You can read about part 1 of the Windows Live Mail preview. This post concentrates on the main portion of Windows Live Mail - the Mail part. You can drag-and-drop, resize the columns and more. It’s new interface is more functional and quicker, but it lacks the simplicity that Gmail offers. I find that with the new interface of Hotmail, I get my mail faster significantly - much thanks goes to the three-column interface.
Drag-and-drop fun
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(You can now drag-and-drop email messages into folders.)
It’s probably one of the simplest feature you can think of in a normal desktop application but it sure took a decade before web mail evolved into incorporating such drag-and-drop features. Even in desktop applications, it is probably one of the most “forgotten” features. Most people just don’t think of using such features. I am a fan of drag-and-drop interfaces and I just have to mention this feature in Windows Live Mail. [Click here for a larger image.]
Handling unknown senders
Also, like what you see in Gmail and Outlook, images will not be shown if it’s from an unknown sender. Windows Live Mail went a bit further by even disabling links. Remember those “Click here if you can’t view the email correctly” links to link you to the web page to let you view correctly? Well, guess what, those links are disabled. I’m not complaining by the way, I’m just amused.
Right-clicking on multiple emails
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(You can also select multiple emails and right click.)
Most computer uses still prefer right clicking or copy-and-paste to get things done. Windows Live Mail has right clicking too. Select multiple emails by clicking with CTRL button held down, then right click to mark multiple messages read. It works just like a desktop application. [Click here for a larger image.]
Resizing your three columns
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(And the three columns can be resized easily.)
Think you don’t have enough space to read your email? You can resize it easily. My complaint is that no matter how I resize, I still don’t have enough space. This is due to the vertical advertisement that Windows Live Mail, like Hotmail, places on the right hand size. It takes up about 200 to 250 pixels maybe, and it’s precious when three columns are used instead of two. [Click here for a larger image.]
More to come
Well, the last part of this preview is on writing emails messages in Windows Live Mail. I actually intended to have 2 posts only, I guess it went to 3.
[On a side note, I have 7 Windows Live Messenger invites to give away now.]
wah…you making me want to use Live mail leh..
by cockroach//è??è?? (Feb 2, 2006 at 8 PM)Nice, but I will still stick with M2 especially the Access Points of Opera & the automatic mail sorting by those access points is an unbeatable concept for me , since I am lazy =)
by Nafcom (Feb 3, 2006 at 6 AM)cockroach//è??è??: hahaa, I can only use it at home unfortunately. I can never check my mail with the Live experience in the army. I just see a bunch of Javascript errors.
I hope they fix them or at least provide some sort of compatibility mode to solve it.
Nafcom: Hey, you’re using Opera 9 now? I don’t really use Opera’s mail, but I use Opera to surf around too. I alternate between Opera and Internet Explorer, it’s about 50-50 chance I use either. I’m there for the tabs and speed.
by Mr. Dew (Feb 4, 2006 at 8 AM)@Mr Dew: Despite the bugs in Opera 9 Technical Preview 1 I use it, yep!
by Nafcom (Feb 5, 2006 at 1 AM)Especially because of the possibility to speed up the browsing speed! =)
Nafcom: I am using Opera 9 now! I don’t think it is faster though. But I never disliked upgrades. I welcome them, hehee. Opera 9 feels similar though. I haven’t got a chance to try the BitTorrent feature that’s been just added.
by Mr. Dew (Feb 19, 2006 at 4 PM)[...] Well, here comes part 3 of the Windows Live Mail preview. You can check out part 1 and part 2 first before you read this. [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » live//three (Dec 21, 2006 at 11 PM)