Interesting.

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System: The following message was spliced on to this thread from: http://www.webmasterworld.com/msft/4480773.htm [webmasterworld.com] by engine - 10:52 am on Aug 1, 2012 (utc +1)

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Microsoft has finally unwrapped a preview version of its Outlook.com webmail. The new outlook.com launched with the new Metro look & feel, Contacts and Messenger support. Lots of new features packed in from quick links to a much cleaner interface. MS is boasting Over 1 million new email accounts since launch earlier today.

Some of the features yet to be released are the new web based skypout feature, the mobile mail experience (Can sync via activesync, pop though), updated skydrive and updated calendar.

Oh yeah, and you can grab your own outlook.com email address or if you already have live.com or Hotmail.com, simple click on config and opt in for an outlook.com alias.

You know, so far I'm really impressed with this.

I've got an old Hotmail account, used for places where I didn't want to use my main email address. Just upgraded it to Outlook, and I've got to admit, MS have done really well.

After upgrading, and creating a new @outlook.com address (or alias), a little message popped up asking me if I wanted all emails sent to my hotmail address to go into a different folder, and for all existing messages in the inbox to be moved there too, so I can start again from scratch.

Really think that shows MS have thought about the number of users who have got these old accounts knocking about, full of rubbish with more rubbish piling up every day, and given a very easy way to start again.

The other feature that I thought stands out is the unsubscribing from newsletters. On emails they identify as newsletters, there's an option to unsubscribe. So they contact the sender to unsubscribe, and will filter all future emails into the junk, in case that unsubscribe doesn't take affect.

So, I'm not jumping aboard 100% yet, but will be watching this closely to see how it develops.

But, for me, this has brought MS back into the running for who gets my emails.

Job well done, the interface is really nice on eyes and not to mention very user friendly and fast!

Grabbed some nice names :D

Yes, I really like it! I imported my contacts from Gmail and it went very smoothly. Now to move all my documents from gdrive to skydrive. It'll be a lot of work, but worth it. I want to wean myself away from Google as much as I can, as soon as I can.

btw, does anyone know if Microsoft has an equivalent of iGoogle, which Google is going to eliminate in about a year.

I like it and find it clean looking. You can add other POP3 email accounts, which is nice. The problem for me is I have too many folders at gmail. If there was a way to import all of that, I would consider switching over.

The interface is a little too clean, without boxes it's not clear where you enter text. I suppose after a few emails it will become habit.

I also ran into a problem with the Captchas... couldn't guess right, one had a character that was not decipherable as part of the alphabet.

The interface is a little too clean, without boxes it's not clear where you enter text. I suppose after a few emails it will become habit.

I completely agree. For the older generation, it might be a bit confusing to see a compose email page without any visual boundaries. I tested a similar design on a forum I run a couple of years ago and got several complaints from the membership which has an average age of between 40-60.

I tested a similar design on a forum I run a couple of years ago and got several complaints from the membership which has an average age of between 40-60.

Bah, the mental gymnastics will do them good and help stave off degenerative mind disorders that start setting in at that age due to lack of wanting to think anymore.

I'm using gmail with my own domain for personal email. I believe this feature is not yet available in outlook.com. This is the only deal breaker for me.

Microsoft will let you use your own domain: [domains.live.com...]