Unboxed POD EP:048 – Xbox Goes Large, Amazon Goes Small, and Edge Gets Newer

Podcast Show Notes: Episode 48 – MSFT Unboxed POD with Kareem and David

Microsoft has gifted Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One with the superpower to support external drives of any size—hello, 16TB segments. Meanwhile, they’ve rolled out the red carpet for Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits. It’s practically ready to fit a million qubits on a single chip.

For the thrill-seekers, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down’s co-op campaign is going free on PC and mobile starting February 21. Dive into the action without dipping into your wallet. Over in browser land, Microsoft Edge has leveled up to WebUI 2.0, making it 40% faster and more responsive—finally, a browser that keeps up with our need for speed.

Apple, not to be outdone, introduced the iPhone 16e, a budget-friendly marvel priced at $599. It boasts the A18 chip, a 48MP camera, and the new C1 cellular modem. In the gaming arena, Intel is upping its game for handheld PCs, taking on AMD in a showdown of epic proportions. And in a twist, Amazon is pulling the plug on its Appstore for Android devices come August 20, 2025, but no worries—it’s sticking around on Fire TVs and Fire Tablets.

Hosts: Kareem Anderson and David Allen

Episode Highlights:

  1. Xbox Support for Larger Hard Drives
    ○ Microsoft has released an update allowing Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles to support external drives of any size. Drives larger than 16TB will be partitioned into multiple 16TB segments.
  2. Microsoft’s Majorana Quantum Processing Unit (QPU)
    ○ Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits. This breakthrough promises to scale quantum computing to a million qubits on a single chip.
  3. Black Hawk Down Free-to-Play for PC and Mobile
    ○ The co-op campaign for Delta Force: Black Hawk Down will be available for free starting February 21. This move is a gesture of gratitude to players and promises an intense, immersive experience.
  4. Microsoft Edge Upgrading to WebUI 2.0
    ○ Microsoft Edge has migrated to WebUI 2.0, a markup-first architecture that significantly boosts performance. This update makes the browser 40% faster and more responsive.
  5. Apple’s Budget iPhone Announcement
    ○ Apple announced the iPhone 16e, a budget-friendly addition to the iPhone lineup. Priced at $599, it features the A18 chip, a 48MP camera, and Apple’s new C1 cellular modem.
  6. Intel Doubling Down on Handheld Gaming
    ○ Intel is ramping up its support for handheld gaming PCs, aiming to challenge AMD’s dominance. The company plans to provide more assistance to manufacturers and game developers.
  7. Amazon Shuttering Its App Store on Android Devices
    ○ Amazon will discontinue its Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025. The store will remain available on Amazon’s Fire TVs and Fire Tablets.

Tune in to hear Kareem and David dive deep into these exciting tech updates and what they mean for the future!

amazon #intel #apple,

EP.79 – Windows on ARM Gains Credibility as Copilot, Disney, and Australia Ignite the AI Debate MSFT Unboxed

This week on the podcast, we dive into the massive shifts shaking the worlds of entertainment, regulation, and computing! We've got the scoop on Disney's blockbuster AI deal, the controversial new law restricting social media, and the breakthrough that could make Windows on ARM a true PC competitor.I. Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI: The Future of Entertainment AIThe Mouse House is betting big on generative AI! We break down Disney's massive $1 billion investment in OpenAI to create a dedicated "Disney OpenAI Studio."The Big Picture: Disney CEO Bob Iger insists AI will complement creatives, not replace them, but what does the union (SAG-AFTRA and WGA) have to say about job displacement? We look at the concerns, the talent acquisition (including the former COO of OpenAI), and how this partnership could redefine storytelling.Copilot's Key Findings: Plus, we touch on Microsoft's Copilot Report 2025, which reveals that workers are prioritizing health, fitness, and relationships over work-life balance in their AI queries—a sign that burnout is driving the conversation around AI's use.II. Australia's Social Media Ban & Windows on ARM's LeapA landmark law has gone into effect, and a major technical hurdle has been cleared.The Teen Social Media Ban: Australia is now the first country to enforce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16. We get into the details of the ban, the platforms covered (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), the hefty fines (up to A$49.5 million) for non-compliance, and the estimated 1 million child accounts already deactivated.The Debate: Is this move a crucial step in protecting youth mental health and reducing predator risk, or an act of overreach that's easily circumvented with VPNs and borrowed IDs? We discuss the global implications for Big Tech regulation.Windows on ARM (WOA) Breakthrough: The Prism Emulator: Microsoft just made a major move to legitimize Windows on ARM!Prism's Upgrade: A significant update to the Prism Emulator now supports key x86 instruction sets like AVX and AVX2, a critical enhancement for running professional apps like Adobe Creative Cloud and complex scientific tools.Performance Edge: This means natively compiled ARM applications are already running faster than on comparable Intel and AMD systems, making WOA a truly viable competitor for everyday and enterprise use.III. Call of Duty Shifts & Free GamingFinally, a quick look at the gaming world.Call of Duty's New Strategy: Activision is moving away from the annual release schedule to focus on quality, with the next title, potentially Black Ops 7, focusing on a live service model.Free-to-Play Weekend: Don't miss the free-to-play deal this weekend (starting Thursday, Dec. 13th) featuring Remnant II, Chaos Chicken Edition, and Call of the Sea.Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss our deep dive into the biggest tech stories every week!What was the most significant story for you? Let us know in the comments!Like this video if you think Disney's AI move will change Hollywood!#TechNews #Podcast #DisneyAI #OpenAI #SocialMediaBan #WindowsOnARM #PrismEmulator #Microsoft #GamingNews #TechPodcast
  1. EP.79 – Windows on ARM Gains Credibility as Copilot, Disney, and Australia Ignite the AI Debate
  2. EP.78 – Microsoft and OpenAI s Code Red Month
  3. EP.77 – AI Agents Kill Chatbots, Snapdragon vs PC Giants, and Why Antitrust Fails Meta
  4. EP.75 – GTA-VI Delay, ASUS Ally, and Windows Phone Rebirth
  5. EP.74 – Amazon cuts deep, Microsoft doubles down, Canva makes a move, and Xbox wants respect

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