David and Kareem discuss the news of the week that includes new Surface hardware benchmarks, Microsoft becoming DMA compliant, Copilot creating more Copilots, conference dates, and the genuine cost of AI.
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MSFT UNBOXED
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
AI
Google Reimagines Workspace with New Gemini Tools Across Docs and Sheet
Instead of treating each app as a separate stop in the workflow, Gemini is now threaded through all of them, so the work you start in one place can naturally inform what you do next.
Copilot Cowork Steps In Where Your Calendar Gave Up
Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s new system for turning a request into a structured plan, then carrying out that plan across Outlook, Teams, Excel, and the rest of Microsoft 365.
Copilot Sidepane Opens Links Without Edge
The company has never seemed fully convinced about what the panel should be, which is why it gets a new identity and a new pitch every few months.
OpenAI Hit by Nearly 300 Percent Uninstall Spike After Pentagon Deal
The result was a nearly 300 percent spike in uninstalls, a number that reflected not just frustration but a deeper fear
Google’s March Pixel Drop Brings AI Tricks, Smarter Messaging, and a Few Delightful Surprises
Whether you live inside Google Messages, tinker with customization, or just want your phone to feel a little more magical, this update has something that will catch your eye.
Legal
OpenAI Hit by Nearly 300 Percent Uninstall Spike After Pentagon Deal
The result was a nearly 300 percent spike in uninstalls, a number that reflected not just frustration but a deeper fear
Leaked Documents Show ICE Tripled Its Use of Microsoft AI
Every time Microsoft insists it does not provide technology that enables mass surveillance of civilians, it feels like the universe immediately produces another stack of receipts.
Lawsuit Claims Microsoft Teams Collected Voiceprints Illegally
Microsoft is accused of quietly capturing and storing users’ voiceprints through Teams. That would violate the state’s famously strict Biometric Information Privacy Act, better known as BIPA.
Microsoft’s New EVP Roles Signal a Long Overdue Course Correction
On paper, it is a structural shift. In practice, it reads like a tacit admission that the company’s recent fixation on AI has come at the expense of the fundamentals that once defined its reputation.
Oracle Plans Up to $50 Billion Dollars in 2026 Financing to Expand AI and Cloud
Oracle’s plan to raise up to $50 billion dollars in 2026 is being framed as a bold expansion of its cloud and AI footprint, but the scale and timing of the move reveal a company scrambling to keep pace while absorbing the consequences of its own costly bets.
Microsoft 365
Copilot Cowork Steps In Where Your Calendar Gave Up
Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s new system for turning a request into a structured plan, then carrying out that plan across Outlook, Teams, Excel, and the rest of Microsoft 365.
EP.83 – Investors Question Microsoft’s AI Investment Bonfire
Kareem and David dig into Microsoft’s FY26 Q1 earnings, where strong growth meets rising questions about AI infrastructure costs.
Microsoft’s AI Push Puts Its 2030 Water Pledge Out of Reach
Scenic mountain landscape during sunrise or sunset, featuring steep green cliffs in the foreground and layered forested ridges fading into the horizon. The sky transitions from soft orange near the horizon to pale blue above. Decorative elements like grass, flowers, and a water droplet frame the image with a translucent overlay of green and blue hues, emphasizing a nature-themed design.
Microsoft Signs On to Wikipedia’s AI Initiative Amid Industry Accuracy Debates
The Wikimedia Foundation framed the move as a pragmatic evolution, a way to turn the nonstop scraping of its servers into actual revenue through its commercial API, Wikimedia Enterprise.
Ignite 2025: Microsoft Updates its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform
Microsoft 365 Copilot will include dedicated Word, Excel and PowerPoint agents that create high‑quality Office content directly from Copilot Chat.
Windows
Copilot Sidepane Opens Links Without Edge
The company has never seemed fully convinced about what the panel should be, which is why it gets a new identity and a new pitch every few months.
Build 2026 Leaves Seattle Behind as Microsoft Cites Safety, Stability, and a Fresh Start
the announcement has already sparked plenty of conversation about what it means for developers, AI, and Microsoft’s broader strategy.
ASUS and Dell Debut Cloud PC Devices for Windows 365 Link
Both devices boot straight into a Windows 365 Cloud PC, store no local data, and ship with a locked-down operating system called Windows CPC.
The Slow Farewell Tour of The Windows Control Panel
For decades, it was the place where every knob, toggle, and obscure configuration lived. But in 2026, the Control Panel is looking more like a museum exhibit than a living part of Windows.
First Impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro
It’s not perfect, but it’s easily one of the strongest Windows laptops of early 2026 and a sign that Intel’s comeback narrative might actually be real this time.
