Microsoft’s Hotmail replacement outlook.com, better than Gmail ?
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August 1, 2012 • 
Microsoft has replaced its once popular email service, hotmail.com, with its cutting edge innovation outlook.com. Hotmail’s popularity came down when google introduced its most popular product Gmail. Gmail’s neat interface, easy to use navigation, simple layout and unlimited storage was too much for Hotmail and slowly it faded out of competition. In a master stroke, microsoft has launched Outlook.com as a replacement for Hotmail. Take my word, this is a superb product. It is going to give tough competition to Gmail in future.
First, the interface is stunning. The blue and white combination is soothing to the eyes and the color combination is excellent. The layout is good and it is easy to navigate. It is quick to find the information you want and is fast. The clean, neat design is based on Microsoft’s Metro design. A key design principle of Metro is better focus on the content of applications, relying more on typography and less on graphics which was incorporated into Windows Phone , Windows 8 and XBox 360. Microsoft has brought the elegance of Metro to its web mail, outlook.com.
The new email services provides virtually unlimited storage and it integrates Skype , Facebook and Twitter. You can now see your Facebook updates and Tweets in your Inbox. All icons are at the top menu bar, is big enough and is very is to find and use.Compose mail, the interface most frequently used in an email service, is simple and powerful. I like the simple, highly usable, smart design. You can fill up the senders email address in the left pane and compose the mail in the main content area. This is smart design and I feel this far better than the Gmail’s compose screen.
Microsoft has introduced social integration in a mail client with outlook.com. You can see updates from your Facebook friends, you can chat with Facebook friends, share photos and videos all from your outlook web mail. You can also connect your Linked In, Flickr and YouTube account as well.
Currently all Hotmail or Microsoft Live users can log into Outlook.com using their existing accounts. Microsoft said that for now, Hotmail would continue to be available.
Features
- Integrate your other email accounts : You can integrate your other email accounts including Gmail with outlook so it’s easier to keep up with all of your messages.
- Social integration
- Skype video chat
- Import your contact from facebook, LinkedIn and Gmail.
- Also available on your mobile phone – support Windows Phone, Android and iPhone
I am really impressed with its nice user interface, layout, features and ease of use. I feel outlook.com is going to give tough competition to the most popular web mail, Gmail. What is your experience with the new service, how’s outlook.com in your opinion. Do Share your thoughts.
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