I still remember when I created my first email account on Hotmail many years ago to start with the very concept of the internet (which was later acquired by Microsoft, of course). Hotmail served me well for several years but when Gmail was launched and I started using it, I never looked back…. until recently when Microsoft announced their brand new email service Outlook.com.
Outlook.com is Microsoft’s updated email service that will replace both Live and Hotmail. Users who are using Hotmail and Live mail can choose to receive a new Outlook.com email address and will be able to monitor both accounts under the same roof.
Let’s take a look at this new email contender and see if it holds up against Gmail.
Start with a new look
Anyone can sign up for an Outlook.com account and get started in a flash. After you sign in to the Outlook.com email client for the first time, two things you’ll notice are the Windows 8 app-like interface and the clean look. If you own a Windows phone or use Windows 8 on your computer, you’ll feel right at home. Outlook.com has also included the option to view messages in a three-pane view for the comfort of those using Outlook’s desktop mail client on their computers.
I can exaggerate but for now, Outlook.com is clean as a whistle. When composing a message, I was really impressed with the way Outlook.com arranges the elements on the screen. The addresses on the left sidebar and the entire right side with the rich text editor are reserved for editing. The top bar has all the action buttons that keep you comfortable while working on the tablet.
Connect with social accounts
It’s about the Outlook.com email service but unlike Hotmail, it doesn’t just send and receive email. You can connect Outlook.com to your social accounts like Facebook. Twitter, etc. For example, after you connect your Facebook account to Outlook.com, you can chat with all your online friends on Facebook right from Outlook.com using the built-in web messenger.
Outlook.com Mail also integrates People, Calendar, and SkyDrive, which you can access using the drop-down arrow next to the Outlook logo. People and Mail only have the same Windows 8 app as the current UI while SkyDrive and Calendar have the same old look and feel. With all these apps integrated into Outlook.com, you can easily manage your contacts and files in the cloud and use them in attachments seamlessly. Another great feature Microsoft is promising is Skype integration with Outlook.com but no official date has been announced yet.
One thing I really like about Outlook.com is how it can automatically categorize incoming emails. You can easily separate newsletters and social updates from important emails for better reach. Just like Gmail labels, Outlook.com supports folders that you can use to categorize your emails. Before I close, here is the official video tutorial for the brand new Microsoft Outlook.com Online.
My judgment
It’s too early to say anything right now but from what I’ve seen and experienced in my first few days with Outlook.com, I have to say it was a surprise. Clean interface, easy approach, no/less ads taking up real estate on your screen. I was looking forward to using it more.
Have you tried it yet? Like it? Hate it? Tell us!
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
