction: Microsoft is admitting where they went too far. We talk about why Copilot is being stripped out of the Xbox OS and simplified in apps like Notepad. Game Pass & Call of Duty: Big changes are here for your wallet.…

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss new Surface PCs leaks that tell all about Microsoft's upcoming wave of hardware this spring, as well as recent price hikes and the death of Surface Hub. The crew also discusses the latest progress on Microsoft's big Windows K2 effort, including some internal insight on some upcoming changes to the Start menu and Windows Insider Program improvements.

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac break down Microsoft's big announcement about Windows 11 and how the company is moving to address its biggest issues this year. It's a huge announcement that includes a detailed roadmap of new features and changes that the company intends to deliver throughout 2026, starting with bringing back the movable Taskbar!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss Apple's new MacBook Neo, and how it might impact the Windows PC ecosystem going forward. Is Windows in trouble? Also on this episode, the latest rumors on Windows 12: What's real and what's not? Plus, we also run down what was announced from Microsoft at GDC 2026, including what we know about Project Helix, the codename for the next Xbox coming in 2027.

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac discuss Microsoft's plans to bring back the ability to move the Taskbar on Windows 11, plus other plans around addressing "pain points" across Windows this year. The crew also talks about Windows 12, what AI could do to software design, and more!

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac discuss Microsoft's announcement around plans to address pain points across Windows 11 in 2026. A reaction to recent backlash? Plus, Microsoft plans to pull back on AI in Windows.

The Windows Central Podcast is back for 2026, and this week Zac and Dan discuss the current state of Windows 11. Why do so many people hate it, and is it really Microsoft's fault? Also on the agenda: What's next for Windows and Surface?

The Windows Central Podcast is back, and this week Dan and Zac discuss Windows' 40th anniversary, recent backlash from customers around agentic OS plans and the future of Windows, as well as the latest news from Ignite, the Valve Steam Machine, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 gaming performance.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss Microsoft's big Windows announcement relating to new Copilot and agentic AI experiences coming soon to Windows 11. They also discuss what this means for a possible Windows 12, and where computing as a whole is headed. Also on the agenda: Windows 10 EOL and the Xbox Ally is here!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the big Windows reorg news and what it means for the future. Is Windows 12 around the corner? Plus, the team talk about Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 chips, Windows 10 reaching EOL, the impact of annual feature updates, and the latest changes to Microsoft's 365 and Game Pass subscriptions.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac discuss the latest with Windows 11: new updates for Paint and Notepad, plus Windows 10 EOL and Consumer Reports asking Microsoft to extend support. Also on the agenda, Intel & NVIDIA are teaming up to create new chips fused with RTX GPUs, and Meta launches it first Ray Ban Display glasses with AI built-in. Should Microsoft do the same?

We're back after a summer break! On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the latest ongoings with Windows 11, our first impressions with Microsoft's upcoming handheld gaming mode, and the news around Google being ordered to let phone makers preload apps that compete with Google services, such as Bing and Copilot!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan & Zac discuss Microsoft's new "Windows 2030 Vision" series, the first of which hints at a potential future "Agentic OS" from Microsoft. What might that look like? We also discuss Microsoft's new Windows XP crocs, WinUI going open source, Dan's thoughts on the Surface Laptop 7 now that he's used one, Lenovo's rollable laptop, and OpenAI's new GPT-5 announcement!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac take a look back at Windows 10 as it celebrates its 10th anniversary and discussing how it's evolved over the years. We'll also get into Microsoft's strong financial performance and the recent company layoffs. We've got a lot to say about the new Copilot features in Microsoft Edge and what we've seen with Copilot Vision on smartphones. Plus, we'll talk about the state of the Surface line, a couple of very special limited-edition laptops, and the upcoming GPT-5 integration into Copilot. We'll also be covering the latest on Windows 10 security updates, Adobe's new ARM-native beta apps, and a great deal on the Asus ZenBook A14. And of course, we'll be discussing the future of AI and its potential impact on our lives

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac and Ben discuss Satya Nadella's memo on layoffs, Nvidia's ARM chip delays, the business-focused Surface Laptop 7 with 5G, new Windows features, Microsoft closing its Movies & TV storefront, Lenovo Legion Go 2 leaks, and share impressions of the new Samsung Galaxy Fold 7 and Flip 7 phones.

