Microsoft makes it clear that with each fresh release of Windows 10 there will be new features added – and some features that will be dropped. Here is what you need to know about the features that Microsoft is dropping or stopping development for, and what the alternatives are, for the October 2018 release.
The Difference Between Being Dropped and Stopping Development
The Windows 10, version 1809 release is coming out in October, and with it will come some very interesting changes. As we have come to expect from Microsoft, some features will be dropped altogether, some will be dropped and replaced, and some will no longer be developed. Dropped features will not be available under the new Windows release, having been replaced with something better or simply removed because they are not used anymore. When a feature is no longer going to be developed, there is a strong probability that it will be dropped in later releases. For the time being, however, it means that the feature is not going to be further developed by the Microsoft team.
Business Scanning Dropped
Business Scanning, also known as Distributed Scan Management (or DSM), is a secure scanning management feature for organizations that have many different users. It is being dropped for the simple reason that there are no longer any devices that support it and thus it is no longer needed.
Disk Cleanup Tool Dropped
The Disk Cleanup Tool has essentially been replaced by Storage Sense in Windows 10 and is being deprecated in this release. Storage Sense will both monitor and automatically free up space on your hard drive.
Hologram App Dropped and Replaced
The Hologram App is being dropped but will be replaced with functionality within the Mixed Reality Viewer. For those that still need to create 3D word art, Microsoft recommends using Paint 3D and viewing the resulting work using Hololens with the Mixed Reality Viewer or in VR.
FontSmoothing Setting in unattend.xml Dropped
The purpose of the FontSmoothing setting was to allow selection of the antialiasing strategy to be used across the system. Windows 10 now uses ClearType by default, so this setting is no longer needed. If it appears in an unattend.xml file, it will simply be ignored. Dropping this particular feature should cause no foreseeable problems for users.
Limpet.exe Dropped and Replaced with Open Source
The limpet.exe is a tool used to access the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for Azure connectivity. Microsoft has decided to release limpet.exe as open source.
The Phone Companion App Dropped
One of the features that users can expect to see dropped is the Microsoft Phone Companion App. This useful app acted as a basic guide on how to get Microsoft services on your phone. This included things such as synching your media files and documents, installing apps, or using Cortana.
Microsoft has said that new replacement apps are in development, one for iPhones and one for Android phones. In the meantime, Microsoft recommends using the Phone page available under Settings to accomplish the same thing.
Updates Through the WEDU Server
Microsoft will no longer publish new updates to the Windows Embedded Developer Update (WEDU) server for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Embedded Standard 8. Updates should be downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Trusted Platform Module Management Console Moved
The information that used to be found in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management Console has been moved. The same information is still available, but now under the Windows Defender Security Center on the Device Security page.
Companion Device Dynamic Lock APIs Development Ends
In Windows 10, version 1709, Microsoft introduced Dynamic Lock as a part of the companion device framework (CDF) APIs. It would lock or unlock a PC based on whether Bluetooth could detect a user present. This particular CDF method was not adopted by third-party partners and therefore it is no longer going to be developed.
OneSync Service Development Ends
Another app whose development is coming to an end is the OneSync service Calendar, Mail, and People apps. Microsoft has now added a sync engine directly to the Outlook app that makes OneSync unnecessary.
Snipping Tool Development Ends
While the Snipping Tool isn’t being dropped from the new release, Microsoft has announced that it will no longer be actively developed. A new tool called Snip & Sketch (formerly known as Screen Sketch) is being introduced in this release. The functionality of the Snipping Tool will be consolidated with Snip & Sketch, which means even more functionality.
Conclusion
The new Microsoft Windows 10 Release that is coming out in October includes quite a few changes. Fortunately, most of the tools and apps that are being dropped are either no longer in use or have a solid replacement waiting in the wings. The same can be said for the services, tools, and APIs whose development has ended.
Anthony has been in the MSP business since before the acronym existed. Managed IT once started as break-fix solutions and some light phone support.
Since then, he has seen the industry flourish into a landscape of platforms, cloud servers, software tools and AI . Tailoring network configurations and software stacks to the specific needs of each business.
In his current role, he focuses on proactive planning, ensuring clients can avoid potential issues altogether. This involves meticulous planning for enhanced business continuity, allowing swift resolution of any unforeseen challenges. What initially began as addressing "fires" through break-fix solutions has evolved into a proactive approach, ensuring that such issues are prevented from arising in the first place.
