Saying goodbye to the tech dreams Microsoft abandoned with Windows 11 24H2

With the release of Windows 11 24H2, it is time to pay our respects to the features and functions removed from Microsoft's flagship operating system.

The most notable departure is that of WordPad, which was deprecated in 2023 and, according to Microsoft, "is removed from all editions of Windows starting in Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025."

Microsoft has also dropped support for some of its more hyped technology. Windows Mixed Reality is gone from Windows 11 24H2, as promised in the deprecated features list. Its disappearance coincides with Microsoft throwing in the towel on the augmented reality headset, HoloLens.

Users with a Mixed Reality headset are therefore advised to stick with Windows 11 23H2 for now, especially if they wish to use Valve's gaming service, Steam. At the time of deprecation, Microsoft said:

"After November 2026, Windows Mixed Reality will no longer receive security updates, nonsecurity updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates."

 

https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/03/whats_gone_from_windows_11/

Feel sorry for people who rushed out an bought a HoloLens. Updated HoloLens2 priced at $3500 and security updates for it ends in 2027.

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/its-over-microsoft-discontinues-hololens-2-ending-its-foray-into-vr

Feel sorry for people who rushed out an bought a HoloLens. 

 

Happen to know anybody who did that?  I must admit, I've never heard of it.  I've heard of Oculus headsets, but it's not something that's ever interested me in the slightest.

Wordpad ended up being a bit pointless IMO, once things like LibreOffice or online office apps like Google Docs were available.  What is MS's official replacement if any? I know they have a limited free version of Word online.

A little sad about loss of WordPad.  I liked "write.exe" which came before it, better.  Still, a couple alternatives I find to be nice are Jarte word processor, and TextMaker as part of SoftMaker Office.  I often want to avoid using MS Word because it is too much to use taking a while to open and which too much busy-busy.

 

Feel sorry for people who rushed out an bought a HoloLens. 

 

 

Happen to know anybody who did that?  I must admit, I've never heard of it.  I've heard of Oculus headsets, but it's not something that's ever interested me in the slightest.

 

Wordpad ended up being a bit pointless IMO, once things like LibreOffice or online office apps like Google Docs were available.  What is MS's official replacement if any? I know they have a limited free version of Word online.

 

Personally, no, but there were a couple of people who did in the comments section of the linked article. One person bought a HoloLens and another bought a HP Reverb G2 but I guess that's sill compatible with SteamVR.