Outlook.com drops linked email accounts in favor of aliases

Outlook.com email attachments

Hotmail and Outlook.com have long supported linked email accounts for organizing messages. However, Microsoft now sees connected accounts as tempting targets for hackers -- so tempting, in fact, that the company is severing those links as a safety measure. Within the next two months, Outlook.com will move to using its alias system as the only way to handle multiple accounts. Users will have options to forward email and send messages from other addresses, but they won't get to control multiple accounts through one sign-in. Microsoft will start unlinking accounts in late July, so those who'd like a more orderly transition to the safer (if less convenient) approach will want to act quickly.

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Source: Outlook Blog

Microsoft finishes migrating Hotmail users to Outlook.com, adds direct SkyDrive sharing

Microsoft finishes migrating Hotmail users to Outlookcom, adds tighter SkyDrive sharing

When Microsoft took Outlook.com public, it also took on the rather daunting task of moving 300 million-plus Hotmail accounts over to the more modern infrastructure without drawing our wrath. However you feel about the new interface, that transition is at last complete: Outlook.com is now the sole front end for the over 400 million people who use Microsoft's free email services. Both Hotmail.com addresses and Hotmail Plus accounts will keep working despite the switch, the company says.

To mark the occasion, Microsoft is launching two significant upgrades. It's adding tighter SkyDrive integration that lets users attach files directly from their SkyDrive accounts, including optimized photo attachments. Those who rely on email aliases will also like that Microsoft has finally let us choose an SMTP server to send messages from non-Outlook addresses without revealing the true source -- we won't have to put up with "on behalf of" tags any longer. Both features are rolling out today.

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Source: Outlook Blog

Make Skype Calls Directly From Outlook.com Inbox, Preview Released in UK Today


Today marks an event of utmost importance in history. Microsoft is joining Skype with Outlook.com thereby making communication a cinch. According to official Skype Blog, now all conversations can...
    


Make Skype Calls Directly From Outlook.com Inbox, Preview Released in UK Today


Today marks an event of utmost importance in history. Microsoft is joining Skype with Outlook.com thereby making communication a cinch. According to official Skype Blog, now all conversations can...
    


Skype for Outlook.com preview launches in the UK, coming to the US soon

Skype for Outlookcom preview launches in the UK, coming to the US soon

Outlook.com's 60 million-plus users will have another feature to take advantage of soon, as Skype is previewing built-in web access to its service. Currently available in the UK (headed to the US and Germany in "coming weeks," -- worldwide this summer) it lets users make calls directly from their inbox via a browser plugin available for Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox. Users with existing Skype accounts will also need to link their account to to the website which will allow their contacts to be merged, with the idea of having more choices of how to reach out to close contacts. Gmail's added easy access to hangouts and even Facebook has integrated Skype-connected video into its messaging so we suppose it's necessary for feature parity, with the added bonus of Skype's large install base. There are two demo videos embedded after the break, or you can head to Skype's blog for more details.

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Source: Skype Blog, Outlook Blog

Outlook.com lets you sign in with an alias, adds 32 international email domains

Aside from the two-step verification feature revealed earlier today, Microsoft also rolled out a pair of updates for Outlook.com that are decidedly less important but welcome nonetheless. Namely, users are now able to sign in via a new alias instead of their initial username, and they can add a bit of international flair to their Outlook address with any of 32 new country-specific domains as well. It still might not have the support of trendy email apps, but at least Outlook seems to be trying to improve itself.

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Source: Outlook Blog

Outlook.com lets you sign in with an alias, adds 32 international email domains

Aside from the two-step verification feature revealed yesterday, Microsoft also rolled out a pair of updates for Outlook.com that are decidedly less important but welcome nonetheless. Namely, users are now able to sign in via a new alias instead of their initial username, and they can add a bit of international flair to their Outlook address with any of 32 new country-specific domains as well. It still might not have the support of trendy email apps, but at least Outlook seems to be trying to improve itself.

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Source: Outlook Blog

Outlook.com calendar gets redesign, offers improved nav and sharing options

DNP Outlookcom calendar revamp unveiled, carries redesign through mobile

Now that Outlook.com seems to have its email product sorted, the folks up in Redmond have turned their attention to that other popular cloud service: the online calendar. Indeed, Outlook.com has completely revamped its digital planner, resulting in a clean and fresh redesign that is reminiscent of the company's other web products. Overall navigation is said to be more intuitive; for example, adding and editing events takes just one click, and a day view is presented just by selecting the date. Features include Exchange ActiveSync compatibility, integration with social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, calendar-sharing with friends and family, the ability to import .ics files and more. As you might expect, the design philosophy carries over to the smartphone and tablet side of things as well. While we're not sure if the redesign is enough to woo fans over from its Mountain View counterpart, it's at least a lot easier on the eyes than it was previously. The new look is rolling out slowly starting today and will be available to all users this week.

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Source: Outlook Blog

Microsoft posts its first Law Enforcement Requests Report, shows US-centric scrutiny

Microsoft posts its first Law Enforcement Requests Report, shows US-centric scrutiny

Civil liberty advocates have had access to Google's Transparency Report and a handful of equivalents to understand just how frequently governments want our data. But what if we spend most of our time in Outlook.com, Skype or Xbox Live? Microsoft wants to show that it's equally concerned, and it's accordingly publishing its first-ever Law Enforcement Requests Report to reveal just how much attention the police gave to our information in 2012. The gist? While there were 75,378 international requests, 99 percent of the 1,558 actual content disclosures went straight to American agencies -- thankfully, with court warrants. Microsoft did get its fair share of FBI National Security Letter requests, although those may be short-lived. Different Microsoft services also received different levels of attention: Skype handed over certain account details but no actual content, while enterprise users were virtually untouched from Microsoft's position. The company plans to keep publishing these reports in the future, which should give us a better long-term sense of just how we're put under the microscope.

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Via: Official Microsoft Blog

Source: Microsoft

The Daily Roundup for 02.19.2013

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

HTC One unveiled

HTC One: 4.7-inch 1080p display, 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, UltraPixel camera, Android 4.1.2 with Sense 5.

HTC One hands-on: design and hardware

The HTC One made quite an entrance in London and New York today with a slick-looking design and re-imagined Android user experience.

Ubuntu for tablets revealed with split screen multi-tasking

Here it is: the fourth and final piece of the Ubuntu puzzle. We've seen the OS on smartphones, on TVs and of course on desktops, but the tablet version has spent a little longer in its dressing room.

Rumors claim Google will launch its own retail stores

On Friday, a report surfaced on 9to5Google that Google was making serious plans to open permanent retail locations, and it's been followed up today by the Wall Street Journal indicating the same thing.

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