Microsoft brings Outlook to Apple Watch with quick actions, custom notifications

Microsoft on Thursday released an official Outlook app for the Apple Watch, allowing people to check, manage, and reply to email from their wrist.

Primarily, the Watch app is intended for browsing messages, whether in its full form or in Glance mode. The Glance also offers a summary of any upcoming calendar events.

One difference with some other Watch email apps is that Microsoft promises custom notifications that highlight important messages and allow for quick actions. Users can for instance reschedule something, or archive messages.

Notifications also show a substantial portion of each incoming email, which may sometimes save the need to even open the app.

To reply to email the app supports emoji, voice dictation, and a selection of canned responses. Anything more complex requires opening Outlook's parent iPhone app.

The Apple Watch app is included with the iPhone software, which is a free download for devices running iOS 8 or later.

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22 Comments

suddenly newton

said about 8 years ago

Have we learned nothing from 20 years of using Microsoft Outlook? It's a trap.

quadra 610

said about 8 years ago

The new Microsoft Reality.

Would have been smarter to accept it years ago...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2012/01/30/steve-ballmer-willing-to-pay-230-per-phone-to-beat-apple-google/

But you know how Microsoft management was (and still is.)

rogifan

said about 8 years ago

Why would Microsoft bring an app to a product that's a flop? /s

MacPro

said about 8 years ago

Remind me ... who or what's Microsoft? :D

mac-daddy

said about 8 years ago

I'm sorry, the purpose of this Watch is just not going to have the cultural impact as the iPhone or iPad. It's a cool little gadget, but its offerings don't do hardly anything better than what an iPhone would do that you are most likely carrying with you as well.

Every little 'app' I see that gets released for this Watch just makes me instantly say, "still better on a phone."

And don't try to come at me with numbers - I get it, the Watch has crushed it in the market (as does every other new Apple product in the last decade). But the longevity of this device does not have the upside right now.