Microsoft is killing Lumia Storyteller, Lumia Beamer, Photobeamer, and Lumia Refocus

Ahead of the release of Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft is “streamlining” the photo experience in Windows 10. Starting October 30, Microsoft is killing Lumia Storyteller, Lumia Beamer, Photobeamer, and Lumia Refocus’s online services, and the apps will no longer be updated after that date. Additionally, the company is also abandoning Lumia Panorama and Video Uploader, but these two apps will continue to work as expected.

Microsoft states that the Lumia Beamer and Photobeamer services will stop working on October 30, 2015. It’s worth noting that after October 30th, users won’t be able to download these apps from the Store — which means, you won’t be able to download these apps again from October 30th.

Here’s the announcement from Microsoft:

What apps will be affected?

Lumia Storyteller, Lumia Beamer, Photobeamer, and Lumia Refocus will no longer have online services available, and they will no longer be updated after October 30, 2015.

Lumia Panorama and Video Uploader will continue to work if you have them, but they will no longer receive updates or support.

None of these apps will be available in the Windows Phone Store with immediate effect, but if you already have them installed, they won’t be removed from your device.

How can I make sure I don’t lose my online stories I’ve created with Lumia Storyteller?

The stories you see in the Lumia Storyteller app on your phone won’t be affected and will continue to work within the app, but stories you’ve published on the “online stories” site will no longer be available from the web service after October 30, 2015. To keep the images and videos in your online stories, open the Storyteller app, select online stories, and view each published story on the web. Then from the website, download all the images and videos that you want to keep. Be sure to do this before October 30, 2015, when the website will no longer be available.

What will happen to Lumia Beamer and Photobeamer?

Lumia Beamer and Photobeamer services will stop working on October 30, 2015.

Can I still download these apps from the Store?

No. As we are ending the support for these apps, they are being removed from the Windows Phone Store, with immediate effect.

What will happen to the Lumia apps already installed on my phone when I upgrade to Windows 10?

Apps that are already installed on your phone will continue working when you upgrade to Windows 10, but some features might not work after related services are shut down on October 30, 2015.

Why is Microsoft making all these changes to the apps I use and like?

Our goal is to provide experiences that work really well on all Windows devices. In order to do that, we need to focus on making our Windows 10 core Photos and Camera apps great.

Will Microsoft update the Windows 10 Photos and Camera apps to support all the features that are currently available in the Lumia apps?

Many of the Lumia features are already included in the Windows 10 Photos and Camera apps. While we can’t promise that any particular feature is coming back, we’re committed to providing a great photo and camera experience in Windows across devices, and we’re listening to your feedback as we continue improving our apps.