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Outlook has recently introduced several new features to improve the user experience. Some of the highlights include the ability to customize the display density of your inbox, a new Focused Inbox feature that automatically sorts your emails into two tabs, the ability to snooze emails, and integration with other apps to provide a unified experience. Additionally, Copilot can assist you in drafting AI-generated emails, summarizing lengthy email threads, and scheduling meetings.
Let’s look at some of these features in detail.
Density of View:
The display density in Outlook refers to how much information is visible at a glance within your inbox. It determines the number of messages you can see and how they are displayed in the inbox column.
- Compact View: Choosing a compact density allows you to see more messages on the screen simultaneously. This is useful for quickly scanning through emails without much whitespace.
- Cozy View: Opting for a cozy density provides a balanced view, allowing you to comfortably read messages without feeling overwhelmed.
- Roomy View: The roomy density gives each message more space, making it ideal for focusing on individual emails or when you prefer a spacious layout."
Focused Inbox:
A new feature that automatically sorts your emails into two tabs: Focused and Other.
- “Focused” houses your more important emails.
- “Other” is for the less important ones.
Interestingly, Outlook uses machine learning to analyze your email habits and prioritize your messages. It considers factors such as content of emails, interaction history, and behavior towards specific contacts. Outlook then categorizes messages that it determines as important or relevant into the Focused tab, while less critical ones are routed to 'Other.' Over time, as your behavior changes, Outlook learns and refines the categorization to better suit your preferences
Snooze Emails:
This feature allows you to temporarily remove an email from your inbox and have it reappear at a later date or time. When you snooze an email, it disappears from your inbox and is moved to a designated folder or section until its appointed time, then it reappears as a new message in your inbox. This is beneficial because:
- It allows you to prioritize emails based on when you need to address them, rather than letting them clutter your inbox.
- It is also beneficial for emails that require action but aren’t urgent, allowing you to focus on more pressing matters."
Unified Experience:
You have the ability to create newsletters, storyline posts, presentations, and more in Outlook. This integration provides a unified experience and consolidation, which not only allows you to manage various communication channels seamlessly in Outlook, but also reduces the need to switch back and forth between separate apps. Users can access these features without leaving the email environment.
Draft Emails with Copilot:
Copilot allows you to draft an AI-generated email by simply inputting what you want to be included in your response. Once you generate your response, you have the option to keep, discard, or regenerate it if you want a better response.
Summarize Email with Copilot:
Copilot in Outlook provides a convenient way to summarize lengthy email threads. Here’s how you can use this feature:
- Open the email thread that you want to summarize in Outlook.
- Look for the 'Summary by Copilot' button at the top of the email thread.
- Click on it, and Copilot will scan the thread to identify key points and create a summary for you.
- The summary will appear at the top of the email and may also include numbered citations that link to corresponding emails within the thread.
Scheduling meetings with Copilot:
Scheduling a meeting with Copilot helps users manage their time and communication more efficiently. Copilot can assist users in scheduling meetings, allowing them to plan and organize their communication in advance. This can be particularly useful for coordinating with others and ensuring that meetings are scheduled at the most appropriate time.
In conclusion, Outlook's recent enhancements have significantly elevated the user experience, offering a plethora of tools designed to streamline communication and organization. From customizable inbox display densities to the innovative Focused Inbox feature, users can tailor their email management to suit their preferences seamlessly. The ability to snooze emails empowers users to prioritize their tasks effectively, while integration with other apps fosters a unified and consolidated experience. Moreover, Copilot's AI-driven functionalities, spanning from drafting emails to summarizing lengthy threads, further enhance productivity and efficiency within the Outlook ecosystem. With these comprehensive features at their disposal, users can navigate their digital communications with unparalleled ease and effectiveness, marking a significant step forward in optimizing email management and productivity workflows.