Windows 11's major update arrives this year, not Windows 12

Image: Microsoft

We have good news for Windows 11 users but bad news for those expecting Windows 12. Microsoft confirms a major update for Windows 11 (version 24H2) will launch in September or October 2024. This AI-focused update emphasizes user experience and quality-of-life improvements.

Experts speculate Microsoft wants to avoid further user base fragmentation (especially with Windows 10 still popular) and is waiting until Windows 10 support ends in 2025 to transition users to Windows 11 and possibly Windows 12. So, 2025 may be the earliest we'll get the new operating system.

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Two fees, one game: 'Final Fantasy XIV' on Xbox

Image: Square Enix

After more than a decade, the highly anticipated arrival of Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox has been confirmed for 2024. Square Enix made the exciting announcement on February 2, unveiling a beta test for the Xbox Series version scheduled to commence on February 21. This beta will be open to newcomers to the MMO genre. However, Xbox players keen on delving into the realms of Eorzea will not only need to subscribe to the game itself but also require an additional Xbox Game Pass subscription.

A Square Enix's blog post, details this announcement in the "How to Participate" section. It clarifies that while the Free Trial version, including the beta, doesn't mandate a Game Pass subscription, the full Xbox Series X|S version will need an Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) plan for access. This is a departure from the norm for FF14, which typically only requires a game subscription on PlayStation and PC. 

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Microsoft to retire Windows Mixed Reality platform

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft has announced that it will shut down its Windows Mixed Reality platform, which was launched in 2017 as a competitor in the virtual reality market. The platform, which includes the Windows Mixed Reality software, the Mixed Reality Portal app, and the Steam VR app, will be removed from Windows in a future update.

Windows Mixed Reality was compatible with several VR headsets from different manufacturers, such as HP, Acer, Asus, and Samsung. The platform enabled users to access various games, experiences, and productivity apps in VR. However, the platform failed to gain enough popularity and support, as evidenced by the recent news.

The closure of Windows Mixed Reality does not affect Microsoft’s other mixed-reality product, the HoloLens 2. The HoloLens 2 is a business-oriented headset that runs on Windows 11. (Recently, Microsoft started shipping them out to the Army for combat training.) Microsoft has also confirmed its commitment to HoloLens and its future development, despite rumours of a halt in the HoloLens 3 project and a potential collaboration with Samsung on a new mixed-reality device.

Microsoft has also restructured its VR division, resulting in layoffs and the discontinuation of the AltspaceVR app. The company is still working on its own Mesh app, which allows users to interact in a virtual space without a headset.

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A new Copilot AI feature in Edge can summarize videos (with caveats)

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Microsoft’s AI Copilot in the Edge browser can now generate text summaries of videos—with some limitations. According to Mikhail Parakhin, Microsoft’s CEO of advertising and web services, this feature only works on videos that have been pre-processed by Microsoft or have subtitles.

Parakhin explained that Copilot needs a text transcript of the video to create a summary. He said, "In order for it to work, we need to pre-process the video. If the video has subtitles—we can always fallback on that, if it does not and we didn't preprocess it yet—then it won’t work."

Copilot can also summarize video meetings and calls in Microsoft 365, but it requires audio transcription first. Similarly, Copilot on Microsoft Stream can summarize any video, but it needs users to generate a transcript.

The feature was demonstrated by designer Pietro Schirano, who posted a screen recording of Copilot summarizing a YouTube video about the GTA VI trailer. The video had subtitles, so Copilot was able to produce a summary with highlights and timestamps in seconds.

However, not all videos have subtitles or transcripts. Parakhin said that most publicly available videos (i.e. YouTube) should work.

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