Several different versions and editions of Microsoft Outlook exist today; there are desktop versions of Outlook for Windows and Mac devices, the Microsoft 365 subscription-based version, versions for Android and iOS, and the web-based version. The versions differ from one another, sometimes significantly, and that is something that Microsoft wants to address in the future by creating a single version for all large-screen experiences.
Called One Outlook and codenamed Monarch, it is an effort to create a single Outlook application for Windows and Mac devices, and for the Web.
The application will be based on the Outlook web application that users may access in modern web browsers. Microsoft plans to replace all existing Outlook desktop programs and apps with the new version; this includes Win32 versions of Outlook, Outlook for Mac, and the Mail and Calendar applications that are exclusive Windows 10 applications.
The One Outlook application will offer functionality that is identical on all supported platforms thanks to its web technology fundament. One Outlook will support native system integrations to support offline access, system notifications and other features native to an operating system.
The new application will be available to free and paying customers alike. Whether that means that all customers will receive the same functionality is unclear at this point, but it seems unlikely.
Microsoft plans to release a public preview of One Outlook at the end of 2021 and a final release in 2022. One Outlook will replace the Win32 version of Outlook for Windows eventually according to plans.
Windows 10 users who use the Mail or Calendar application will be replaced by One Outlook eventually. Microsoft plans to put them into maintenance mode, and the last update for these clients will be a user interface update this year.
A website and setup for Windows is already available; the current version does not replicate all functionality of the desktop applications or web app of Outlook. It lacks many features including a full offline experience, and the setup program is not even signed yet. Check out the download links in WalkingCat's tweet if you are interested in downloading the files.
Closing Words
Information is scarce at this point but that is understandable as the first public preview is almost a year away at this point. Microsoft's plan to replace all the different large screen versions of Outlook with a single version makes sense on paper, but it remains to be seen if the new version does indeed replicate all functionality that the desktop versions offer and does not impose restrictions or unwanted functionality.
Now You: do you use Outlook? (via Deskmodder)
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