Patrick Williams' latest home theater is a real beauty. He wanted to surpass his previous room, dubbed The Force Theater, which was designed to look like the interior of the Death Star from Star Wars. His new one is not themed, yet it does exceed The Force in every way.

Host: Scott Wilkinson

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Amanda Silberling joins Mikah Sargent this week for Tech News Weekly! X is piloting the use of AI chatbots to generate Community Notes. The Supreme Court's porn ruling and what it means for internet privacy. Microsoft tests using AI to diagnose medical cases. And what's new with the Nothing Phone 3?

• Amanda shares the story she wrote for TechCrunch about how the social media company, X, is testing an AI program that can help generate Community Notes for its posts.
• Mikah talks about the Supreme Court's ruling on a Texas law requiring age verification to access adult websites and what this could mean for internet privacy in the future.
• Mikah also shares research that Microsoft conducted on utilizing AI to help diagnose medical cases that even expert physicians struggle to figure out.
• And Andrew Lanxon of CNET joins the show to talk about the Nothing Phone 3 and what he experienced from his hands-on with the device.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling

Guest: Andrew Lanxon

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Unlock the cutting-edge advancements of Windows 11's 24H2 release as Paul guides you through an engaging journey of innovation and functionality. Discover how Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, is transforming user interaction, with features like the reintroduced Windows key plus C shortcut, a dedicated Copilot key on new keyboards, and immersive voice interaction capabilities.

Host: Paul Thurrott

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Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a serious flaw affecting nearly 700 Brother printer models that allows attackers to extract serial numbers and generate admin passwords without any authentication. Host Mikah Sargent walks through the step-by-step process of securing your Mac-connected printer using built-in macOS tools to access your printer's web interface and change those dangerous default passwords.

• Major Printer Security Vulnerability Discovered - Rapid7 cybersecurity company found flaws affecting Brother, Toshiba, and Fujifilm printers, with 689 Brother models impacted by the most serious vulnerability

• How the Attack Works - Bad actors can access printers without authentication, extract serial numbers, and use them to generate default admin passwords since manufacturers use predictable password generation methods

• Viewing Printer Details and Options - How to check printer queue, sharing settings, driver information, and supply levels through the macOS interface for connected Brother printers

• Opening Your Printer's Web Interface - Step-by-step guide to accessing the "Show Printer Web Page" option to reach your printer's built-in web server for advanced configuration

• Checking and Updating Firmware - Importance of keeping printer firmware current, though updates don't completely solve the manufacturing-level vulnerability that requires Brother to address

• Changing Default Admin Passwords - Critical security step of accessing the administrator login settings through the printer's web interface to replace factory default credentials

Host: Mikah Sargent

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TWiT.tv CEO Lisa Laporte pulls back the curtain on one of the most frequently asked questions from potential advertisers: Why does TWiT maintain a $20,000 quarterly minimum for advertising partnerships? Lisa breaks down the strategic reasoning behind this policy and explains why it's actually designed to benefit both brands and the TWiT audience.

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📧 Contact Lisa: lisa@twit.tv

Host: Lisa Laporte

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Mikah and Rosemary visit the world of iPad accessories that can truly transform your tablet experience, from the game-changing Magic Keyboard to creative stands and essential styli that unlock your iPad's full potential!

Magic Keyboard & Physical Keyboards

• Apple Magic Keyboard - Premium keyboard case adds trackpad, extra USB-C charging port, and robust protection while transforming typing workflows
• Budget alternatives - Logitech Keys-to-Go and other Bluetooth keyboards offer function keys and media controls at lower price points
• Travel benefits - Bluetooth keyboards with media keys provide convenient remote control for video streaming and presentations

Customization & Protection

• Vinyl wraps - Slickwraps and dbrand offer protective skins in textures like carbon fiber, marble, leather effects, and retro designs
• Practical benefits - Wraps add grip, protection, and personalization while helping identify devices in groups

Apple Pencil Ecosystem

• Apple Pencil Pro - Latest model features squeeze gestures for tool palettes, barrel roll rotation, haptic feedback, hover detection, and Find My support
• Model comparison - Pro vs 2nd generation vs USB-C vs 1st generation, with varying features and price points

Stand Solutions

• Satechi aluminum desktop stand - Heavy-duty stand with cable management, dual orientation support, and flexible positioning from flat to upright
• Satechi hub stand - Premium desktop solution combining stand with 4K HDMI out, USB-A & USB-C ports, SD readers, and audio jack
• Twelve South HoverBar Duo - Versatile system with clamp and desktop bases, Apple Pencil storage, and robust articulating arm

Specialty Accessories

• Satechi Bluetooth remote - Compact media controller supporting PowerPoint, Keynote, streaming apps, and presentation software
• iPad cushion/pillow - UGREEN's washable lap cushion with multiple viewing angles, storage pockets, and ergonomic positioning

Shortcuts Corner

• Van's question - How to discover full folder paths in Save File shortcuts after creation, since interface only shows last selected location
• Mr. Met's inspiration - Wanted shortcut to open Safari's new tab page instead of getting distracted by previous tabs

App Cap

• Adobe Project Indigo - Beta computational photography app using multiple exposures for enhanced dynamic range and noise reduction
• PopSocket MagSafe Grips - Magnetic phone grips with easy attachment/removal and swappable tops

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Contact iOS Today at iOSToday@twit.tv.

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• Interview with Board Member of Cloudflare, John Graham-Cumming
• My Couples Retreat With 3 AI Chatbots and the Humans Who Love Them
• Two Judges, Same District, Opposite Conclusions: The Messy Reality Of AI Training Copyright Cases
• How I Use AI To Help With Techdirt (And, No, It's Not Writing Articles)
• Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you
• The Internet Needs Sex
• Senate drops plan to ban state AI laws
• Adam Thierer reacts
• Denmark To Tackle Deepfakes By Giving People Copyright To Their Own Features - Slashdot
• The Velvet Sundown are a seemingly AI-generated band with 325k Spotify listeners
• People are using AI to 'sit' with them while they trip on psychedelics
• China hosts first fully autonomous AI robot football match
• AI virtual personality YouTubers, or 'VTubers,' are earning millions
• AI helps find formula for paint to keep buildings cooler
• Microsoft's New AI Tool Outperforms Doctors 4-to-1 in Diagnostic Accuracy - Slashdot
• It's Known as 'The List'—and It's a Secret File of AI Geniuses
• The AI Company Zuckerberg Just Poured $14 Billion Into Is Reportedly a Clown Show of Ludicrous Incompetence
• We used Veo to animate archive photography from the Harley-Davidson Museum
• G/O Media Winds Down by Selling Kotaku, One of Its Last Sites
• Roadside America Dot Com
• Cluely pitches itself as undectable AI
• Lorde's new album: Virgin
• AI recipe creation

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau

Guest: John Graham-Cumming

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Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security.

LAYOFFS
As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday.

• The fiscal year started on Tuesday.
• These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier.
• 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May).
• 10 percent of King being laid off.
• Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing.

It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next!

Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October

• This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds.
• 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically.
• Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023.

Windows 11

Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW

• That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2
• 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more.
• Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page.

AI

• Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac.
• Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence.
• After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike.

Xbox and Gaming

• Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years.
• Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio.
• New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time.
• Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes".

Tips and Picks

• Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy.
• The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge.
  • The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative.
• Software? It's all free.
  • Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time.
  • Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too.
  • Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys.
• Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want).
• RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich
• Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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