Microsoft ’s history is littered with the discontinuation of once - darling applications . Most recently , WordPad , the renowned textbook editor app , wasconspicuously absentfrom the latest beta anatomy of Windows 11 , indicating an final stage to its 28 - year - long journey . I have partial retentivity of using the app back in my college 24-hour interval when Microsoft Office was too pricey for me .
WordPad is far from the only app to get cancel by Microsoft over the year . From initiate productiveness tools to nostalgic multimedia players , let ’s reminisce about some of the most famed practical app that Microsoft has charge to the annals of technical school chronicle .
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer come forth as a prevalent connection web browser in the mid-1990s , gaining widespread popularity due to its integration with the Windows operating organisation . However , over time , it faced unfavorable judgment for security vulnerabilities and slow performance , leading to a declination in usage . Competitors like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome finally surpassed Internet Explorer in popularity , motivate Microsoft to transition to its own Edge web web browser .
In 2022 , Microsoft officially ended sustenance for Internet Explorer to support Edge , mark the ending of an era in web crop history . While remembered as a pioneering force in the early 24-hour interval of the cyberspace , Internet Explorer ’s legacy is now largely dwarf by more modernistic alternatives .
MSN Messenger
MSN Messenger , also known as Windows Live Messenger , was an crying electronic messaging software developed by Microsoft . plunge in 1999 , it quickly became one of the most popular messaging platforms globally , put up user the ability to chat with supporter and family in real - time , share file , and play games within the app program .
MSN Messenger take on a significant role in shaping online communication during the early 2000s , with its iconic characteristic such as custom emoticon , position messages , and chat way . However , with the rise of social media platforms and nomadic electronic messaging apps , such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp , MSN Messenger ’s exploiter base of operations began to refuse .
In 2013 , Microsoft officially stop MSN Messenger and encouraged user to migrate to Skype , another messaging weapons platform acquired by Microsoft . While MSN Messenger is no longer usable , it remains a nostalgic symbol of the early solar day of online messaging and societal interaction .
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker was a video recording redaction software introduced in the Windows Essentials software program cortege . Introduced in 2000 , it earmark users to well make and edit videos and quickly became a popular choice for amateur television editor in chief due to its simplicity and exploiter - friendly interface .
The software offered canonic redaction feature such as trim down and adding changeover , titles , and effects , make it suitable for creating elementary menage telecasting and slideshows . However , despite its far-flung purpose , Windows Movie Maker face criticism for its circumscribed capacity compared to professional video redaction software .
In 2017 , Microsoft formally discontinued support for Windows Movie Maker and take out it from the Windows Essentials retinue . While the software is no longer useable for download or instalment , it remains a nostalgic tool for many who fondly remember its persona in creating and divvy up personal videos during the early 2000s .
Cortana
Cortana , Microsoft ’s virtual supporter named after the AI character from Halo , was introduced in 2014 with Windows Phone 8.1 and later integrate into Windows 10 and other Microsoft production . Cortana was designed to help users with tasks like rig reminder , managing calendar , and searching the WWW by tender spokesperson - trigger off help and natural oral communication interactions . It also bring home the bacon personalized recommendations base on user orientation and behavior , along with desegregation with Microsoft ’s productiveness entourage .
Despite its initial promise , Cortana face stiff rivalry from establish practical assistants like Siri , Google Assistant , and Alexa . In reply , Microsoft shifted its focus aside from consumer - focused features , descale back third - political party Cortana skills and removing Cortana from the Windows taskbar in 2021 . Instead , the company redirected Cortana ’s capabilities towards consolidation with Microsoft 365 productivity apps , targeting business and endeavour environments . Cortana reached the final stage of its aliveness cycle in 2023 , make way for Microsoft ’s newest AI - based helper , Copilot .
Wunderlist
Developed by 6Wunderkinder , Wunderlist was a widely used task management app renowned for its drug user - friendly port and seamless fussy - platform compatibility . Launched in 2011 , it quickly get ahead popularity for its intuitive design , provide users to create and organize to - do lists effortlessly across various devices .
In 2015 , Microsoft acquired 6Wunderkinder , take to the eventual retirement of Wunderlist in party favor ofMicrosoft To Do . In May 2020 , Microsoft officially ceased exploitation on Wunderlist , marking the end of its journey while leaving a lasting impact on the productiveness app marketplace with its simple yet powerful feature .
Microsoft Reader
Microsoft Reader was an e - playscript reader covering rise by Microsoft . set up in August 2000 , it allow users to take vitamin E - books on their Windows - base devices , providing a digital alternative to traditional printed books . Microsoft Reader supported various vitamin E - book formats , including its own proprietary formatting , as well as the popular Open eBook ( OEB ) format .
The diligence featured customizable text sizes and fount , along with annotation capabilities , earn it a various puppet for reading and take . However , despite its other popularity , Microsoft Reader present stiff rival from other e - script lector software program and devices , such as Amazon ’s Kindle and Apple ’s iBooks . As a result , Microsoft announce the discontinuation of Microsoft Reader in August 2012 , summon a break in focus towards other production and religious service . While Microsoft Reader is no longer available , it played a function in the other phylogenesis of digital reading experiences and remains a part of the history of e - book technology .
DriveSpace
DriveSpace was a disk densification utility program developed by Microsoft for its MS - DOS and Windows operating organization . Introduced in the early 1990s as a heir to the DoubleSpace utility , DriveSpace allow exploiter to compact and decompress hard drive partitioning , effectively increase available store blank .
The service program use disk compression algorithms to compact files on the fly sheet , reduce the disk space necessitate to store data . This lineament was particularly utilitarian for exploiter with limited store capability on their concentrated drives .
However , DriveSpace faced literary criticism for its performance impact and casual data red ink issuing . With advancements in memory board technology and the insertion of turgid - capacity hard drives , the pauperization for phonograph recording condensation utility belittle over time . As a outcome , Microsoft discontinued DriveSpace in late versions of its operating system , opting to focus on other storage direction solutions .
