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It seems that Microsoft explored the idea of building Windows fully around AI in the past, based on a leaked video from a couple of years ago.

Windows Central highlighted a video (see below) that's a few minutes long and was leaked via the BetaWiki Discord server, with our sister site's Zac Bowden noting that sources have provided assurances that the clip is real. It shows an AI-focused version of Windows built around Copilot and apparently codenamed Aion.

The concept shown is a lightweight web-based OS, meaning it's built on web apps rather than native Windows apps. In other words, it won't run standard Windows (Win32) software, with the idea being to stream those apps to the desktop if they're required (meaning they're run from the cloud, or more specifically, Windows 365, Microsoft's cloud PC offering ).

It's kind of like Microsoft's take on ChromeOS , then, leveraging the cloud, except that it's built around the Edge browser and Copilot.

Copilot runs the show, and is the central player in the Start menu, and the idea is that AI provides contextual suggestions here, recalling previous interactions to try and anticipate what the user might need.

In the video, Microsoft explains that Aion aims to break down the "traditional app-centric" approach to grouping on the taskbar, instead using 'Spaces' that act as groups into which apps, websites or files that pertain to the same goals are deposited.

Analysis: AI-on or AI-off? It seems most lean towards the latter

The themed approach of Spaces sounds rather like the idea of Sets that Microsoft toyed with in Windows 10 the best part of a decade ago now, only to abandon the concept. Except this time around it's grouped content that's organized and curated by AI.

The Aion concept hasn't been well received by the computing public as you might guess. One commenter on the video simply states: "This company has completely lost the plot."

Another observes that it's "like ChromeOS for people who don't know how to use a computer at all."

And yet another notes: "How did they manage to even make simple web apps look slow and laggy? One of the strong points of ChromeOS is that it is very fast even on old, slow machines."

In fact, there are a few people who aren't impressed with how clunky and sluggish the operating system appears to be in the video. In fairness to Microsoft, though, it's just a concept illustration and early working code (although the evident lack of smoothness isn't a good look, it must be said). Bowden explains that the video was recorded at some point in 2024, and that it's "unclear if this was just a Hackathon project or something more."

The ideas explored within Aion could well be a hint of where Microsoft is headed with next-gen Windows, though. Which may be worrying for some, of course, but you might as well get used to these ideas.

While Microsoft has promised to trim back AI excesses in Windows 11 , that's more about streamlining submenus here and there, and removing Copilot features from certain apps, than it is some kind of wholesale change of philosophy regarding AI. Windows 11 is getting AI agents , and indeed they are the next big thing for the OS, if Microsoft has anything to do with it (and, strangely enough, it does).

Indeed, with Project Solara, Microsoft plans to bring AI agents to all manner of devices in the world, beyond mere PCs and phones. Bowden theorizes that maybe Aion evolved into Solara.

Whatever the case, Aion is still a thing, believe it or not: Microsoft revealed a new family of local AI models running with the same name at Build 2026. These are a "new generation of small language models that are smaller, faster, and more efficient than our previous Windows OS SLMs", as Microsoft explains here . Apparently, Aion lives on in some form, then, even if it's a very different idea to the notion of a full-on Copilot-based operating system.

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Although he isn't credited as the show's creator or as a contributor to its scripts, Taylor Sheridan 's shadow looms large on the latest installment of his sprawling Yellowstone saga. The series began in 2018 with the wildly popular neo-Western original, starring Kevin Costner as the patriarch of a Montana ranch. The show ended its five-season run in 2023, by which time it had become the most popular thing on television. Sheridan created two prequel series, 1883 and 1923 , and produced a string of unrelated hits for Paramount+. However, he is involved mostly in name only in the two Yellowstone sequel shows. The first out of the gate was the CBS procedural Marshals , and the second was Dutton Ranch , which debuted on Paramount+.

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NASA-affiliated aircraft, including F-5 Tiger IIs jets , will kick off roughly seven hours of flyovers above Washington, D.C., to mark the Fourth of July. Today, NASA also officially unveiled an F-15D Eagle and an F/A-18B Hornet jet wearing new star-spangled paint schemes as part of larger celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The aerial showcase over the nation’s capital tomorrow will also see wave after wave of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters from across the U.S. military, as well as foreign air forces. It is set to be an unprecedented aerial review, unlike anything seen in recent decades.

A full flyover schedule is available on the website of the Freedom 250 organization , the primary organizer of various 250th anniversary celebrations. A more truncated flyover program has already come and gone today. The full aerial review is set to start tomorrow at 1:14 PM ET with a “NASA F-5 Flyover,” followed immediately by a “NASA Fleet Review.”

