It is the top of the 12 months, which suggests it is time to look again on all of the issues that Microsoft makes that it now (or intends to quickly) not make. Yearly, Microsoft deprecates or kills quite a few apps, providers, manufacturers, and gadgets, and 2024 was no totally different.
While this year wasn’t as savage as 2023, there have been nonetheless an entire bunch of issues that Microsoft determined to finish assist for this 12 months. The whole lot from the Surface Duo 2 and HoloLens 2 to Microsoft Begin and Windows 11‘s Prompt Actions. This is the rundown of all of the Microsoft merchandise that will not see the sunshine of day in 2025.
Floor Duo 2
This 12 months, Microsoft ended support for the Surface Duo 2, its second dual-screen Android smartphone. The machine launched in 2021, however your complete product line was scrapped in 2023 after Microsoft made cuts to the Floor portfolio. Which means Floor Duo 2 will seemingly be the final, and with Microsoft now ending assist, the corporate is again to having zero smartphone presence out there.
Floor Studio 2+
Microsoft not too long ago introduced that it had ended production on the Surface Studio 2+, the corporate’s premiere all-in-one desktop PC. Initially introduced in 2016, the Floor Studio line was by no means up to date often, and when it was it nearly at all times with last-gen specs. With no successor imminent, and no extra Floor Studio 2+ inventory out there worldwide, it is the top of Floor Studio, at the very least for now.
Home windows Combined Actuality
Microsoft introduced final 12 months that it could be deprecating Windows Mixed Reality in 2024, and with the Home windows 11 model 24H2 replace, that lastly occurred. With the newest model of Home windows 11, hundreds of Combined Actuality headsets at the moment are rendered ineffective. The Home windows Combined Actuality portal, in addition to Home windows Combined Actuality for SteamVR has been faraway from Home windows 11.
HoloLens 2
Microsoft’s devoted Combined Actuality headset, the HoloLens 2, has additionally reached the top of the road this 12 months. The company announced in October that it had ended manufacturing on HoloLens 2, and with no successor seemingly imminent, meaning Microsoft’s line of AR headsets is now useless. Microsoft will assist HoloLens 2 with safety and bug repair updates till 2028, however past that, it appears Microsoft is ready to not be a part of the Combined Actuality market.
Paint 3D
Paint 3D was as soon as poised to switch the traditional Home windows Paint app, however in a bizarre flip of the occasions the opposite has ended up happening. Microsoft has refocused its efforts on traditional Paint, giving it a recent new interface and fashionable options, together with AI capabilities. Paint 3D alternatively has been deserted by Microsoft, and is not out there to obtain.
Prompt Actions
A late entry for 2024, however Microsoft has announced that its helpful Prompt Actions function in Home windows 11 is being deprecated and will probably be eliminated quickly. Prompt Actions is the little context menu that seems everytime you copy a date or telephone quantity, which supplies fast actions for creating an occasion or making a name. It was helpful, but it surely’ll be gone quickly.
Mail & Calendar
Home windows 10 and Home windows 11’s built-in Mail & Calendar apps had been lastly put to relaxation in 2024. Microsoft has been switching customers to the brand new Outlook for Home windows app all year long, and has stated that Mail & Calendar will no longer be available for use as of the end of the year. Beginning January 1, the Mail & Calendar apps will not be capable to ship or obtain emails, forcing customers to change to the brand new Outlook.
Microsoft Begin
Microsoft introduced this 12 months that it was retiring the Microsoft Start branding and as an alternative returning to the extra acquainted and traditional MSN model for its on-line information congregation service. The Microsoft Begin web site, in addition to Begin content material displayed in Microsoft Edge, Home windows 11 Widgets, and the Begin apps on iOS and Android, have been rebranded again to MSN.
Different eliminated and deprecated options
Microsoft killed much more apps, providers, APIs, and extra in 2024. This is the remainder:
- Test Base for Microsoft 365, an Azure cloud service for utility testing, is deprecated.
- Assist for certificates utilizing RSA keys with key lengths shorter than 2048 bits will probably be deprecated.
- All variations of NTLM, together with LANMAN, NTLMv1, and NTLMv2, are not below lively function growth and are deprecated.
- DirectAccess is deprecated and will probably be eliminated in a future launch of Home windows.
- Adobe PostScript Type1 fonts are deprecated and assist will probably be eliminated in a future launch of Home windows.
- Legacy DRM providers, utilized by both Home windows Media Participant, Silverlight shoppers, Home windows 7, or Home windows 8 shoppers are deprecated.
Microsoft slashed a number of {hardware} this 12 months, together with its total Home windows Combined Actuality platform and AR machine. As Apple and Google focus its consideration on the way forward for AR and VR, it is very unusual to see Microsoft backing away, particularly contemplating it was one of many first to this market.
