Microsoft is rolling out an updated version of the Outlook desktop app for Windows to Office Insiders that is subscribed to the beta channel. To be clear, this is an update to Outlook itself and not yet a replacement for the Mail app built into Windows 11. The new app is almost identical to the version that leaked a few weeks ago, but there are some notable differences.
Being based on the web version of Outlook means you get many of the features that are also available online. For example, the new version of Outlook comes with support for Microsoft Loop components (formerly known as the Fluid framework). These are pieces of information that can be shared across different surfaces, such as Outlook and Teams – with support for real-time editing that continues across these surfaces.
Other new features coming from the web include the calendar and the To Do views. With the calendar view, you can easily see all your upcoming events, organized by day, week or month. There is also the brand new board view, which lets you organize important topics in the way that makes the most sense for you to keep track of your tasks. In the whiteboard view you can have your calendar, several to-do lists and notes are all visible so you can keep track of your tasks. Your calendar and to-do lists are also accessible via a sidebar, so you can quickly create to-do items or events based on an email you received.
The new Outlook app also makes it easier to attach files and documents using @movements, just like you can add someone to the conversation. There is also a smart feature where if you get an email that is considered important and you forget to reply to it, Outlook will remind you to take a look at it. And if you need to remind yourself of something important, the new Outlook app also supports attaching messages to the top of your inbox. You can also now respond to summit requests by letting people know if you want to participate in person or virtually.
As we mentioned, most of these features are just inherited from the web version of Outlook, and it’s becoming clear that the “One Outlook” we’ve heard about is actually being implemented. This web-based interface will eventually become the standard experience for all desktop Outlook clients, including the built-in Mail app on Windows 11. The leaked app still made it clear that you’re looking at a webpage because of the bar at the top of the app window, but in this version, that bar fits much better into the title bar, making it look like a regular app.
Like the leaked app from a few weeks ago, this new Outlook experience for Windows is still only available to enterprise users, and you need to be in the Office Insider application’s Beta channel to try it out at all. If you are, you will see a contact at the top of the window that allows you to try the new experience, and you can always switch back if you do not like it.
Source: Microsoft