The full Fourth of July flyover schedule from the Freedom 250 website at the time of writing. Freedom 250

The NASA “Freedom 250” F-5 team consists of four privately owned aircraft , including one that belongs to its current administrator, Jared Isaacman. They have already been taking part in various airshows and other events since April. Three of the F-5s, wearing their special 250th anniversary schemes, touched down at Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington, D.C., on June 30.

“Freedom 250” F-5s seen at Andrews Air Force Base on June 30. USAF USAF

Another look at one of the “Freedom 250” F-5 team aircraft. USAF

As noted, NASA has also now unveiled the F-15D and F/A-18B with their special 250th anniversary liveries, as seen at the top of this story and below. Those jets could be part of the larger NASA Fleet Review.

The F/A-18B, at left, and F-15D, wearing their new 250th anniversary liveries. NASA

The NASA F-15D seen in the process of getting its new star-spangled paint scheme. NASA

The NASA F/A-18B also seen being painted in its new livery for the Fourth Of July. NASA

Spotters in Spokane, Washington, had first caught sight of these jets yesterday. Based on the assignment of its civilian N-number registration code in May of this year, the F-15D appears to be one of two ex-Oregon Air National Guard jets that NASA acquired in January.

The F/A-18B, at left, and the F-15D, at right, seen with their new liveries in Spokane on July 2. Tom Riley

@SpokaneSkyWatch @thenewarea51 Video of the @NASA F15 and F18 taxiing for departure from @iflyspokane this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/m7hu8RK65t

— Tom Riley (@sparkysqrd) July 3, 2026

What other NASA aircraft might make an appearance is unclear. Last week, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, did share pictures of T-38 , WB-57F , and Gulfstream V aircraft with Freedom 250 emblems painted on their fuselages, but it is unknown whether they will be part of the Fourth of July event.

A trio of NASA T-38s with special emblems marking the 250th anniversary of the United States celebrations. NASA

A “Freedom 250” emblem seen on a NASA WB-57F. NASA

This NASA Gulfstream V business jet has been adorned with a Freedom 250 NASA

NASA’s fleets do include a broad selection of other aircraft, including other Gulfstream business jet models and a variant of the U-2 spy plane called the ER-2 . Earlier this year, NASA also took delivery of a new Boeing 777 . Whether any of its experimental X-planes, such as the highly unusual-looking X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology test aircraft that may help pave the way for a new era of commercial supersonic flight , might join the flyovers remains to be seen.

U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft will follow the NASA flyovers, per the Freedom 250 website, but no specific aircraft types are mentioned. Today, the Coast Guard operates a mix of MH-65 Dolphin and MH-60T helicopters , as well as HC-130J, C-27J, HC-144, C-37, and now C-39 fixed-wing aircraft. C-39 is the designation given to new Gulfstream 700 VIP jets, the first of which was delivered in January . The Coast Guard is in the process of acquiring a second one of these aircraft, which will supplement, if not eventually supplant, its C-37s, which are based on older Gulfstream types, as you can read more about here .

The first of two Gulfstream 700-based C-39 VIP jets delivered to the Coast Guard. Lennon Popp

The U.S. Army’s Golden Knights and the U.S. Navy’s Leap Frogs , both of which are parachute demonstration teams, are set to follow the Coast Guard portion of the aerial review. Whether they will jump from different aircraft or the same one, and what type of aircraft will be utilized, are unknown. The Army has aircraft dedicated to supporting the Golden Knights, including Dash-8-based C-147As and UV-18C Twin Otters .

The parachute demonstrations are to be followed by a review of Army helicopters, which could include a mixture of AH-64 Apache , UH-60 Black Hawk , CH-47 Chinook , and UH-72 Lakota types. Special Operations MH-60Ms , MH-47Gs , and AH/MH-6 Little Birds from the famed 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment , the “Nightstalkers,” might also take part. The Army also has several VH-60 Black Hawks specially configured for VIP transport missions, known as “gold tops” because of their distinctive black-and-gold paint jobs, based in the broader Washington, D.C. area, that could be included in the flovers.

Army UH-60 Black Hawks and UH-72 Lakotas seen during a previous flyover of Washington, D.C. US Army

Waves of U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy aircraft – in that order – will come after the Army helicopters pass by.

