Make Office Better
Top tips for the best office programs
MICROSOFT OUTLOOK ON THE WEB
Use your voice to ‘write’ emails
One of the reasons we don’t like the new version of Outlook (as explained in Issue 686, page 62) is that Microsoft has based its design on the online version of Outlook. This is an odd look for a downloadable program, and so we wouldn’t blame you for taking Microsoft’s hint and switching entirely to the free ‘Outlook on the web’ (which is the company’s official name for the online tool).
It’s free at www.outlook.comand has a decent selection of features that don’t clutter the design. One of these is a dictation tool that lets you speak rather than type your email. Open a new email or start replying to one, then click Message in the top toolbar. Now place your cursor in the body of the email then click the microphone icon at the top right ( 1 in our screenshot). Start talking and Outlook should recognise what you’re saying.