2023 wasn’t just about Windows 11 embracing AI companions like Windows Copilot. It was also a year of saying goodbye to several longtime features, prompting both celebration and nostalgia among users.
While change can be difficult, examining each deprecated feature reveals Microsoft’s commitment to improving security, usability, and aligning Windows with modern computing.
Still, saying goodbye to some longtime features proves bittersweet for many users, myself included.
Cortana Bids Farewell
Arguably the biggest change is Microsoft retiring Cortana support by late 2023. Cortana first appeared alongside Windows Phone 8.1 in 2014 as a voice assistant competitor to Siri and Google Assistant.
Over time, Cortana failed to keep pace and fell out of favor once Microsoft discontinued the Windows Phone back in 2017.
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The recent announcement coincided strategically with the launch of Windows Copilot, Microsoft’s replacement assistant technology. When users attempt to access Cortana now, an error message indicates the app is fully deprecated.
Those still utilizing older versions may find Cortana no longer connects properly.
While Cortana enjoyed initial success and offered useful functionality, Microsoft shifting resources towards more viable projects like Windows Copilot makes strategic sense. Still, losing Cortana feels somewhat nostalgic, given its establishment as a core part of the Windows experience over the past decade.
WordPad is on Borrowed Time
Microsoft Word alternative WordPad is another longtime feature facing removal in the near future. Available since the Windows 95 launch in 1995, WordPad serves as a simplified word processor between sophisticated Word and barebones Notepad.
It became popular by supporting Word documents, providing rich text editing capabilities, and easy document creation and editing.
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With WordPad deprecation announced but not yet implemented, the reliable writing application still functions normally. But its days are likely numbered as Microsoft streamlines components it now deems redundant or unnecessary.
While full-featured Word enjoys tremendous popularity and updates, WordPad languished as an afterthought during recent Windows iterations.
Unfortunately for those relying on its handy functionality, WordPad appears to be another inevitable casualty in Microsoft’s ongoing quest to refine Windows. For now, it remains business as usual, but users should begin considering replacement options soon.
Mail & Calendar
Microsoft also aims to retire the Windows 10 Mail and Calendar apps starting in 2024. Initially released alongside Windows 8 in 2012, Mail and Calendar served as the default email, contacts, and scheduling clients for Windows.
However, waning attention towards improving Mail and Calendar prompted Microsoft to build a new Outlook client to modernize messaging and scheduling.
The forthcoming Outlook app features a streamlined interface and integration with Edge WebView2 to enhance performance. It also combines email, contacts, and calendars into one convenient hub.
Current Mail and Calendar users will begin seeing warnings that Outlook is slated to replace these applications completely by September 2024. Therefore, those still utilizing Mail and Calendar should prepare to migrate data and workflows to Outlook over the next year or risk disruptions.
While Outlook promises improvements, biding farewell to Mail and Calendar will prove disappointing for users preferring existing functionality. Nonetheless, the writing appears on the wall for these outdated clients.
More Windows Features Facing Elimination
Alongside Cortana, WordPad, Mail and Calendar; Microsoft announced over a dozen other features on the chopping block. These include:
- Windows Tips App: Provides guidance on utilizing new Windows features
- Windows Speech Recognition: Allowed voice dictation and navigation
- Steps Recorder: Recorded on-screen processes for assistance
- Timeline Syncing: Cross-device timeline synchronization
The list of deprecated features extends beyond these well-known names. Steps Recorder, Timeline for Microsoft Entra accounts, the legacy Console Mode, and TLS 1.0 and 1.1 all face retirement, each playing a unique role in the Windows ecosystem.
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Some, like the legacy Console Mode, catered to a niche audience of tech enthusiasts, while others, like the Timeline, offered a glimpse into a more connected future that ultimately didn’t take root.
What Does This Mean for Windows Users?
Mass feature deprecation leaves many Windows devotees understandably uneasy. Core components like Cortana and WordPad have defined key elements of the Windows experience for years. Microsoft risks frustrating loyal users if these disappear without viable alternatives.
However, placing unwavering trust in Microsoft’s vision seems the smartest long-term play. The company clearly understands modern computing’s evolving landscape and how Windows fits within it.
While jarring, banning outdated tools like VBScript and enabling enhanced defenses through disabled TLS 1.0/1.1 protocols keeps Windows current.
Admittedly, components like WordPad and classic Windows Speech Recognition offer unique utilities that are still beneficial for some. Losing them creates a loss, especially for those who find full Word and Outlook apps overkill and enjoy straightforward capabilities.
Perhaps Microsoft will preserve select features if feedback indicates sufficient ongoing demand. Or their functionality may get absorbed into future apps.
Nonetheless, most deprecated items pose larger risks around security and support if retained moving forward. Over time, the benefits of Microsoft’s spring cleaning should outweigh any short-term frustrations. Windows must shed dated elements to remain viable in today’s landscape.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft rocked the Windows ecosystem by issuing a sweeping set of deprecation notices in 2023. Saying goodbye to some familiar tools won’t come easy for all users. But placing trust in Microsoft’s vision seems like the wisest path forward.
Prioritizing security, performance, and evolving user needs motivates most of the coming changes. While potentially disruptive in the immediate future, Microsoft is future-proofing Windows by removing antiquated solutions ill-suited for modern demands.
Rather than cling to outdated features out of habit or comfort, embracing this shift positions Windows for ongoing prosperity. The OS continues to adapt to support how we work and use computers today.
Sometimes that means closing the door on the past to enable future innovation. Given Microsoft’s stewardship over Windows to date, they’ve earned user confidence that all changes serve to improve the long-term experience.
So, what are your thoughts? Are you excited about the evolution of Windows, or do you mourn the loss of some of your go-to features?
Share your memories and opinions in the comments below. After all, understanding user perspectives is crucial as Microsoft navigates the path to the next chapter of Windows.
