Starlink Price Hike, Windows 11 Surpasses 10, Microsoft’s Culture Clash, Amazon’s Robot Surge

Tech Gumbo

News and Updates:

• SpaceX slapped a $1,000 “demand surcharge” on new Starlink Residential subscribers in parts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern Idaho, pushing startup costs as high as $1,349. The fee aims to slow adoption and prevent network congestion — a sharp climb from $100 last year.
• Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 in global desktop market share. Statcounter data shows Windows 11 now holds 52%, after nearly four years and hardware requirement hurdles slowed its rollout. Microsoft’s push included full-screen upgrade ads and end-of-life warnings for Windows 10.
• A deep report reveals a culture shift inside Microsoft, as AI investment frenzy and post-Covid leadership changes undermine employee morale. Long-time staff describe a climate of fear, layoffs, and performance metrics tied to AI tool use like Copilot — with CFO Amy Hood said to be steering strategy over Satya Nadella.
• Amazon now operates over 1 million robots in its warehouses, with automation assisting 75% of global deliveries. While robots have replaced many manual tasks, Amazon says it’s retraining workers for higher-skilled roles managing the machines. Productivity has soared, though concerns persist over future job cuts in heavily automated sites.