Here’s how Microsoft’s new One Outlook email app will work

Image: Microsoft

The new Outlook for Windows will make the email client more similar to the web version. Microsoft's announcement gives us a good look at what kind of features we can expect to see coming to our inboxes, even though the entire build of the app was recently leaked.

According to Microsoft's Tuesday post, Outlook will be getting a number of new features and an updated design. It will integrate with Microsoft's system for collaborating on things like polls, task lists, and more throughout Office. There is a new system for attaching files. If you have something stored in the cloud, you can type the symbol and then the name to get a list of matching files ready to add to an email.

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft added a few features. The ability to pin emails to the top of your inbox is one of the simpler ones. You will be able to drag emails over to a panel and set them as to-do items or calendar events if you want to book time to respond.

Image: Microsoft

Image: Microsoft

I don't want to make it seem like Microsoft is reinventing email here. Even if it seems like it will be a very fancy web view, the app is still Outlook. There are a few features that remind me of what I was so excited about when I first heard about the Mailbox app. I'm happy to see a change to the calendar interface in Outlook, I've always hated it.

Microsoft mentions a lot of other features. When you reply to a calendar invite, you can specify whether you will be attending in person or virtual, the inbox-cleaning Sweep feature will be included in the app, and Outlook will pin messages that it thinks are important if you seem to have missed them. The full list of features can be found on Microsoft's page.

I have a little bit of apprehension about this future update, especially its performance, as always with apps based on web technology. Outlook users will have to endure one heck of an adjustment period if they use the main app. I like the idea of Outlook being the same on the web and in the desktop app as it is on the phone. Microsoft is showing off features that mesh well with how I view email. I want you to color me cautiously optimistic.

You will need a commercial or educational Microsoft account to try it out. If you have checked that box, you can sign up to be an Office Insider. You should be able to switch to the new version of Outlook once you have updated to the latest version. It is still in the early stages, so be sure to be comfortable with running your email through a program that is still in the works.