The Air Force’s three waves are broken down into “heavies,” aircraft from Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and fighters. We know from the schedule that a “Tri-Bomber Formation” made up of a B-2, B-1, and B-52 will come later in the day, but the “heavies” mentioned here also sound likely to include a mix of cargo aircraft and aerial refueling tankers. Executive transport types might also make an appearance at this point in the festivities. The new VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft , which made its maiden flight in the Air Force One role this week in taking President Donald Trump on a trip to North Dakota, is explicitly set to be part of the larger aerial review.

The VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft. USAF

The main components of AFSOC’s fleets today are AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, MC-130J Commando II special operations tanker transports, CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, and new OA-1K Skyraider II light attack planes. We may well see examples of all of the Air Force’s current tactical jet fleets – F-22 Raptors , F-35A Joint Strike Fighters , F-15E Strike Eagles , F-15EX Eagle IIs , F-16C/D Vipers , and A-10 Warthogs – in the “fighter” wave.

An “Executive Rotary Wing Airlift” flyover will come in between the Air Force and Marine Corps waves. The Marines are the most prominent operators of aircraft in this category, being responsible for the VH-92 , VH-60 , and VH-3 presidential helicopters , also commonly known as Marine Ones, as well as a fleet of MV-22 Ospreys used for executive airlift missions. The Army’s aforementioned “gold top” Black Hawks, as well as the Air Force’s UH-1N Twin Hueys based at Andrews Air Force Base, are in this “executive” category, as well.

A pair of VH-92As, the newest Marine One helicopter, fly in formation. Blend Qatipi

The waves of other Marine and then Navy rotary wing and fixed-wing aircraft will follow. As with the Air Force waves, it seems likely that we will see a broad swath of types that these services currently fly. On the fixed wing side, this could include F-35B and C Joint Strike Fighters , F/A-18E/F Super Hornets , EA-18G Growlers , F/A-18C/D Legacy Hornets , and KC-130J Hercules tanker-transports. On the rotary-wing front, there are MV-22 and CMV-22 Osprey tiltrotors , as well as its AH-1Z Viper , UH-1Y Venom , CH-53E Super Stallion , CH-53K King Stallion , and MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters.

It should be noted here that there are heavy restrictions on how and when uncrewed aircraft, even ones belonging to the U.S. military, can fly within the U.S. national airspace. This makes it very unlikely that drones from any of the services will be part of the aerial procession.

Flights by the Navy’s Blue Angels and its separate Super Hornet demonstration team, as well as the Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey demonstration team , are next in the program. The Blue Angels have various signature maneuvers , some of which they might be able to incorporate into their flyover.

Per the Freedom 250 website, the Navy and Marine Corps demonstration teams will be followed by another review of Air Force fighters, then the Tri-Bomber formation mentioned before. The Navy’s F-35C demonstration team will go next, and then the Air Force’s Thunderbirds .

Like the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds have several signature maneuvers , and a “Delta Break” (more commonly referred to as a “Delta Burst”) is explicitly on the schedule. This entails the Thunderbirds’ F-16s flying in a delta formation before breaking outward, giving the appearance of a starburst in the sky. Smoke trails from the jets during the maneuver, adding to the effect, as seen in the video below.

An “Air Force One Flyover” is sandwiched between the Thunderbirds’ initial flyby and the Delta Burst per the schedule on the Freedom 250 website. Whether this will feature anything besides the new VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft remains to be seen. That plane is set to lead a “HUGE 1” flyover, the composition of which is unclear.

A “U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover,” which would include the B-2, F-22, and F-35, comes next in the program. The F-22 Raptor demonstration team has its own specific slot in the schedule, capped off with a flyby in afterburner. The sun will still be setting at 7:53 PM ET when it is set to occur, but the visual should still be impressive. There will also be a B-1 bomber flyover with the afterburners at 8:07 PM ET.

The entire aerial review program ends with another “HUGE 1” flyover, a “Twilight Jump” by the Golden Knights, and then finally a “Night Pass” by the B-1 in afterburner at 10:36 PM ET, by which time the sun will have fully set for the day. A B-1 made a similar flight over Washington, D.C., as part of the UFC America 250 event at the White House back on June 14.

The roar of a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, over Washington, D.C., tonight.

As America approaches its #Freedom250 anniversary, military flyovers remain a powerful tradition—honoring the past, celebrating the present and inspiring… pic.twitter.com/dyBPAA5A7y

— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) June 15, 2026

There has been and continues to be much speculation about potential surprise appearances during the hours-long procession of U.S. military aircraft. The Air Force insists that the new B-21 Raider will not make an appearance . We also asked about whether a drone commonly and unofficially known as the “RQ-180,” or any of the demonstrators used in the Next Generation Air Domain (NGAD) program that birthed the F-47 sixth-generation fighter , might take part. We were flatly told no in response.

