Microsoft One Outlook is a new Outlook desktop client that Microsoft has been working on for over a year. The client was recently leaked, but users were unable to access it. However, Microsoft has announced the introduction of new Outlook for Windows clients as a tester for Office Insiders Beta Channel on May 17, 2022. However, many people are unsure what Microsoft One Outlook is all about, and if it’s identical to Outlook web, why not use the free Outlook web version instead? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each of these characteristics.
Brief Overview
Microsoft One Outlook, also known as Project Monarch, is a unified Outlook client that aims to combine the codebases of online, Windows, and Mac Outlook. So far, the new Outlook client appears to be very similar to Outlook web. Aside from that, it includes a unified view of email, to-dos, and calendars, as well as message reminders, a calendar board, and a Loop test version. However, in the current One Outlook preview build, several Outlook functionality are missing. Offline support, multiple accounts, IMAP mail accounts, Outlook.com compatibility, search folders, quick actions, and other features are currently in development.
The new Outlook for Windows client is currently available to Office Insiders Beta Channel customers with Microsoft 365 work and school accounts. If you meet this condition, you’ll receive a notice in the top right corner of your Outlook for Windows app that says “Try the new Outlook.” Toggle the switch to One Outlook from Windows Outlook.
Key Features
Microsoft One Outlook not only focuses on creating a unified user interface, but it also includes new/improved functionality that will improve the user experience. The following are some of the most important characteristics of One Outlook to be aware of:
1. Find Documents by @
Outlook provides you the option to add someone to an email when you enter “@,” and you can now use it to find documents and files saved in the cloud. For example, if you type @thefilename into Outlook, it will display a list of cloud-based files. You may add files fast and save a lot of time this way.
3. Message Reminders
If you accidentally delete a message that Outlook believes is important to you, you will receive an automatic reminder asking if you want to react. Furthermore, the reminder is stuck to the top of your inbox until you react.
3. Drag and Drop
One Outlook combines your email, calendar, and to-do list into a single interface. As a result, dragging and dropping emails to your To Do list so that you can examine them later is simple. You can also drag and drop emails into your calendar in the same way.
4. Calendar Board View
One Outlook has a calendar board view that allows you to manage your meetings and other schedules in one place. You can include goals, to-do lists, files, and emails, among other things.
5. Microsoft Loop
The new Outlook for Windows now includes Microsoft Loop components, which allow users to update and share their thoughts while staying in their current workflow and program, such as Teams or Outlook. Loop components can be copied and pasted into Outlook emails while remaining in sync with everyone.
6. New Rules
More rules are included in the new Outlook, which might help you manage your inbox more efficiently. Sweep is one such rule that allows you to move messages from a certain sender to a specific folder automatically.
In summary, One Outlook’s intelligent aided features are designed to boost productivity by making it simple to do tasks faster and more efficiently.
Conclusion
For years, Microsoft has been striving to integrate its distinct Outlook programs for Windows, macOS, and the web. When you compare Outlook for Windows, macOS, and the web, you’ll notice a significant variation in the user experience. In truth, the Outlook client for Mac is very different from the Outlook client for Windows or the Outlook web version, and it has restricted capability.
As a result, Microsoft set out to standardize the experience and make all versions of Outlook look and perform the same. That is what Microsoft One Outlook is designed to do. It has been in development for over a year, and internal testing has been ongoing for several months. Still, it could be a few months before we see results.
Microsoft One Outlook or Outlook Web?
Now that we know what Microsoft One Outlook is for, here’s a question: if the goal of One Outlook is to make Outlook for Windows and Mac more like Outlook web, why not just use the free Outlook web instead of paying for Microsoft 365?
Although the appearance and essential functionality of One Outlook and Outlook online are very similar, One Outlook offers a lot more options, especially if you are part of an enterprise. One Outlook, for example, has a large number of rules that you may apply to streamline and automate the management of incoming emails. Similarly, One Outlook provides better integrated scheduling, task management, and other features. As summarize, One Outlook has a similar interface to Outlook web, but it has more features and is linked with other Office products.
