Microsoft revamps Outlook on the Web; introduces new features, cleaner UI and more

After the release of Windows 10, Microsoft is focusing on other services. The company has introduced a number of tweaks along with new features to the web version of Outlook in Office 365. Formerly known as the Outlook Web App (or OWA for short), the browser-based Outlook experience will now be referred to as ‘Outlook on the web’. [caption id=“attachment_276760” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  The new unified Action toolbar (highlighted in orange) spans Mail, Calendar, People and Tasks and provides quick access to the most commonly used commands, including search. (Image: Office Blogs)[/caption] For starters, the the web now sports a simplified, cleaner UI. This starts with the new action bar available across Mail, Calendar, People and Task experiences in Outlook on the web. The Action toolbar provides quick access to the most common commands, whether users are clearing out their inbox, replying to an email, or adding an event to the calendar. [caption id=“attachment_276764” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Pinned messages are kept at the top of your inbox and easily identified with a yellow highlight. (Image: Office Blogs)[/caption] There have been a range of new tools which have been added as well. With the new Pin tool, users can now pin any message in their inbox to have it highlighted in yellow and kept at the top of the inbox. With the Sweep tool, users are provided with a simple set of actions to manage emails from specific senders. It is convenient for managing reoccurring messages like newsletters, digital coupons, and other email received on a regular basis. Users can choose to keep messages from a specific sender for a specified number of days or delete all messages from the sender. Archive allows users to quickly move messages out of the inbox to a folder of your choice. Also, with a dedicated Undo button, users can quickly undo unintended actions with a single click. [caption id=“attachment_276769” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  With the preview pane turned off, the single line view of your inbox now provides a preview of the message contents to quickly scan your inbox. (Image: Office Blogs)[/caption] For users who prefer the single line message view over the traditional reading pane, Outlook on the web now includes a preview of the message contents in-line with the subject. In addition, users can also perform common actions in bulk, which makes managing the inbox a lot faster. When in single line view, clicking a message now displays the message in the same window and in a pop-up or separate windows as before. In other features, Outlook on the web now provides the ability to easily resise images, add custom borders, apply shadow effects, rotate images and more. The company has added in a full set of emojis as well. [caption id=“attachment_276765” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Calendar now includes a five-day weather forecast and charms. (Image: Office Blogs)[/caption] There have been numerous changes to Calendar as well. Users can now create email reminders for any Calendar event. You can now specify the recipient list, include a quick message, and set the day and time you wish the email reminder to be sent. In addition, there are Birthday and Holiday calendars which can be overlaid across the work calendar or viewed separately.  To enhance the mobile browsing experience, Microsoft has added many new features along with a number of UI and navigational improvements. There is an now an improved navigation for switching between Mail, Calendar and People. Updates resemble the UI look of Outlook apps on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Users also have the ability to switch between emails without returning to the message list. In additional features, the improved UI helps for creating new events and uses the scheduling assistant in Calendar.