A pre-production B-21 Raider seen during aerial refueling testing. USAF

There is also set to be at least some degree of participation by foreign air forces, none of which is explicitly mentioned in the schedule on the Freedom 250 website.

“The national aerobatic display team of the United Arab Emirates, ‘Al Fursan,’ has arrived in the United States of America to take part in the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America,” the UAE’s Ministry of Defense notably wrote in an official post on X this morning, per a machine translation of the original Arabic. “The team will join the official air show on July 4th, flying side by side with the Blue Angels team and squadrons of the U.S. Air Force, in an extraordinary scene that embodies the depth of bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, while reflecting the shared values and enduring partnership that unite the two nations.”

This is especially notable given that the Al Fursan team currently flies Chinese Hongdu L-15 jet trainers, as seen in the video below. This looks to be the debut appearance of any Chinese-made military aircraft in the United States.

وصول فريق الاستعراضات الجوية “فرسان الإمارات” إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية للمشاركة في احتفالات ذكرى الاستقلال الـ250

وصول فريق الاستعراضات الجوية الوطني لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة “فرسان الإمارات” إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، للمشاركة في احتفالات الذكرى الـ250… pic.twitter.com/x0o3YQcdVH

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) July 3, 2026

The French Patrouille de France aerobatic team, which flies Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets , has already flown over Washington, D.C., and New York City in the past two weeks as part of larger celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The French have dubbed this the “Liberté 250” tour , which they say also celebrates their historic relationship with the United States since its founding.

Arlington. Mount Vernon. Washington.

Aujourd’hui, la mission #Liberté250 a rendu hommage à quelques-uns des lieux les plus emblématiques de la mémoire américaine.

Un parcours symbolique pour célébrer près de 250 ans d’amitié entre la France et les États-Unis. pic.twitter.com/TKsVI7waqE

— Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (@Armee_de_lair) June 22, 2026

Le jour se lève en France.

Et à New York, le crépuscule s’embrase de bleu, de blanc et de rouge.

250 ans d’histoire commune #Liberté250 @America250 @PAFofficiel @Armees_Gouv pic.twitter.com/rJtEKSgBbV

— Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (@Armee_de_lair) July 2, 2026

As mentioned, tomorrow’s flyovers look set to be completely unlike anything seen in years. It will be a far larger gathering of aircraft than what was present at the parade marking the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army last year. It will dwarf even what was put together to mark the Centennial of Naval Aviation in 2011.

Just from what’s on the public schedule, Washington, D.C., is set to see an unprecedented aerial extravaganza to mark this year’s Fourth of July.

Special thanks to Tom Riley for sharing his picture of the NASA F/A-18B and F-15D in Spokane with us.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

The post This Is The Massive Aerial Armada That Is About To Fly Over The Capital appeared first on TWZ .

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Before Black Myth: Wukong or Phantom Blade: Zero , there was The Scroll of Taiwu , a Chinese indie game that attracted millions of players since it debuted in early access on Steam in 2018. Now, eight years later, it has hit 1.0, marking the end of a long journey that started before Chinese-developed games became all the rage .

The Scroll of Taiwu isn't an action game, and there's nothing soulslike about it other than the trials you have to survive in its opening hours—especially if you're not already invested in Chinese mythology. The game's own publishing advisor, Leye "Yager" Yu, admits that "the first two hours of gameplay is kind of boring," but says once people get hooked, they're in for life.

Looking at the Steam page for The Scroll of Taiwu doesn't quite do the game justice. Yager describes it as a mix of Crusader Kings 2, Kenshi, and Baldur's Gate. You travel around an open world learning martial arts, meeting people, managing towns, and resolving conflicts that will affect the future. The simulation goes so deep that there is an entire community of players who share strategies and advice with each other in the Discord server.

Going big

(Image credit: ConchShip Games) Despite finding success with Chinese players, The Scroll of Taiwu's lack of English localization made it tough for Western players to understand. Yager says the game has over 5 million words in its script, which made it almost impossible for devoted fans to translate in full. Its recent full release finally added English localization, and while it's still a work-in-progress, Yager hopes it'll open the door for more players to discover what's appealing about its mix of Wuxia and Chinese mythology.

Part of the reason this was so important for the team at ConchShip Games to finally add was the rising interest Western players have for Chinese-developed games. Black Myth: Wukong's explosive success and the recent flood of Chinese games on Steam is the kind of momentum The Scroll of Taiwu was able to draw upon, Yager says.

