Whether you've recently logged into your account and realised it's had a complete makeover or you're completely new to Hotmail, we're certain you'll find emailing richer, easier and more efficient than ever before.
With simple objectives to save you time, de-clutter your inbox and access your Microsoft Office files from anywhere, Hotmail is now the efficient way to do email.
Save time on everyday email tasks
You no longer need to send multiple emails to combat file size restrictions on email attachments. So when you use Photo Gallery, Movie Maker or are just sharing files then the new Hotmail is guaranteed to simplify your life.
You can now send up to 200 photos or other files in a single email, up to 10GB in total size. Once you've sent your photos and your friends have viewed them in the new slideshow or thumbnail format, just store them online in Hotmail's SkyDrive. With 25GB of free storage space, you can archive all your photos and continually add new ones, without the concern of running out of space.
We've also introduced Hotmail's new Active Views which saves you time by bringing the content and functionality of over eighty partner websites into your Hotmail inbox. So when you receive a video link of your friend's favourite YouTube clip, Active Views will show you a thumbnail preview. If you like what you see, you won't be sent to all corners of the Net to view it — just watch it right then and there, all from inside your Hotmail inbox. Photos from Flickr, invitations from LinkedIn and tracking from eBay all receive a similar treatment.
De-clutter your inbox
If you haven't checked your emails in a while or they just have a habit of piling up, then it's important that you get to the ones you want, fast. With one-click filters you can get to the email that matters most without wasting time buried in a cluttered inbox.
Let's say you only want to see notifications from your social networks like Facebook or MySpace. Just click on the filter at the top of your inbox and instantly, you're able to view exactly what you're after. If you just want to catch up on emails from your Hotmail contacts, there's also a filter for that.
The simplest tools are often the best and this couldn't be truer for the new "Sweep" function. It works exactly as it sounds. Just think of it as a virtual broom for the emails you perceive as spam (or even emails with a similar theme) that can be "swept" into your trash. You can then go a step further and set up rules so important emails from specific senders always end up in folders you've previously set up.
We also recommend you try a few of the other 'de-cluttering' tools that now appear in Hotmail. Go ahead and play around with 'conversation threading' which will help you view conversations on the one topic all together. Or get to specific content quicker by trialling the Quick Views options shown on the left hand side of your inbox.
Use Microsoft Office anywhere — coming soon!
Imagine one of these scenarios:
— Your laptop battery dies just before an important presentation.
— You urgently need to work on a Word document while on a quick getaway interstate.
— You're seeking some feedback on a PowerPoint file before tomorrow's 9am presentation.
Enter the new Hotmail and each of these crises no longer sends your stress-o-meter skyrocketing.
Hotmail now gives you access to Office Web Apps, which is all the Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint and Excel all available from within Hotmail. Just login to Hotmail from your PC or Mac, create or edit a document with any of the Office programs you need and email it off to where it's got to go. That's about as difficult as it gets.
Files can then be stored in SkyDrive so you can say goodbye to your laptop carry bag, because you'll no longer need it.
Some other handy upgrades
Hotmail is now safer than ever, so less SPAM will weasel its way into your inbox.
You can also connect Hotmail to your favourite social networks (Facebook, MySpace amongst others). Effectively, you're connected with your friends whenever you're in Hotmail and Messenger (even from your iPhone).
Messenger also gets a facelift, so you can IM and SMS the people you care whenever you're logged in to Hotmail.
As you can see, we've taken a giant leap forward and we're glad you've come along for the ride. Make sure you check back here for more tips and updates on how to get the most out of the new Hotmail.
In the busy world we live in, Hotmail is most certainly the efficient way to do email.
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We want to hear from you, whether you like it or whether you’re having any issues or problems (or just found things you don’t like). You can leave comments in this blog, use our support forums or click the feedback link right in Hotmail (you can find it in the lower right corner of the page). We’ve already gotten lots of feedback, and we’ve already made some changes based on the feedback we’ve received – for instance, we no longer sign you into Messenger by default. We’ll continue to go through feedback, and we’ll continue to make improvements and updates. So, keep the comments coming and thanks for using Hotmail.
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