On Tuesday, Microsoft launched its new Outlook.com beta, which sports a new design and comes packed with new features users might find useful. For instance, the search interface has been relocated, email attachments can be previewed and the new inbox comes with a ton of smart features designed to give users an easier way to tag useful information with their emails.
The redesigned Outlook.com may be activated by clicking on the “try the beta” toggle. Since the new features of the beta, which are still being tested and may be improved on depending on user feedback, might take some getting used to, Outlook users can simply revert back to the old format by clicking on the toggle again.
#Outlook dot com beta out now: https://t.co/3cjt5P3iOI pic.twitter.com/8oAUKKZJkw
— Harri Mikkanen (@_haba) August 9, 2017
One of the more noticeable changes brought by the beta is the placement of the search interface, which is now located at the top portion of the inbox rather than the side. But the search interface’s change is more than mere aesthetics as email and people are now included in its search results.
Another interesting change in the Outlook beta is the conversations view. Files and photos in the conversations may now be previewed which makes it easier to take a quick peek into email contents while browsing through ones’ emails.
In addition, the new Outlook beta allows for a greater degree of personalization with the new options found in the conversations view, according to Tech Crunch. For instance, users can pin at the sidebar shortcuts to important emails. In addition, the inclusion of emojis and GIFs inside the new Outlook beta makes it easier to add some personal touch to one’s emails to close friends.
Microsoft rolls out https://t.co/Dj5xDYTSAv beta program to test new features fueled by AI and design changes https://t.co/J0JFxp6AeK
— GeekWire (@geekwire) August 8, 2017
The new beta version also introduced a smart new feature called Quick Suggestion. Placing tags on emails regarding restaurant location, flight details, and even sports teams’ schedules is now a breeze with the new feature in place.
Of course, the purpose of the Outlook.com beta is to gauge customer reception and gain important feedback on the new changes. Things could still change for the better as the Outlook team announced that “based on your feedback we’ll iterate, improve, refine, or discard them.”
Want to try the beta version of Outlook right now? Follow the link: https://outlook.live.com/mail/#/inbox
[Featured Image by Outlook]