Reviews
A Dancers Review of Gunnar’s Themed Eyewear Collection
Her favorite part was the case. She said it looks like something her students would immediately try to steal, which is probably true.
Gunnar’s New Fallout Designs Feel Pulled From the Wasteland
These glasses feel like artifacts from the show that somehow slipped into our timeline.
First Impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro
It’s not perfect, but it’s easily one of the strongest Windows laptops of early 2026 and a sign that Intel’s comeback narrative might actually be real this time.
Review: The Tecra A60-M and Dynabook a brand to know
Introduction
The life of a tech journalist is ever-changing and...
The Dell 14 Premium Balances OLED Brilliance and Practical Endurance
Even so, the integrated graphics model proved indispensable for other parts of my workflow. For long editing sessions where I was mostly trimming, cleaning audio and assembling chapters, the IGP unit was quieter and more forgiving on battery.
Editorials
Microsoft’s AI Pivot From Partner to Proprietor
The practical consequence is simple and expensive. Microsoft is effectively paying for access to the fastest external models while also investing in building its own. That buys optionality, but multiplies cost, complexity, and internal coordination challenges.
Dire Warning: Microsoft’s AI Gambit and the Dawn of Tech’s Next Big Bubble
Deutsche Bank calculates that, without tech-related investment (read: AI and data center spending), the U.S. would already be in a recession in 2025. In other words, AI is currently propping up GDP, just as telecom CapEx did before the dot-com crash.
Initial Hands‑On With The Dell XPS Premium 14 With GeForce RTX 4050
It trades ultralight portability for a more robust build and better performance under load, and Dell’s software lets you tune that balance.
A Trojan Horse of Trade Paves the Way for More Control of Chip Makers
One trade lawyer, as cited in the report, noted that this arrangement looks "a lot like the government is skimming a little bit off the top."
Gaming
Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella Outline Xbox’s Future
Nadella talks about gaming as one of Microsoft’s core identities. Sharma talks about craft, creativity, and the responsibility of protecting the Xbox community.
EA Lays Off Battlefield Developers Despite a Strong Battlefield 6 Launch
Teams across Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive are now being told their roles are part of a “realignment” effort.
Sony Reverses Course on PC as PlayStation Walls Go Back Up
the company is pulling several of its biggest single-player titles off the PC release roadmap despite having generated billions from the strategy in recent years.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 highlights Free Play Days
If you're stuck inside this weekend or on the...
Deals
A Dancers Review of Gunnar’s Themed Eyewear Collection
Her favorite part was the case. She said it looks like something her students would immediately try to steal, which is probably true.
Gunnar’s New Fallout Designs Feel Pulled From the Wasteland
These glasses feel like artifacts from the show that somehow slipped into our timeline.
GUNNAR Optiks Expands Its Pro Esports Collection with Two New Frames: Tera and Viscer
Designed for players who spend long hours in front of high‑intensity displays, both frames bring advanced engineering, comfort‑first ergonomics, and GUNNAR’s signature lens technology into distinct, performance‑driven designs.
GUNNAR Optiks Expands its Fallout Lineup with New Lucky 38 Glasses
The Lucky 38 glasses make their inspiration clear from the first glance. Drawing from one of the franchise’s most iconic locations, the design channels the neon glow and retro futurism of the Lucky 38 Resort & Casino.
Bose Valentine’s Day Deals Deliver Stylish Audio Upgrades
These crowd favorites are part of Bose’s Valentine’s Day offers, running from February 6 to 16, giving shoppers a solid window to pick up something thoughtful without resorting to last minute panic buys.
Software
Your Outlook Links Are About to Meet Copilot Before the Web
It simply states that Microsoft is introducing a new experience where links clicked in Outlook will open in Edge and pass through Copilot.
The Slow Farewell Tour of The Windows Control Panel
For decades, it was the place where every knob, toggle, and obscure configuration lived. But in 2026, the Control Panel is looking more like a museum exhibit than a living part of Windows.
Edge Debuts New Copilot‑Inspired UI
You’ll notice these changes most clearly in the Settings pages and context menus, which now look almost identical to Copilot’s UI. It’s not subtle, Edge feels like it’s borrowing Copilot’s wardrobe wholesale.
Agent Mode Represents the Next Big Leap for Excel Users
Agent Mode is a new feature in Excel that lets you build and edit workbooks directly with Copilot. Instead of juggling formulas, charts, and PivotTables manually, you can describe what you need, and Agent Mode will generate a step-by-step plan to make it happen.
Connection Explorer lets you see where your PC is connecting to
We have the cloud everywhere; it seems every app...
