Windows 10's Timeline feature was doomed to fail from the start

Windows 10 Timeline Source: Windows Central

Windows 10'due south Timeline feature beginning rolled out with the Windows 10 Apr 2022 Update. The characteristic allows you to sync your history beyond devices, including documents y'all've worked on and websites you've visited. Microsoft recently announced that Timeline would lose back up for cross-device syncing for general users, cut a major portion of the feature.

A Microsoft support document recently received a small update that bumps back the decease of cross-device Timeline support to July. Originally, the same back up certificate explained that certain Timeline functionality would end in June:

Note: Starting in July 2022, if yous accept your activity history synced across your devices through your Microsoft account (MSA), you'll no longer have the option to upload new action in Timeline. You'll still be able to use Timeline and see your activity history (information almost contempo apps, websites and files) on your local device. AAD-connected accounts won't be impacted.

While Azure Active Directory users will still be able to use cross-device syncing, and Timeline volition continue to work for local apps and files, it's articulate that the Timeline feature didn't take off the way Microsoft hoped. To me, that's hardly a surprise. Timeline had bug from the start and was prepare for failure.

Relying on developers

Microsoft Store Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central

Windows 10 has an interesting landscape when it comes to app developers. Since over i.three billion devices run Windows 10, companies and developers need to back up information technology. But how they support it varies profoundly. Since Windows ten is and then backward uniform, many developers haven't embraced UWP and the more niche features of Windows 10.

Microsoft Edge and the Function suite back up Timeline. Some third-party developers like the makers of myTube! also utilize it. But overall, big-name developers autonomously from Microsoft did not adopt Timeline. As a effect, the feature didn't piece of work with many of the best Windows ten apps.

These bug are all too familiar for anyone who has followed Windows ten app development over the years. Big companies have apps on Windows ten in a form that works for their customer base of operations but oft don't spend the fourth dimension to customize the app feel for Windows x-specific features — at least non niche ones like Timeline.

Competing with like functionality

Timeline Vs Word Source: Windows Central

While Timeline is a useful feature, many aspects of it aren't unique. The ability to leap into a recently-opened Word document or website isn't exclusive to Timeline. You tin right-click any of the Office apps on Windows 10 and open up a recently opened document. The functionality isn't exactly the aforementioned, but I imagine it's similar enough that many people don't care. How many people desire to click on their taskbar and whorl their entire app and website history to discover a recently opened Word document when they tin can just open the Word certificate?

Edge and other apps accept similar functionality. It's rather simple to check your browser history. Microsoft is even working on Edge syncing your history across devices on dissimilar platforms, which was a selling point of Timeline. Other apps like Adobe Premiere Pro also permit you leap to recently opened files. Many apps have their own way of syncing history beyond devices as well, making Timeline mostly redundant.

Out of time

myTube Timeline support Source: Windows Central

I'm not saying that Timeline is completely unused. I'one thousand sure a few people accept accidentally clicked on its push in the taskbar and wondered what information technology was. A few people may even utilise the characteristic on purpose, merely it's had major hurdles to overcome since its launch.

All the way back in February 2022, our senior editor Zac Bowden said that "Windows 10 'Timeline' is truly useful, merely its success is uncertain." In that piece, Bowden likewise pointed to developer back up as a fundamental factor in the success or failure of the Timeline feature.

With cross-device syncing going away for general users, Timeline volition become even less useful. If but a few people used it before, I imagine even fewer will use information technology at present.

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