Microsoft has announced a beta version of the new Outlook for Windows, which will make the desktop email client much more similar to the web version. Although screenshots and a full version of the app have recently leaked, Microsoft’s announcement gives us a good look at what features we can expect to see in our mailboxes.
According to a Microsoft release on Tuesday, Outlook will get a lot of new features in addition to the updated design. For starters, it will integrate with Loop, Microsoft’s system for collaborating on things like surveys, to-do lists, and more across Office. There is also a new file attachment system. If you have something stored in the cloud, you can enter the “@” symbol and then the file name and you will get a list of matching files ready to add to the email.
You will be able to search for files that you have stored in the cloud by @ing them. Image: Microsoft
Microsoft has also added several calendar and task features. Some of them are simple, such as the ability to pin emails to the top of your inbox so that they stay in your face until you deal with them. You’ll be able to drag emails to a panel and set them as tasks or calendar events if you want to book a response time – and once you’ve done so, you can check out the new calendar view, which shows your to-do lists, notes, and more. other customizable items, along with an actual calendar.
On the left you can see a fixed message. And on the right you can see the user interface for using email to create a task. Image: Microsoft Microsoft calls the custom view a “calendar board.” Image: Microsoft
I don’t want it to look like Microsoft is rediscovering email here. The application is still fixed Outlook, even if it looks like it will be just a very sophisticated web view. But some of these features remind me of what made me so excited about the now-defunct Mailbox app that Dropbox bought that day. I’m also glad to see an update to the calendar interface; I’ve always hated the one in the current desktop version of Outlook.
A number of other features are mentioned in the Microsoft publication. For example, when you respond to an invitation in the calendar, you can specify whether you will be present in person or virtually; the Sweep function for cleaning the input box will be included in the application; and Outlook will pin messages that it considers important if you seem to have missed them. You can see the full list of features, along with screenshots and descriptions, on the Microsoft website.
As always with web-based applications, I’m a little apprehensive about this future update, especially its performance. I also guess that long-time Outlook users will have to endure a hell of a period of adjustment, especially if this is the main application in which they spend their days. But at the same time, I really like the idea of Outlook having the same functionality on the web and in the desktop application, instead of making us use two fundamentally different user interfaces. In addition, the features that Microsoft demonstrates connect very well with the way I look at emails. So, color me cautiously optimistic.
If you feel the same way, you may be able to try it for yourself – although you will need a commercial or educational Microsoft account. If you checked this box, you can sign up for Office Insider and join the beta channel. After you do this and update to the latest version of Outlook, there should be a switch that allows you to upgrade to the latest version. Of course, keep in mind that this is a beta version; make sure you are comfortable running your email through a program that is still running.
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