Office 365 web interface gains new enhancements

Microsoft continues to make web based use of Office 365 a more engaging experience by adding several new user features.

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

June 8, 2015

2 Min Read
Office 365 web interface gains new enhancements

You may recall that recently Office Sway, a popular application for creating, collaborating and sharing multimedia based presentations, was added to the Office 365 portfolio.

As the Office 365 suite of applications continues to grow and develop Microsoft is working to make the web based interface more functional by adding enhancements to the portal.

According to Nick Robinson from the Office 365 team the goal is simple:

"deliver a more consistent, personalized, and productive experience within Office 365 on the web—enabling you and your team to achieve more with the Office 365 web experience."

In this latest update there are four new areas that have been focused on to provide that to end users.

  • Quick access to notifications: A new notifications pane displays real-time updates on your system alerts, personal reminders and communications, including new mails and group likes.

  • Updated Help pane and “What’s new” feature introductions: The new Help pane delivers quick access to help content via a search box, as well as What’s new feature introductions related to the application you are currently working in.

  • Integration of Skype for Business conversations: You will now have the option to start an instant message, voice and/ or video conversation with one or several of your colleagues right from the productivity of your inbox, OneDrive for Business or calendar application.

  • Contextual and immersive settings: A new Settings pane provides direct access to contextual settings for the application you are working in, and quick access to the full Office 365 settings experience.

These new items will be rolled out to First Use customers initially over the next few weeks and then Office 365 business customers over several months.

This short video highlights these changes.

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

 

About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

Sign up for the ITPro Today newsletter
Stay on top of the IT universe with commentary, news analysis, how-to's, and tips delivered to your inbox daily.

You May Also Like