Microsoft’s Original HoloLens Will No Longer Receive Major Windows 10 Updates

Microsoft’s first-gen HoloLens device has been out for years. It was originally announced back in 2015, and it’s been out for a few years now. With Microsoft already working to get the HoloLens 2 out, it’s getting ready to slowly phase out the original HoloLens.

The company recently announced (via Windows Central) it’s no longer going to offer any further major OS updates for the first-gen HoloLens. The device is now in Long Term Servicing (LTS), which means all the future update it receives will entirely focus on minor fixes and security patches. Any future major Windows 10 updates, like the May 2019 update, or the upcoming 20H1 update, will not make it to the device.

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HoloLens (1st gen) is entering Long Term Servicing (LTS) state. Future updates will focus on issue and security fixes, while maintaining feature parity with the Windows 10 October 2018 release for HoloLens (also known as RS5).

And that’s probably not a big deal for most people that own a HoloLens. Keep in mind, even though Microsoft had a fairly consumer-faced approach with the original HoloLens, it slowly moved away from consumers to the enterprise. Enterprise customers aren’t a fan of major updates and changes, so this won’t affect the majority of the HoloLens owners. And it also gives Microsoft the opportunity to focus on the software for the second-gen HoloLens.

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Conversation 17 comments

  • k2rusty

    30 July, 2019 - 8:42 am

    <p>Ouch, 4 year old $3000 device and its trash.</p>

    • StevenLayton

      30 July, 2019 - 10:30 am

      <blockquote><a href="#445941"><em>In reply to K2Rusty:</em></a><em> Can you clarify why you think they're now trash? What functions will they not do tomorrow, that they do today? </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

    • simont

      Premium Member
      30 July, 2019 - 12:08 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445941">In reply to K2Rusty:</a></em></blockquote><p>How is it trash? The device is still getting security and bug fixes, its just not getting feature updates. It will still work.</p>

  • PanamaVet

    30 July, 2019 - 9:02 am

    <p>It would be interesting to hear what HoloLens enterprise customers have to say about their relationship with Microsoft.</p><p><br></p>

  • Tony Barrett

    30 July, 2019 - 9:08 am

    <p>MS throwing a whole bunch of customers who've paid an awful lot for these devices under a bus again then. I'm sure MS fully expect those customers to pony up another few thousand for a HoloLens2 in due course!</p>

    • dontbeevil

      31 July, 2019 - 2:59 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445961">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>this device is from 2015 and got 4 yars of major updates + several years of security updates, all the apps will keep running, it will always possible to develop apps…so what are you talking about? do you want to talk about how google glasses completely disappeared?</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 9:11 am

    <p>I don't own one never used one but that's not cool.</p>

  • StevenLayton

    30 July, 2019 - 10:25 am

    <p>I don't think Microsoft is 'throwing anyone under the bus' as some have suggested. As Mehedi says, most Enterprises will be happy with the stability of just security updates for them. Youve got to assume that whatever value and functionality they're getting from them will continue, without feature updates. </p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 10:55 am

    <p>This isn’t like an iPhone or Macintosh where the end of OS updates means that 1) Security updates end a year later 2) Apple will update or introduce APIs next year that all apps will jump to require, also “requiring” you have the newest version to log into their sodding service because you really need to log into a calculator.</p><p><br></p><p>As far as I know, UWP software written now can still run on previous Windows versions. Since Hololens runs UWP only, that matters </p><p><br></p><p>additionally, the kind of specialized software that these customers will use aren’t like Instagram where you “need” weekly updates.</p>

  • MikeGalos

    30 July, 2019 - 12:41 pm

    <p>Three years to Long Term Servicing and followed by likely a few more years of security fixes. Odds are HoloLens 3 will be out by then. Seems about the norm for state of the art hardware.</p><p><br></p><p>That's about the lifecycle of PCs themselves for their first twenty years and a lot longer lifespan than most of the vendors themselves in the introduction phase of a new tech.</p>

    • Jeffsters

      31 July, 2019 - 10:15 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#446019">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>Oh Mikey!!! Come on! Do I need to drag out your commentary from 2015 on Apple discontinuing support for the 2008 Mac Pro. Awww…</p>

  • karlinhigh

    Premium Member
    30 July, 2019 - 1:27 pm

    <p>Agreed, having something work the same way tomorrow that it does today is probably more important for enterprises than the feature updates would be.</p>

  • rm

    30 July, 2019 - 2:05 pm

    <p>HoloLens2 is getting better support than any Android phone that is for sure!</p>

    • Winner

      31 July, 2019 - 1:08 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#446038">In reply to RM:</a></em></blockquote><p>My Pixel 2XL is almost two years old and fully up to date. At least a couple more years of updates to go!</p>

      • Jeffsters

        31 July, 2019 - 10:12 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#446201">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>Oh come on…Google phones are not the norm you know that!</p>

    • dontbeevil

      31 July, 2019 - 3:00 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#446038">In reply to RM:</a></em></blockquote><p>overall also hololens got a better support than any android phone: 4 years of major updates + many years of security updates</p>

  • Jeffsters

    31 July, 2019 - 10:17 pm

    <p>Next time Apple says they are no longer supporting a phone 5 years or more old, and the likes of Mikey chime in, I’m going to just post the URL to this article. </p><p><br></p><p>Carry on!</p>

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