AI
Google Reimagines Workspace with New Gemini Tools Across Docs and Sheet
Instead of treating each app as a separate stop in the workflow, Gemini is now threaded through all of them, so the work you start in one place can naturally inform what you do next.
Copilot Cowork Steps In Where Your Calendar Gave Up
Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s new system for turning a request into a structured plan, then carrying out that plan across Outlook, Teams, Excel, and the rest of Microsoft 365.
Copilot Sidepane Opens Links Without Edge
The company has never seemed fully convinced about what the panel should be, which is why it gets a new identity and a new pitch every few months.
OpenAI Hit by Nearly 300 Percent Uninstall Spike After Pentagon Deal
The result was a nearly 300 percent spike in uninstalls, a number that reflected not just frustration but a deeper fear
Google’s March Pixel Drop Brings AI Tricks, Smarter Messaging, and a Few Delightful Surprises
Whether you live inside Google Messages, tinker with customization, or just want your phone to feel a little more magical, this update has something that will catch your eye.
Legal
OpenAI Hit by Nearly 300 Percent Uninstall Spike After Pentagon Deal
The result was a nearly 300 percent spike in uninstalls, a number that reflected not just frustration but a deeper fear
Leaked Documents Show ICE Tripled Its Use of Microsoft AI
Every time Microsoft insists it does not provide technology that enables mass surveillance of civilians, it feels like the universe immediately produces another stack of receipts.
Lawsuit Claims Microsoft Teams Collected Voiceprints Illegally
Microsoft is accused of quietly capturing and storing users’ voiceprints through Teams. That would violate the state’s famously strict Biometric Information Privacy Act, better known as BIPA.
Microsoft’s New EVP Roles Signal a Long Overdue Course Correction
On paper, it is a structural shift. In practice, it reads like a tacit admission that the company’s recent fixation on AI has come at the expense of the fundamentals that once defined its reputation.
Oracle Plans Up to $50 Billion Dollars in 2026 Financing to Expand AI and Cloud
Oracle’s plan to raise up to $50 billion dollars in 2026 is being framed as a bold expansion of its cloud and AI footprint, but the scale and timing of the move reveal a company scrambling to keep pace while absorbing the consequences of its own costly bets.
Microsoft 365
Copilot Cowork Steps In Where Your Calendar Gave Up
Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s new system for turning a request into a structured plan, then carrying out that plan across Outlook, Teams, Excel, and the rest of Microsoft 365.
EP.83 – Investors Question Microsoft’s AI Investment Bonfire
Kareem and David dig into Microsoft’s FY26 Q1 earnings, where strong growth meets rising questions about AI infrastructure costs.
Microsoft’s AI Push Puts Its 2030 Water Pledge Out of Reach
Scenic mountain landscape during sunrise or sunset, featuring steep green cliffs in the foreground and layered forested ridges fading into the horizon. The sky transitions from soft orange near the horizon to pale blue above. Decorative elements like grass, flowers, and a water droplet frame the image with a translucent overlay of green and blue hues, emphasizing a nature-themed design.
Microsoft Signs On to Wikipedia’s AI Initiative Amid Industry Accuracy Debates
The Wikimedia Foundation framed the move as a pragmatic evolution, a way to turn the nonstop scraping of its servers into actual revenue through its commercial API, Wikimedia Enterprise.
Ignite 2025: Microsoft Updates its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform
Microsoft 365 Copilot will include dedicated Word, Excel and PowerPoint agents that create high‑quality Office content directly from Copilot Chat.
Windows
Copilot Sidepane Opens Links Without Edge
The company has never seemed fully convinced about what the panel should be, which is why it gets a new identity and a new pitch every few months.
Build 2026 Leaves Seattle Behind as Microsoft Cites Safety, Stability, and a Fresh Start
the announcement has already sparked plenty of conversation about what it means for developers, AI, and Microsoft’s broader strategy.
ASUS and Dell Debut Cloud PC Devices for Windows 365 Link
Both devices boot straight into a Windows 365 Cloud PC, store no local data, and ship with a locked-down operating system called Windows CPC.
The Slow Farewell Tour of The Windows Control Panel
For decades, it was the place where every knob, toggle, and obscure configuration lived. But in 2026, the Control Panel is looking more like a museum exhibit than a living part of Windows.
First Impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro
It’s not perfect, but it’s easily one of the strongest Windows laptops of early 2026 and a sign that Intel’s comeback narrative might actually be real this time.
Reviews
A Dancers Review of Gunnar’s Themed Eyewear Collection
Her favorite part was the case. She said it looks like something her students would immediately try to steal, which is probably true.
