Microsoft's Dying Breath Of Change As Windows 10 Mobile Retirement Confirmed

A small wave of activity this week, Microsoft released an update for the Photos app on Windows 10 Mobile. It appeared on the 'fast ring' of beta updates and test versions for users of Windows 10 Mobile who want to live on the edge of the cut. It is not an important update, but it could be the last tangible change in Windows 10 Mobile.

"It does not involve any of the more interesting features of Windows 10 PCs, such as video editing, but it allows you to ink on top of photos, select filters, etc. The version brings it to 18011.13438.0 on the Fast Ring has also become rather slow for some, especially on devices that are not officially "supported" by Windows 10 Mobile. "

The reason the update struck the app was that it was completely updated. Apart from security updates and bug fixes to core functions that would be needed to maintain guaranteed levels of support for production partners, Microsoft called a halt to new versions of Windows 10 Mobile, with confirmation from Brandon Le Blanc, Senior Program Manager @ Microsoft on Windows Insider Program Team, reported by Zac Bowden:

Whatever plans have changed, it seems that Microsoft is no longer committed to releasing new Insider builds for Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft continues to maintain Windows 10 Mobile with monthly security updates, but beyond that, the platform will no longer receive any love. As such, this means that the Windows 10 Mobile Insider program has more or less come to an end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.

For those of you who stay up-to-date, this means that Windows 10 Mobile has come to a standstill with the Redstone 2 iteration using the Feature2 branch.

Applications for Windows 10 Mobile can be continually updated and those apps that use the UWP (Universal Windows Platform) standard are more than likely up-to-date for some time, but this will be a minor problem because the main software support now at minimum maintenance levels. Although there was hope for new Windows 10 Mobile hardware by the British manufacturer WileyFox in 2018, that company has transferred its European operations to the administration.

The software is slipping, there is a clear lack of hardware champions, and the huge dominance of Android in the mobile space means that the ambitions of Microsoft can best be served by pushing its cloud services to Android and iOS than Windows 10 Mobile live to keep on life support.