Spotify, Apple and Microsoft all pushed meaningful updates this week that matter to Windows power users: Spotify has finally switched on lossless audio for Premium subscribers across more than 50 markets (including New Zealand) at no extra cost, Apple unveiled the ultra‑thin iPhone Air that doubles down on an eSIM‑only future, and Microsoft folded its role‑based Sales, Service and Finance agents into the core Microsoft 365 Copilot offering — a shift that brings ERP integrations and agentic automation into the flow of work for many organizations. These moves are connected by one theme: better experiences delivered by software and services that still require careful hardware, network and governance planning to actually realise their promise. (newsroom.spotify.com) (macrumors.com) (microsoft.com)
Two important technical clarifications drawn from Spotify’s own publishing guidance:
For enthusiasts and IT pros on Windows, the immediate chores are practical and concrete: update apps, test audio paths, verify carrier eSIM readiness where it matters, and architect Copilot agent pilots with controls rather than hope. The future those companies are steering toward — higher fidelity, fewer mechanical SIMs, and more agentic automation — is attractive, but it will reward planning and skepticism as much as enthusiasm. (newsroom.spotify.com)
Source: Newstalk ZB Tech: Spotify bumps up the quality with lossless listening for premium users
Background / Overview
Where these stories intersect with Windows users
Windows remains central in workplace and home audio workflows: the desktop remains the primary hub for high‑quality audio playback, codec management, and professional workflows. Spotify’s long‑promised lossless tier changes the expectations for streaming audio quality on PCs and laptops. Apple’s new iPhone Air continues to shape mobile‑to‑PC continuity (and the logistics of SIMs), and Microsoft’s decision to pull specialist Copilot agents into its main Copilot product lowers the barrier for businesses to attach live ERP and CRM data to assistant workflows — including through Excel and Outlook on Windows. Collectively, these announcements change device requirements, network planning, and IT governance in subtle but practical ways. (newsroom.spotify.com) (macrumors.com) (learn.microsoft.com)Quick snapshot of the headlines
- Spotify Lossless: Rolling out to Premium subscribers across 50+ markets; playback up to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz FLAC; no additional subscription required; manual enablement per device; Bluetooth is not an effective delivery path for full lossless. (newsroom.spotify.com)
- iPhone Air: Apple’s thinnest iPhone (about 5.6 mm in official materials), eSIM‑only on the device, camera plateau retains thickness for optics; China release timing dependent on carrier/regulator eSIM readiness. (macrumors.com)
- Microsoft Copilot Agents: Sales, Service and Finance agents are being folded into the Microsoft 365 Copilot platform and will be broadly available to Copilot customers, with built‑in connectors for ERP/CRM systems like Dynamics 365 and SAP; Copilot Studio and agent management tooling are central to deployment and governance. (microsoft.com)
Spotify Lossless: what it is and what it isn’t
The technical basics
Spotify launched a platform‑level “Lossless” setting that streams audio in up to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec). The company frames the feature as unlocking “greater detail across nearly every song available on Spotify,” while making it optional and configurable per device for Wi‑Fi, cellular and downloads. The official rollout is staged through October with an initial set of markets already active. (newsroom.spotify.com)Two important technical clarifications drawn from Spotify’s own publishing guidance:
- Spotify’s preferred delivery format for masters is FLAC, and tracks delivered with higher sample rates/bit depths may be normalized or downsampled for playback to a practical maximum of 24‑bit/44.1 kHz. That means some “hi‑res” masters will be downsampled to 44.1 kHz / 24‑bit for playback. (support.spotify.com)
- Bluetooth is explicitly called out as inadequate for full lossless payloads; Spotify recommends wired connections or Spotify Connect to capable devices for the best results. (newsroom.spotify.com)
How to enable it (short, platform‑agnostic steps)
- Open Spotify and tap your profile icon (desktop: click profile/menu).
- Settings & Privacy → Media Quality.
- Choose Lossless for Wi‑Fi, Cellular and/or Downloads.
