Softing Microfuck!
Microsoft is force-replacing the Windows Mail app with an app called "Outlook for Windows," as if confusion with Office Outlook/Outlook 365, Outlook Web Access, & the Outlook that replaced Hotmail wasn't enough.
Adding even more confusion, it's referenced in-app only as "The New Outlook," & the icon is a generic mail envelope with the word "New" as a badge.
But worst of all, it doesn't fucking work with *existing* POP3/IMAP4 accounts! "Your access is gone now, good luck!"
re: Softing Microfuck!
Microsoft's default mail reader in Windows:
Internet Mail (pre-IE5)
Outlook Express (IE5, IE6, XP)
Windows Mail (Vista)
Windows Live Mail (Vista, 7, 8, 8.1)
nothing (8, 8.1)
Mail (10)
Outlook for Windows (10, 11)
This latest switcheroo is the first time ever that I've seen end users' mail account access straight up vanish without catastrophic hardware failure, PC replacement, or major OS version upgrade.
Never using Microsoft's default applications includes for mail.
re: Softing Microfuck!
Outlook for Windows promises to restore access to blocked POP3 and IMAP4 accounts, but only if you agree to synching them with Microsoft's cloud servers.
Remember: "the cloud" is just a fancy way of saying "someone else's computer," & that someone else doesn't need to give you the time of day, let alone access to the computer, even if you paid for it.
And Microsoft doesn't make clear whether it's settings or content that's synched.
Given Bing AI, assume it's content.
re: Softing Microfuck! (useful procedure)
If it surprises someone you know, & if, like my customers, they just want to go back, then here's my procedure until Microsoft makes the change permanent:
1. Click on the gear icon along the window's title bar.
2. Navigate to "General" (far left), then "About Outlook" (next column to right).
3. Click on the "Open Mail now" button.
4. Give Microsoft a piece of your mind & click "Submit," or don't & click "Skip Feedback," both at the bottom.
