Windows 10 is on a countdown. This operating system will no longer receive support starting October 14th of this year, which leaves users with less than 10 months to either upgrade, get new PCs, stick with an unsupported version, or switch platforms altogether. Microsoft has been steadily releasing warnings, blog updates, and various prompts about this nearing end of support. Yet, curiously enough, they’ve also started testing a brand-new feature for Windows 10.
Yes, even as it approaches its twilight, Windows 10 is set to receive a new feature, provided the testing phase is successful. Recently, Microsoft introduced a new calendar feature within the taskbar for those in the Release Preview Channel. This addition now shows weather forecasts within the calendar taskbar flyout on Windows 10.
Interestingly, this feature makes the calendar flyout in Windows 10 even more functional than the one in Windows 11, highlighting the existence of third-party apps like Calendar Flyout. Soon enough, Windows 10’s feature will surpass its successor, as noted by X user phantomofearth.
Microsoft actually unveiled two new features to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, though one might be seen as more of a downgrade. The latest Insider build of Windows 10 includes the new Outlook. With Microsoft discontinuing the Mail & Calendar app, a substitute became necessary, resulting in the debut of the rather controversial Outlook.
We’ve delved into the fact earlier this month that Windows 10 PCs will be compelled to switch to the new Outlook, which details a significant change. An optional update on January 28, 2025, will automatically install this new Outlook, and a subsequent security update on February 11, 2025, will expand this installation to even more systems.
Many at Microsoft likely consider the new Outlook an upgrade, but this is not a view widely shared outside their walls. Even within the company, I suspect there’s some disagreement, though that’s merely speculation on my part.
There’s a viewpoint that because Mail & Calendar was a free service, Microsoft has more leeway to replace it with another offering. I personally disagree, yet people might be more frustrated as Microsoft eventually plans to replace the classic Outlook app with the new version too, even though that’s not on the docket just yet. Both instances are bound to irritate those who aren’t fond of the new Outlook.
For now, I’m channeling my attention toward the new flyout feature for Windows 10 and the imminent rollout of the new Outlook for this soon-to-be-phased-out OS. Here’s a quick recap of the updates in Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5435 provided by Microsoft:
Windows 10: New Features and Improvements
- Calendar: New! Get informed with the enhanced calendar, now showing weather forecasts and upcoming holidays/events.
- Mail: New! The default mail app is now the new Outlook for Windows, featuring a new app icon on the Start menu. The new icon will replace the old one if it was pinned to the taskbar.
- GB18030-2022: Added support for this amendment.
- Virtual Memory: Issue fixed where virtual memory depletion could lead to app failures.
- Chinese Pinyin IME: Bing won’t automatically offer suggestions in the search box for sites like Baidu anymore—but you can manually request them using Ctrl + Tab or the chevron button.
- NFC Readers: Fixed occasional failures when reading card UUIDs after numerous POS app scans.
- USB Print and IPP Over USB: Fixed a problem where an installed printer fails when the spooler initializes.
- Vulnerable Driver Blocklist: Added to the list of risky drivers vulnerable to BYOVD attacks.
- Screen Capture: Fixed issues where the Capture Service and Snipping Tool become unresponsive after repeatedly pressing Windows logo key + Shift + S while Narrator is on.
The evolution of Windows 10 in its final chapter is certainly intriguing, and there’s still more to be said on the broader implications of these updates.