- Repeat on every device — the toggle is per‑device and does not sync across devices automatically. (newsroom.spotify.com)
What users should expect in practice
- Higher bandwidth and larger files. Lossless streams will use significantly more data than “Very High” compressed streams; buffering and caching behaviours will change and downloads will take longer and consume storage. Plan for network and disk impacts, especially on constrained machines or metered connections. (gadgets360.com)
- Hardware matters. To hear real improvements you need playback hardware and an audio path that preserves bit‑perfect output: a capable DAC (internal or USB), wired headphones or line‑out, and on Windows the right audio driver stack (WASAPI Exclusive or ASIO) to avoid system resampling. Bluetooth headphones will usually be limited by codec bandwidth. (newsroom.spotify.com)
- Catalog and expectations. Spotify’s marketing language (“nearly every song”) is a company claim; the practical coverage will depend on label deliveries and licensing. Expect gaps, remasters that differ in quality, and incremental catalog updates. Treat “lossless available” as a moving target until you verify the specific albums/tracks you care about. (newsroom.spotify.com)
Spotify on Windows: practical tips for genuine lossless playback
Windows users should be aware that the operating system’s audio stack can interfere with bit‑perfect playback if incorrectly configured. Follow these steps to maximize the chance you’re hearing true lossless audio from Spotify:- Update to the latest Spotify desktop app and confirm Lossless is enabled in Settings → Media Quality. (newsroom.spotify.com)
- If you use an external USB DAC, install and use its dedicated drivers or ASIO/WASAPI drivers to avoid system re‑resampling. Configure the device’s preferred sample rate to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz where available.
- Use WASAPI Exclusive or ASIO playback modes in any intermediate audio software (media players, DAWs) when testing; verify output via your DAC’s control panel or measurement tools.
- Avoid Bluetooth for the Lossless feed; instead use Spotify Connect to compatible network speakers or wired headphones. Spotify’s rollout covers many Connect‑enabled devices from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and others, with Sonos and some Amazon devices following. (newsroom.spotify.com)
iPhone Air and eSIM: thin design, thicker questions
The design tradeoff
Apple’s new iPhone Air (announced at Apple’s fall event) achieves record thinness (about 5.6 mm in official briefings) by eliminating the physical SIM tray and adopting an eSIM‑only design. To get that thickness without sacrificing camera performance Apple uses a rear “plateau” to house optics and sensors — in plain terms: the phone’s body is the thinnest ever, but the camera area remains chunky to accommodate the lens and sensor stack. This matches the “body is thin but camera bump remains” observation heard in coverage. (macrumors.com)eSIM as the new default
Apple’s eSIM‑only choice is deliberate: freeing internal volume for thinner frames allows Apple to design lighter hardware while pushing carriers and regulators toward digital provisioning. For consumers this brings real conveniences — faster carrier switching, easier trial of local data plans while travelling, and fully digital provisioning — but it also introduces caveats:- Carrier support matters. Not every carrier or market fully supports eSIM provisioning yet. Apple’s own China launch notes show the iPhone Air release depends on carriers and regulators enabling eSIM there, prompting a temporary delay in China until approvals are obtained. (reuters.com)
- International travel and device transfer. While eSIM makes it easier to activate a local plan, some carriers limit swapping or impose process friction; moving an eSIM profile between devices is not as trivial as moving a physical SIM unless the carrier and device ecosystems are well‑aligned. (gizmochina.com)
Practical Windows‑centric implications
- Windows users who rely on Phone Link or tethering to a Windows PC should note that eSIM changes nothing functionally — tethering still works — but IT teams should update onboarding documentation and device inventory practices to track eSIM‑only devices.
- For developers and testers who validate mobile‑to‑PC workflows, confirm carrier provisioning states in each region you support; eSIM limitations in a given market can affect automated QA and field support. (macrumors.com)
Microsoft Copilot: specialist agents become standard — why that matters
The product change
Microsoft announced that role‑based Copilots for Sales, Service and Finance are being integrated into the broader Microsoft 365 Copilot offering (via the Copilot Agent Store and related tooling). Historically these role‑based agents were positioned as add‑ons; folding them into the general Copilot product significantly lowers subscription friction for businesses and makes enterprise‑grade agent capabilities more widely available. The finance agent in particular can connect to ERP systems — including Dynamics 365 and third‑party ERP platforms like SAP — and bring that data into Copilot, Excel and Outlook to help finance teams draft emails, reconcile accounts, and generate insights. (microsoft.com)What the agents can do (examples)
- Draft client communications that include live invoice and payment status pulled from ERP.
- Run reconciliation checks and produce Excel reports, then surface findings into Outlook or Teams.
- Automate routine sales followups by querying CRM opportunities and preparing action plans. (learn.microsoft.com)
Enterprise considerations — governance, security and integration
Adding ERP connectivity to an assistant that can write emails and take actions raises immediate governance questions:- Data access and least‑privilege: Agents must be scoped with minimum credentials; broad ERP service accounts give agents more power than necessary. Use scoped connectors and short‑lived tokens where possible. (learn.microsoft.com)
- Audit and change control: Agent activities must be logged, auditable and reversible to meet finance and compliance requirements. Ensure agent actions are tracked and approvals are modeled for any write operations. (learn.microsoft.com)
- Model and data provenance: Confirm which models are executing the reasoning and how third‑party models are used; this matters when sensitive financial data is involved. Microsoft has described Anthropic model integrations and model‑mixing strategies in enterprise builds — verify exactly which models your tenant will use. (theverge.com)
Recommended rollout checklist for IT leaders
- Start with a limited pilot (finance or a single sales team) and map processes you’ll let agents access.
