Microsoft successfully solved the problem of web browser on windows by migrating edge based on edgehtml to chromium engine. The company now adopts a similar strategy for outlook applications and has begun to launch new e-mail clients for windows 11 and windows 10 through the office insider channel.
Windows currently supports two desktop e-mail clients -- the pre installed uwp based e-mail application and Microsoft office Outlook Win32 bundled with productivity suite. It is no secret that Microsoft is trying to develop two versions of outlook for windows and other platforms at the same time.
However, compared with the full e-mail client, the uwp version lacks too many functions. The source said that Microsoft has moved the uwp email application to the maintenance mode, which means that users no longer need to expect any improvement to the old application.
The new application of outlook on Windows 11 is obviously built based on the edge WebView based on chromium. It is a product packaged based on Web applications. However, outlook is a well-designed web application. Most people will not even notice that it is a web application with all the functions you expect from a modern application.
It comes with built-in calendar integration, which means you no longer need to maintain a separate calendar application. This interface allows you to organize your most important work and manage it in one view.
It is equipped with all the features you expect from a modern application, such as @ files and @ documents to locate files. This is similar to the existing function of mentioning someone with @ and adding it to an email message. In addition, when a message is missed and outlook thinks it is important, it will remind the user.
Interestingly, Microsoft also seems to be developing mica material design style for outlook. As you can see in the screenshot above, mica will start working after modifying the windows registry of outlook. Of course, Microsoft may also include the acrylic materials of fluent design. In fact, Microsoft edge's context menu or main menu already supports transparent / translucent effects like acrylic.
In addition to the new design, Microsoft will also add "my today" integration, so that users can keep smooth in their work and help people in important affairs keep in touch. Simply drag and drop information as a task into your to-do list or better manage tasks in your calendar.
It is worth noting that Microsoft is expected to make additional UI improvements to the mail application later this year. New functions will be added through server-side updates. Therefore, it is usually not necessary to update the software itself. The current development focus has shifted to the design and accessibility features of this new web-based outlook application.