legacy features Archives

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

Android Instant Apps Heads to the Google Graveyard This December

Google has announced the discontinuation of Android Instant Apps, which will cease to function by December 2025, although it will remain available on the Google Play Store until then. Launched in 2017, Android Instant Apps allowed users to sample applications without full downloads, but its success depended on developer participation, which has dwindled. Notable brands like Wish and Vimeo integrated Instant Apps, but overall interest did not meet Google's expectations. This move aligns with Google's trend of phasing out legacy features, including the recent sunsetting of Google Assistant in favor of generative AI and the Google Gemini platform.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft silently erases a key feature from Windows 7 as Windows 11 changes things up

Device Stage, a feature introduced with Windows 7 to streamline hardware compatibility and enhance user experience, has been deprecated as Windows 11 advances. Microsoft has removed all mentions of Device Stage from its support pages, indicating a shift away from legacy features. Originally announced in 2009, Device Stage provided a visual interface for device interactions and supported connections via USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, often eliminating the need for manual software installation. The updated support page now focuses on Windows 10 and 11 functionalities, marking the end of Device Stage's relevance.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Google Meet will finally sunset legacy Duo features in September

Google Meet will fully replace legacy Duo calling features by September 2025. Users should update the Meet app and save their Duo call history and messages before this date. Some legacy features will be removed, but Google Meet will offer upgraded functionalities such as live captions, in-call chat, stackable effects, cloud encryption, and screen sharing. Users must keep their Meet app updated to ensure a smooth transition; if not all participants are updated, calls will revert to the legacy experience. Users are also encouraged to export their call history and video messages from the Duo app.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft is ruining Windows customization

Customizing a Windows PC has become increasingly complex and frustrating due to several factors. Microsoft has introduced more locked-down UI elements with Windows 10 and 11, which complicates the customization process. Frequent and substantial updates alter UI elements and introduce new features, creating challenges for developers of customization tools to maintain compatibility. Microsoft has also removed certain legacy features that facilitated customization, limiting the capabilities of these applications. Additionally, some customization apps are labeled as malware, discouraging users from installing them and hindering the customization ecosystem. As a result, many users feel that the joy of customizing their Windows experience has diminished, as streamlined interfaces lack the flair and personality of earlier versions.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

Microsoft accelerates Control Panel’s inevitable demise as even more settings migrate

Microsoft is transitioning features from the Control Panel to the Settings app in Windows 11, with recent updates including the migration of certain language options to the Settings panel. This update is currently available only to users on the Dev or Beta builds, and they must manually enable it. The rollout is still being fine-tuned before a broader release. Many users find the revamped Settings app to be more modern and efficient compared to the Control Panel.

Winsage

May 11, 2025

moricons.dll, A Remnant Of Windows 3.1 Lives On To This Day

Microsoft often conceals legacy features during software upgrades, exemplified by the Disk Cleanup utility, which may not appear in drive properties but can still be found through search. The moricons.dll file, a 12KB library of icons, was created to manage an increasing number of program icons beyond the capacity of progman.exe. This file has persisted through the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit systems, representing a piece of digital history.

Winsage

April 9, 2025

Microsoft is removing one of my favorite features from Windows 10

Microsoft is phasing out legacy features from Windows 10 and Windows 11, including the Control Panel. Recent updates have led to a loss of "seconds" precision in the Calendar Taskbar flyout for Windows 10 users. This change mirrors a similar feature removal in Windows 11, where users initially lacked the option to display seconds. Currently, Windows 10 users do not have a toggle to restore this feature, and the impending end of support for Windows 10 raises concerns about the prioritization of user feedback.