[Trainer-Talk] Possible Mistake and Confusion regarding Microsoft Outlook

[Reginald George]

To me, this  belies  Microsoft’s supposed commitment to putting accessibility first, and not trying to bolt it on as an afterthought.   When they slap the same name on five different programs, It feels like the confusion is deliberate for marketing purposes. I still don’t understand, even after reading the clarifications, whether the free Windows version called outlook that’s replacing mail is going to be as accessible for screen, reader users  as mail was. It feels like the intent is to force people away from using email and into more secure and trackable interfaces.   The windows mail interface was clunky and lacking in usability,  but at least it worked. Changing the name from office 365 to Microsoft 365 blurs the lines of what are productivity apps and again lumps things together under a meaningless title. And I don’t understand why they continue to do this. 

Reg
Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. Alan Saunders, John Lennon 
Sent from my self driving starship!  

On Aug 7, 2024, at 8:11 AM, Brian Vogel via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

*Too many Microsoft Outlook's - we explain them all*
<https://office-watch.com/2022/many-faces-of-microsoft-outlook/>  (last
updated July 2024)


The long and the short of it, as of today's date is this:


1. Outlook for Windows - Official name of what replaces the Mail, People,
and Calendar Apps on Windows 10 & 11.  Free.


2. Outlook 365 -  Is one program, with two user interface variants:

         a) New Outlook - this UI and the UI for Outlook for Windows are
virtually identical and while not inaccessible, are not particularly screen
reader friendly.  Much of the functionality we know and love in Outlook 365
(classic) is missing.

         b) Outlook Classic, which is, at times, styled Outlook
(Classic).  It will be supported until 2029.

         c)  One can toggle between the New Outlook and Outlook Classic
User Interface in Outlook 365.  Even though it's now past the preview
stage, the instructions for toggling between New Outlook and Outlook
Classic remain the same:  Getting back to Outlook Classic User Interface if
you're in the Inaccessible New Outlook User Interface (AKA Outlook Preview
or Outlook PRE)
<https://groups.io/g/M365-Accessibility/topic/99025717?p=%2C%2C%2C100%2C0%2C0%2C0%3A%3Arecentpostdate%2Fsticky%2C%2Coutlook+classic%2C100%2C2%2C0%2C99025717%2Cct%253D1&ct=1>

         d) If the simplified ribbons are showing in Outlook Classic,
here's how you go back to the full ribbons: Restoring the Classic Ribbons
in Outlook 365 <https://groups.io/g/M365-Accessibility/message/7552>



Brian V
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