- Implement connectors via secure gateway patterns and require role‑based access controls.
- Require agent actions that touch ERP to have a human approval step until confidence is built.
- Update incident response and data loss prevention (DLP) rules to include agent activity.
- Train staff on new agent behaviours, where to find agent‑generated artifacts, and how to revoke or pause agent permissions. (microsoft.com)
Critical analysis: strengths, shortcomings and risks
Notable strengths
- Spotify catching up on core feature parity. Offering lossless at no additional price is consumer‑friendly and reduces friction for users comparing streaming services; it’s also strategically smart to avoid fragmenting premium tiers. (livemint.com)
- Apple forcing eSIM adoption accelerates a more flexible carrier model. Consumers will eventually benefit from simpler carrier switching and digital provisioning; device designers can reclaim internal space for other features. (gizmochina.com)
- Microsoft democratizing agent capabilities. Bundling Sales, Service and Finance agents into Copilot lowers adoption barriers and encourages organizations to modernize workflows with agentic automation. (microsoft.com)
Risks and shortcomings
- Practical audio fidelity vs. perceived gains. Many listeners will not hear a dramatic difference unless the playback chain is high‑quality (DAC, wired headphones, proper driver chain). High‑res expectations must be tempered — Spotify limits playback to 24‑bit/44.1 kHz in practice for many masters. That’s CD‑plus fidelity rather than universally “studio‑grade” hi‑res. (support.spotify.com)
- eSIM rollout friction remains real. Regulatory and carrier readiness — the China delay is a clear example — can complicate launch plans and cause real resale/repair logistics headaches in certain markets. (reuters.com)
- Agentic automation introduces governance and audit risk. Enabling agents with ERP access without guardrails risks unauthorized data exposure, accidental transactions or workflow breaks. IT teams must balance empowerment with controls. (learn.microsoft.com)
Unverifiable or evolving claims (flagged)
- Spotify’s statements about catalog coverage (“nearly every song”) are marketing phrasing; exact coverage percentages or the count of lossless‑available tracks were not independently verifiable at publication and will vary over time as labels deliver masters. Treat such claims as company statements rather than immutable facts. (newsroom.spotify.com)
Actionable takeaway for WindowsForum readers
- If you want to hear Spotify Lossless on Windows today:
- Update the Spotify desktop client and enable Lossless in Media Quality. (newsroom.spotify.com)
- Use a USB DAC and configure Windows audio to avoid system resampling (WASAPI Exclusive / ASIO).
- Use Spotify Connect or wired outputs; avoid Bluetooth if you want lossless fidelity. (newsroom.spotify.com)
- If you are planning device rollouts or purchasing mobility gear:
- Account for eSIM‑only devices in provisioning docs, and check carrier eSIM support in your target markets before bulk purchases. (reuters.com)
- If you’re responsible for IT governance of Copilot agents:
- Pilot agents in non‑production environments with limited connectors.
- Enforce least privilege and require approvals for write operations.
- Log agent activity centrally and extend DLP policies to agent connectors.
- Train finance and sales teams on agent limitations and error handling. (microsoft.com)
Conclusion
This week’s trio of announcements is instructive: feature parity, design tradeoffs, and platform convergence are all accelerating. Spotify’s lossless rollout fixes a long‑standing consumer expectation — but the real payoff requires appropriate hardware, networks and patience during staged rollouts. Apple’s iPhone Air crystallises how far designers will go to make devices thinner — at the price of an eSIM‑only world that still needs carrier and regulatory alignment. Microsoft’s decision to include role‑based agents as part of the core Copilot offering is a watershed for enterprise automation, but it demands careful governance and integration work to avoid data and compliance missteps.For enthusiasts and IT pros on Windows, the immediate chores are practical and concrete: update apps, test audio paths, verify carrier eSIM readiness where it matters, and architect Copilot agent pilots with controls rather than hope. The future those companies are steering toward — higher fidelity, fewer mechanical SIMs, and more agentic automation — is attractive, but it will reward planning and skepticism as much as enthusiasm. (newsroom.spotify.com)
Source: Newstalk ZB Tech: Spotify bumps up the quality with lossless listening for premium users