Gunnar’s New Fallout Designs Feel Pulled From the Wasteland
These glasses feel like artifacts from the show that somehow slipped into our timeline.
First Impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro
It’s not perfect, but it’s easily one of the strongest Windows laptops of early 2026 and a sign that Intel’s comeback narrative might actually be real this time.
Review: The Tecra A60-M and Dynabook a brand to know
Introduction
The life of a tech journalist is ever-changing and...
The Dell 14 Premium Balances OLED Brilliance and Practical Endurance
Even so, the integrated graphics model proved indispensable for other parts of my workflow. For long editing sessions where I was mostly trimming, cleaning audio and assembling chapters, the IGP unit was quieter and more forgiving on battery.
Editorials
Microsoft’s AI Pivot From Partner to Proprietor
The practical consequence is simple and expensive. Microsoft is effectively paying for access to the fastest external models while also investing in building its own. That buys optionality, but multiplies cost, complexity, and internal coordination challenges.
Dire Warning: Microsoft’s AI Gambit and the Dawn of Tech’s Next Big Bubble
Deutsche Bank calculates that, without tech-related investment (read: AI and data center spending), the U.S. would already be in a recession in 2025. In other words, AI is currently propping up GDP, just as telecom CapEx did before the dot-com crash.
Initial Hands‑On With The Dell XPS Premium 14 With GeForce RTX 4050
It trades ultralight portability for a more robust build and better performance under load, and Dell’s software lets you tune that balance.
A Trojan Horse of Trade Paves the Way for More Control of Chip Makers
One trade lawyer, as cited in the report, noted that this arrangement looks "a lot like the government is skimming a little bit off the top."
Gaming
Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella Outline Xbox’s Future
Nadella talks about gaming as one of Microsoft’s core identities. Sharma talks about craft, creativity, and the responsibility of protecting the Xbox community.
EA Lays Off Battlefield Developers Despite a Strong Battlefield 6 Launch
Teams across Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive are now being told their roles are part of a “realignment” effort.
Sony Reverses Course on PC as PlayStation Walls Go Back Up
the company is pulling several of its biggest single-player titles off the PC release roadmap despite having generated billions from the strategy in recent years.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 highlights Free Play Days
If you're stuck inside this weekend or on the...
Deals
A Dancers Review of Gunnar’s Themed Eyewear Collection
Her favorite part was the case. She said it looks like something her students would immediately try to steal, which is probably true.
Gunnar’s New Fallout Designs Feel Pulled From the Wasteland
These glasses feel like artifacts from the show that somehow slipped into our timeline.
GUNNAR Optiks Expands Its Pro Esports Collection with Two New Frames: Tera and Viscer
Designed for players who spend long hours in front of high‑intensity displays, both frames bring advanced engineering, comfort‑first ergonomics, and GUNNAR’s signature lens technology into distinct, performance‑driven designs.
GUNNAR Optiks Expands its Fallout Lineup with New Lucky 38 Glasses
The Lucky 38 glasses make their inspiration clear from the first glance. Drawing from one of the franchise’s most iconic locations, the design channels the neon glow and retro futurism of the Lucky 38 Resort & Casino.
Bose Valentine’s Day Deals Deliver Stylish Audio Upgrades
These crowd favorites are part of Bose’s Valentine’s Day offers, running from February 6 to 16, giving shoppers a solid window to pick up something thoughtful without resorting to last minute panic buys.
Software
Your Outlook Links Are About to Meet Copilot Before the Web
It simply states that Microsoft is introducing a new experience where links clicked in Outlook will open in Edge and pass through Copilot.
The Slow Farewell Tour of The Windows Control Panel
For decades, it was the place where every knob, toggle, and obscure configuration lived. But in 2026, the Control Panel is looking more like a museum exhibit than a living part of Windows.
Edge Debuts New Copilot‑Inspired UI
You’ll notice these changes most clearly in the Settings pages and context menus, which now look almost identical to Copilot’s UI. It’s not subtle, Edge feels like it’s borrowing Copilot’s wardrobe wholesale.
Agent Mode Represents the Next Big Leap for Excel Users
Agent Mode is a new feature in Excel that lets you build and edit workbooks directly with Copilot. Instead of juggling formulas, charts, and PivotTables manually, you can describe what you need, and Agent Mode will generate a step-by-step plan to make it happen.
Connection Explorer lets you see where your PC is connecting to
We have the cloud everywhere; it seems every app...
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Google Reimagines Workspace with New Gemini Tools Across Docs and Sheet
Instead of treating each app as a separate stop in the workflow, Gemini is now threaded through all of them, so the work you start in one place can naturally inform what you do next.
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Call of Duty Black Ops 7 highlights Free Play Days
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