While the game hasn't taken over the Steam charts, it's joining a wave from China in showcasing the rich history and culture many of its developers imbue their work with, something Western players haven't had access to in the same way they have for, say, Japanese games. Yager knows it's going to be difficult to sell a game like The Scroll of Taiwu to people outside of China, but hopes to use its striking art and characters to reel people in.

Something special

(Image credit: ConchShip Games) Despite initially refusing to help publish the game due to how hard it was to pitch the overwhelming number of systems, Yager says he's personally spent over 1,200 hours with the game. He believes in it—no matter how much he says he had to hold the development team back from delaying the release by adding more stuff. Yager says creator Zheng Jie is a "stubborn guy," but "only a stubborn guy like him can make a game that unique, that contains that many mechanics, that much text, gameplay, and joy for players."

Going forward, Yager wants to spread awareness about The Scroll of Taiwu through streamers and word-of-mouth. He knows it'll take a while for English-speaking players to notice it, but is confident that it'll happen with time. To prepare for that, the developers are busy fixing bugs and improving the English localization even now that it's hit 1.0.

Yager, a huge fan of Wuxia, says if he could make his own game, it would probably be like The Scroll of Taiwu. He joined the community around the game eight years ago and is proud to be able to be there now helping the developers of a game he loves. "This game didn't just inspire the indie game developers in China," he says, "the game gives them the idea that if you do something really deep, if you do something really concentrated with indie games, you can have success."

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Yet another record-size cruise ship is about to debut — this time in Europe.

Dubbed Legend of the Seas, the 20-deck-high Royal Caribbean vessel will sail from Civitavecchia, Italy, on Saturday on a maiden voyage that will take it to Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and La Spezia, Italy before a return trip to Civitavecchia.

Built at the giant Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, Legend of the Seas is the latest ship in Royal Caribbean's much-ballyhooed Icon Class series , which is setting new records for ship sizes.

Two earlier vessels in the two-year-old series — Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas — each are about 6% bigger than the previous size leader among cruise ships, Royal Caribbean's four-year-old Wonder of the Seas .

Like both of its sisters, Legend of the Seas measures about 248,660 gross tons. But it's a foot longer than the two earlier Icon Class vessels, making it the new world's largest cruise ship — if only by a tad.

Room for nearly 10,000 people

Like its sisters, Legend of the Seas is able to hold up to 7,600 passengers with every berth full — a record-breaking number that tops any other vessels afloat by a significant amount.

Add in 2,350 crew members, and Legend of the Seas, like its sisters, can sail at times with nearly 10,000 people on board — also a record for a cruise vessel.

Legend of the Seas is loaded with top deck amusements. ROYAL CARIBBEAN As is typical for the world's largest cruise ships, both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas debuted in Florida, the cruise capital of the world. But Legend of the Seas will sail in the Mediterranean through late October, when it will reposition across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades .

Related: The 7 types of Royal Caribbean ships, explained

That makes it by far the largest cruise vessel ever to debut in Europe.

Legend of the Seas' Mediterranean sailings, mostly seven nights in length, will begin in Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Barcelona.

After repositioning to Florida, it'll operate alternating six- and eight-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean with calls at some ports such as Falmouth, Jamaica and Willemstad, Curacao that haven't traditionally seen Icon Class ships .

All Legend of the Seas voyages will also feature calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay , Royal Caribbean's hugely popular private island in the Bahamas.

Designed for families

Like the two other vessels in the Icon Class series, Legend of the Seas has been designed with families in mind.

The Icon Class series of ships boasts more cabins offering extra bunks to accommodate families with children than earlier Royal Caribbean vessels. They also have more amenities geared to families, including new-for-the-line outdoor "neighborhoods" called Surfside that are dedicated to families with young children.

A merry-go-round for young kids at the Surfside area. ROYAL CARIBBEAN The Surfside areas, notably, feature splash areas for babies and kids, pools and lounge spaces for parents, family-friendly eateries and shops.

The Icon Class ships also feature seven pools and the largest water parks ever built on a cruise ship, with a record six waterslides each. No other vessels come close to such extensive water attractions on a cruise ship.

Related: Royal Caribbean ships ranked from newest to oldest

Among new features on Legend of the Seas are a Hollywood-themed Supper Club and new food venues at the top-of-the-ship AquaDome Market.

New entertainment offerings include a version of Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which played on Broadway and London's West End.

Initial fares for seven-night sailings on Legend of the Seas in the Mediterranean start at $1,480 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares for sailings out of Florida start at $1,582 per person, based on double occupancy.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.