Cortana
The latest Cortana coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Microsoft's Strategic Pruning: WordPad, Cortana, and Windows Mixed Reality Get the Axe
Microsoft has officially confirmed the deprecation of WordPad, Cortana, and Windows Mixed Reality in Windows 11, marking a significant shift in the company's software strategy. These tools, once...
Microsoft's GLAS Thermostat: Cortana's Failed IoT Gamble and What It Revealed About Platform Strategy
Microsoft's GLAS thermostat represented one of the most ambitious attempts to embed Cortana into physical hardware, launching in 2018 as a collaboration with Johnson Controls. The device featured a...
Cortana's Final Farewell: Microsoft Completes Deprecation as Windows Fully Embraces Copilot AI
Microsoft has officially completed the deprecation of Cortana as a standalone Windows experience, marking the end of an era for the once-promising digital assistant that debuted with Windows 10 in...
Azure Stack TP3: Microsoft's Hybrid Cloud Vision Takes Shape with On-Premises Azure
Microsoft's third Technical Preview of Azure Stack (TP3) represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of hybrid cloud computing, delivering on the long-promised vision of bringing Azure's...
Cortana Xbox Live Integration 2015: Microsoft's Cross-Device Gaming Vision
When Microsoft quietly enabled Cortana's integration with Xbox Live accounts in October 2015, it represented far more than just another voice command feature—it marked a strategic shift toward...
Windows Feature Erosion: How Microsoft Is Removing Beloved Features
Microsoft's Windows operating system has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, with the company systematically removing or deprecating numerous features that once defined the...
Windows 24H2 Kills WordPad, Buries Cortana: Your Migration Roadmap
Microsoft quietly removed WordPad from Windows 11 version 24H2 this month, ending a 28-year run for the unassuming rich-text editor. The cut is the latest in a string of feature retirements that also...
End of an Era: Microsoft Retires Live Tiles, Maps, and 5 Other Windows Features—Here's What’s Next
The July 2025 deadline for Windows Maps is no longer a distant rumor. Microsoft confirmed the app will receive a final update that renders it nonfunctional and yanks it from the Microsoft Store. That...
Cortana's Farewell Mirrors Microsoft's Trail of Ahead-of-Their-Time Windows Innovations
Microsoft’s June 2023 confirmation that it will stop supporting Cortana in Windows as a standalone app later this year is more than a footnote in tech news cycles—it’s a familiar coda for a...
Uber’s Selfie Check Was Just the Start: Microsoft’s Decade-Long AI Journey from Cortana to Copilot
In September 2016, Uber began asking drivers to snap a selfie before they could accept fares. The feature—dubbed Real-Time ID Check—wasn’t just a safety tweak; it was a working proof of...
Windows 10 at 10 Years: Reflecting on a Decade of Innovation and Impact
Windows 10 stands as one of Microsoft's most successful and transformative operating systems, and its tenth anniversary provides an ideal moment to reflect on its journey, impact, and enduring...
Windows 10: A Decade of Evolution, Innovation, and Legacy Ahead of End-of-Life
Windows 10’s near decade-long journey stands as a testament to both the challenges and triumphs of operating system evolution. From its launch on July 29, 2015, it not only shaped the landscape of...