Microsoft is making it possible to update even more of Windows 10"s inbox apps updatable through the Microsoft Store, separating them from OS updates. This morning, it was reported that Paint - once supposed to be on its way out - was coming to the Microsoft Store, and with the release of Windows 10 build 21354 to Insiders in the Dev channel, the Snipping Tool is joining the fray.
Paint was initially going to be phased out in favor of Paint 3D, which was introduced back in 2017, but when Microsoft announced its demise, users weren"t happy. The company quickly backtracked and not only kept Paint around, but also promised to put the app on the Microsoft Store. Almost four years later, it"s finally happening, and it comes with a new icon for the app.
As for the Snipping Tool, Microsoft also introduced something of a successor in the form of Snip & Sketch, another built-in Windows 10 app that was first introduced in 2018. In fact, on the latest version of Windows 10, Snipping Tool shows a message saying it"s moving to a new home. However, it has stuck around ever since, and now, it"s actually being bundled into the same package as Snip & Sketch on the Microsoft Store.
Snip & Sketch was already receiving updates independently from the operating system, and now the classic Snipping Tool will be able to do so as well. This could also enable Microsoft to more easily have feature parity between the two apps and eventually phase out one or the other, but there"s no indication right now of when that might happen.
This week"s Windows 10 build was somewhat light on new features, but it also adds new options in the Windows 10 Settings app. You"ll soon be able to adjust some webcam settings like brightness and contrast on a system level, for example. You can find the full changelog here.