Whether you want to exchange files with your colleagues or want to discuss the next project with your boss; you use email. When it comes to formal communications emails are our go-to choice, as emails carry significance and formality that is lacking in other forms of communication.
So, picture this! You have been working on a project proposal. You write a convincing email, and you press send. Then you realize you haven’t attached the proposal pdf file. We all share the same horror as all of us have sent such email; be it an assignment or an office email. Luckily you get to have time to take it back and fix it.
Launched in late 1990, Outlook is Microsoft Office 365 webmail application, commonly used for official communications. It is a popular email client with a simple interface. With different changes and versions from Microsoft, Outlook has never been changed over these years, but the time has come that outlook should have its due makeover.
So, the Big Change
In recent announcements, Microsoft has announced a beta version of Outlook for Windows. The software company claims that the redesign is consistent with Windows and web versions. So, users can improve their productivity while having control over their inboxes.
Keeping in Loop
New Outlook will work with the collaborative app Microsoft Loop. It helps in organizing and sharing. With this, we could edit and share work files across Outlook and Microsoft teams. Loop includes lists, reports, and reviews and it will be in sync to keep tasks updated.
Quick file search
Another big change is if you want to send an attachment to email however you can’t locate it. You just need to type the “@” symbol followed by the filename and you will get the options with the filename. Please note for this to work your files must be stored in the cloud.
Pinned Messages
Outlook will send you automatic reminders if you missed an email. The message will be pinned on the top of your inbox unless you dismiss it. I know many of us will like this feature as most of us miss important emails.
Now To-do list on Outlook
Often, we want to save a message for later for this new Outlook lets us drag and drop messages into the to-do list, so we get back to it later. My Day is also a similar feature, it drags and drops a task into the calendar to remind us later. You can also pin your messages yourself on the top of your inbox as a reminder and unpin them at your discretion.
Calendar Updates
With Outlook calendar board view you can add calendars, files, to-do lists, notes, and goals so you can organize your work in one view.
Also, the RSVP feature of the new Outlook considers hybrid work situations of workplace and events. It can let people know if you are going to attend an invite physically or virtually. Now
Declutter with Sweep
You can also prevent cluttering of your inbox by setting rules for messages with Sweep. It lets you set rules for incoming messages. You can decide when messages will be deleted, or how emails will be sorted.
The only thing that’s constant in this ever-changing universe is change itself. Change is constant, everything changes. Companies often change their interface to keep up with the competition just as Google changed its Gmail client. This Outlook change was long overdue, and it might not bode well with some veteran users. They may take some time to adjust but the good thing is Outlook will be consistent across the desktop to the web version.
