Skip to main content

Microsoft brought back this feature to the new version of Outlook

A tablet and a phone showing the calendar feature in the Outlook app.
Microsoft

Microsoft soft-launched a redesigned version of its Outlook app this year, and it hasn’t received the best reception. Not only will the new version of Outlook replace the old one, but it’ll also replace the default Windows Mail & Calendar app.

Recommended Videos

In attempts to slightly rectify the situation, however, Microsoft has posted a Windows 11 update that will include a change made to the new version of Outlook. While many of the larger design ideas haven’t been undone, Microsoft has added back a missing feature that was available in Outlook classic.

The feature, Narrator, will now once again auto-read the contents of an email. The change likely won’t win over any haters who are upset about the new version of Outlook, but it at least shows that Microsoft is paying attention to some of the missing features in the new version of Outlook.

In addition to bringing Narrator back to Outlook, Microsoft has also announced a new shortcut for Narrator. The keyboard shortcut Narrator key + control + x will copy the last thing Narrator spoke right into your clipboard.

The Windows 11 update also includes fixes to File Explorer. Microsoft says it “fixed an issue which was causing the items in the navigation pane to become very spread out (with unexpected padding between each item) for some people” and that it “fixed an underlying issue, which was causing RAW images taken in portrait mode to unexpectedly display in landscape mode thumbnails.”

These updates are part of the Windows 11 Build 27749 that came this week to Insiders in the Canary Channel.

Judy Sanhz
Judy Sanhz is a Digital Trends computing writer covering all computing news. Loves all operating systems and devices.
Microsoft might make your PC specs easier to understand
A command in the Command Prompt in Windows 11.

Microsoft released another preview build of Windows 11 this week, and someone has noticed an interesting addition to the system settings. There is now a FAQ section beneath the device specifications list, providing handy information about the practical impacts of your specs.

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lld3hsasiketetu767uagr6m/post/3lkmdy5p35s2g?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.theverge.com%252Fnews%252F632327%252Fmicrosoft-windows-11-system-device-specs-recommendations

Read more
Gemini’s new feature might make it your new favorite group project partner
EMBARGO: 18 March 2025 9am PT - new Gemini features.

Google has released new content for its Gemini assistant called Canvas -- a split-screen feature that lets you chat to Gemini on the left and see your changes appear in real-time on the right.

The idea is to make editing and iteration a smoother experience -- instead of scrolling up and down the chat to copy sections of output you're not happy with, you can just highlight the text in question on the right and tell Gemini what to change. The assistant will then edit the specified section and update the document, rather than generating a whole new version or spitting out additional paragraphs you need to splice together yourself.

Read more
Microsoft is working on making it easier to talk to your PC
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Windows 11 has support for voice commands like "Open Edge" largely for accessibility purposes but with the latest Insider preview build, it's taking a step toward going full Star Trek. Instead of remembering set phrases, Microsoft wants to enable users to give commands in more natural language.

This means you can open the Edge browser with just about any intuitive phrase that expresses your intent to "open Edge." You could say "Can you open Edge?", "Open Edge please," or "Switch to the Edge app," along with other variations. If Windows happens to get confused, it will show real-time command suggestions based on what it thinks you want so you can direct it successfully.

Read more