One of the slickest features on Google’s Gmail is Smart Compose, a text prediction tool that makes writing mails more fluid. It seems Microsoft is now working on a similar feature for its Outlook email client.
A support document points to the tool arriving on Outlook.com and Outlook for the web, providing a predictive technology that provides suggestions as an email is composed.
In the document, Microsoft explains how users can select the suggestions with the tab or right arrow keyboard keys. Suggestions can be dismissed by simply continuing to type.
Looking at the document, it seems Microsoft will launch the feature to relevant Outlook versions this month. At the moment, the ability is classified as “in developments” on the Microsoft 365 feature roadmap.
Other Outlook features in the pipeline include a “Send Later” tool that will allow Outlook for the web users to schedule emails. This is a long-awaited tool that will be welcomed by many users. In fact, it’s a surprise Microsoft has not added this feature sooner considering Outlook’s enterprise leanings.
Outlook Spaces
Another interesting Outlook tool Microsoft is working on is called Spaces. The company is developing the platform as a rival to task management service Trello.
With Outlook Spaces, users can create their own individual “spaces” for separate projects. Yes, this is very much like Trello cards and Spaces is clearly Microsoft putting a target on the task management tool and aiming for it.
In fact, Outlook Spaces even uses cards for holding individual content with space. Within these cards, users can edit content, type notes, tick off tasks, and schedule responses. Of course, the platform will also tap into Microsoft’s various Office tools, including app widgets for Word and Excel.