Like most weekly days, a fresh Windows 10 build is out. And while this build has no new features added to it, it actually has something chopped off. Apart from chopping though (we’re getting to it), there are some 1800+ odd bug fixes in this newly released build.
So what is it that has been chopped off you ask ? Well, its the rather well-received ‘Messaging Everywhere’ feature which came in via the last Windows 10 PC build. The feature allows you to receive and send text messages from your Windows 10 phone directly to and from your Windows 10 PC.
The feature had been made available to Insiders in previous builds, and according to Microsoft’s own claims (sans stats of course), it was ‘received well’. Despite that though, MS says, that it believes a better experience can be delivered, and that too via integrating this with Skype.
Hence, for now, the feature has been stripped off from the current build. Dona Sarkar at Microsoft explains,
We believe we can deliver an even better experience through the Skype app. Because of this, we decided not to release this feature as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update this summer. Starting with Build 14376 and going forward, Insiders will no longer have the ability to reply to text messages from their phone via the Messaging app on their PCs.
The ability to reply to text messages on your PC using Cortana is unaffected. Going forward, Microsoft will be working with the Skype Team on delivering a great “messaging everywhere” experience on your Windows 10 devices through the Skype app.
A bad move I’d say. Why you ask ? Well, such a feature (which btw Apple has been offering on MacOS for quite some time now) is better used, when it comes embedded within the OS itself, rather than a default app in the operating system. While its clear MS wants Skype to ultimately become the platform for all sorts of digital communication, this feature could have been released both ways — an add-on to Skype, and also embedded with Windows 10.
Microsoft has also announced, that it is pushing a few builds out to its internal rings in addition to today’s Fast and Slow builds. As a result of that, the builds for PC for Fast and Slow rings are a little bit behind in rolling out and should be available in the next few hours depending on your region.
As for this build, there are some 1800 bug fixes, along with some known issues. You can know them all, right here.