The Windows Central Podcast is back after a short hiatus, and this week Dan and Zac discuss the latest ongoings with Windows 11, how it's finally overtaking Windows 10 in marketshare, and some of the new features that are now in testing. The gang also discusses the new Samsung Galaxy Fold 7, and how it makes them yearn for what could have been with the Surface Duo. On that subject, Zac reveals some interesting details about the Surface Duo roadmap, had it not been scrapped. They also discuss what Google merging ChromeOS and Android together could mean for Windows.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac hosts a solo episode where he discusses his thoughts around Microsoft's recent layoffs, the closure of Xbox studios and game projects, and the general vibe being a Microsoft "fan" in 2025. He also discusses the Microsoft's rounding error that had some of us thinking Windows had lost up to 400 million devices in three years, the Surface Earbuds, and thoughts on what damage a cheap MacBook could do to the Windows ecosystem.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss Microsoft's announcement around free security updates for Windows 10, as long as you sync your PC settings to the cloud. The crew also discuss the latest on Windows 11, the new BSOD screen, and Dell's new 14 and 16 Premium laptops, the replacements for the XPS!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the latest news with Windows 11, Microsoft's announcement that the next Xbox will be powered by an AMD chip, Windows Hello no longer working in the dark, and the latest with AI.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the big Windows and Xbox news that broke over the weekend: The Xbox Ally is official, and with it comes major changes to Windows for gaming handhelds. The crew also talks about WWDC and Apple's new Liquid Glass, and how we think it's just a worse version of Aero Glass from Windows Vista. We also talk about the new iPadOS updates, and how they could pose a threat to low- and mid-range Windows PCs.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the current state of Windows 11 on gaming handhelds, and how failures like Windows Core OS and Windows CorePC have put Microsoft on the back foot in this new mobile category. Also on the agenda: Windows 11 Start menu designs, Bing Video Creator, and AI leading us down a lonely path.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac are back to discuss what's top of mind from Build 2025 and how it compared to Google I/O. Also on the agenda: Surface Pro 12-inch review and Surface Laptop 13-inch first impressions, the latest from Windows 11, OpenAI buys Jony Ive design company, and Google's XR platform gets closer.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac is on his own as he discusses the potential death of Surface Laptop Studio, the rumored AMD powered Arm-based Surface coming in 2026, Qualcomm's job listing suggesting the next Xbox will be Arm based, and layoffs.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss Microsoft's latest wave of Surface PCs, our initial impressions of the new Surface Pro 12-inch, and how they fit into the lineup. They also discuss a whole bunch of new Windows 11 features that are coming later this year, including a new AI agent in Settings, the updated Start menu, and more.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the latest on Windows 11, our thoughts on Recall, Click To Do, and AI in Search as Copilot+ PCs gear up to finally receive them, and Phone Link in Start. They also discuss Edge's new Copilot New Tab Page, the latest on PC shipments, and Intel job cuts. The duo also chat about what they want to see in the Surface Pro 12, and what Microsoft could possibly name its upcoming smaller Pro and Laptop devices.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel is back to give us the low-down at Microsoft's 50th anniversary event, the stuff we didn't see on stream, including protests from Microsoft employees. Zac and Dan also reflect on Copilot's announcements, and what might be next for the AI assistant. Surely, it's a Copilot-powered OS? We also discuss the latest on Windows 11, including Recall finally getting close to GA, and the latest on tariffs and how they're affecting the PC market.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Zac sits down with Ben to chat Microsoft's big 50th anniversary event, which was more a Copilot event with the 50th stuff being kept for the people in-attendance in Redmond. Microsoft announced new memory, personalization, vision, research, and shopping features for Copilot. All designed to make Copilot more human. Additionally, we discuss Microsoft's new Start menu for Windows 11 that was spotted hidden in recent preview builds, as well as our favorite versions of Windows and Windows apps to celebrate 50 years.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the current state of Windows on Arm, the Surface Laptop 7's high return rate, more details on the upcoming smaller Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, and the latest on Windows 11 and our first signs of 25H2.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac discuss the removal of the charging brick on Surface Pro 11 and what it could mean for the future of Surface Connect, the latest on Windows 11, new devices from HP, Qualcomm GPU drivers, and more.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, we discuss Microsoft's upcoming April 4 event and speculate about what it could possibly announce, the latest from Windows 11 and Copilot, Apple Intelligence Siri being delayed, Xbox Project Kennan, and more!

In this week's exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the official death of Skype, our struggles as a podcast that has exclusively used Skype for almost a decade, and the latest from Copilot on Windows and future AI experiences in the OS. Also this week, we talk about Lenovo's latest weird PCs, the new MacBook Air and how we think it's a bad deal now that devices like the Surface Laptop 7 exist.

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss Panos Panay's big Alexa+ announcement, Microsoft trialling a free version of Office for Windows, Windows 365 Link fast approaching, thoughts on Chrome OS Flex, Framework's new 12-inch Laptop, and more!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the latest on Windows 11, new features in the Dev and Beta Channels, and have its system requirements secretly changed? Also on the agenda: A new era for Surface, and why the Surface you know and love is dead. Plus, we try to decipher what Microsoft's Quantum chip announcement is all about, and HP's decision to acquire Humane AI. If you liked this episode, be sure to give us a rating on your podcast platform of choice. It really helps!

On this episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Daniel and Zac discuss the official end of HoloLens and IVAS, Copilot being bad at summarizing content, Arm reportedly making its own chip, and the Galaxy Watch and Ring! If you enjoy this episode, please give us a rating on your podcast platform of choice. It really helps!

Daniel and Zac are back for another Windows Central Podcast, and on the agenda this week: What's next for Windows 11? New features and Selenium, as well as Build 2025 expectations, the current Copilot+ PC situation, Qualcomm vs Arm, and more!

On this week's episode of the Windows Central Podcast, Dan and Zac discuss Microsoft's major Surface for Business announcement and the new Surface devices that came from it, the recent DeepSeek drama, Microsoft buying TikTok, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra.