Good News in the May Windows Desktop Outlook Beta Preview

Microsoft in May released a beta preview of their upcoming newWindows Desktop Outlook, and it contains good news for MYN users. Microsoft hasnot abandoned the original Tasks module—it’s still in there!

That’s important because the original Tasks module is needed touse MYN in Outlook. So we now know that MYN users can continue implementing the MYN system in the newest version of Windows Desktop Outlook.

I Was Getting Nervous!

Before this release, I was getting nervous! I was nervous becauseall other new Outlook versions had, in most their recent updates, dropped that originalTasks module, favoring the newer (but weaker) To Do tasks module. For example, Outlookfor Mac fully dropped it recently, and Outlook Online dropped it a while back.Tablet versions don’t support it.

Clearly, Microsoft seemed to be moving away from that Tasksmodule, and Windows Desktop Outlook was the only remaining Outlookversion retaining that old Outlook Tasks module. So, I was anxious to see what thenext update of Windows Desktop Outlook would bring us. Would Microsoft drop itthere too?

But MYN users can rest easy: Microsoft is keeping thatoriginal Tasks module in Windows Desktop Outlook. Bravo! In fact, as you’ll seebelow, Microsoft included both it and To Do, giving everyone a choice.

Similar to Previous Versions

You might wonder, though, has anything else significant changed in this new version for MYN users? Well, this new version looks very similar to the current Outlook release as shown in image above.

And as far as we can see, it implements the Tasks moduleidentically to the earlier versions.

For example, as shown on the right side of the image above,you can see it still enables the To-Bar pop up task list and all MYN settingswork the same there. All special MYN Tasks folder views can still be set up,too. And ClearContext Corp tells us their add-in software called MYN Views shouldstill work. So gratefully, everything MYN users are accustomed to will work inthis latest release. In fact, all current MYN settings should be imported whenyou upgrade.

Now, as you would expect, there are a bunch of changesin this release; after all, why release a new version? But most changes aren’trelated to managing tasks, and so I won’t review most of them here.

Includes Both Tasks and To Do

There is one change I will mention though. The newOutlook now includes both task modules: the original Tasks module andthe newer To Do module—they are both built in. Let me show you that.

First, you’ll now find two task links on Outlook’s left-sidenavigation bar, shown in the image below. The top one launches the originalTasks module, and the next one launches To Do. You choose just by clicking. 

To Do now Opens within Outlook

Even more important is this: when you click the To Do modulelink shown above, the full To Do app opens within the Outlook app. It’snow part of desktop Outlook.

Microsoft never did this before. In all other Outlook or Officeapps, when you click the To Do link, you jump from the current app to a browsertab, launching To Do’s web app. But no longer; To Do now opens inside theOutlook app as shown below. To Do users will appreciate that, especially those using 1MTD.

Differences between the To Do Module and Tasks

Let’s step back a bit. In case you have not read or watched mymany previous reviews of To Do, let me remind you of the differences betweenthe To Do app and the original Tasks module, and why that matters when usingthe MYN tasks system.

To Do has no 3-level priority field. To Do has no start datefield. And To Do includes very few opportunities to customize task views. Overall,To Do has dramatically fewer features compared to the original Tasks module. Andit’s that lack of power that eliminates To Do as a choice for using MYN.

To Do’s positives? It’s much simpler than the originalOutlook Tasks module; it’s simpler to learn and simpler to use. A new user canadopt it quickly. In this age of short attention spans, that’s apparently what manypeople want.

One other good thing: To Do automatically syncs all its taskswith the original Tasks module. So if you enter a task in To Do, it promptlypops into the Tasks module and vice versa. During that sync, fields such astask name, categories, and due dates sync as well. That sync is useful as I’lldescribe next.

Smartphone Apps

Perhap To Do’s best attribute is its excellent native iPhoneand Android apps. They really are great apps. In contrast, Microsoft nevercreated native smartphone apps for the Tasks module.

By syning To Do and Tasks modules on the server, MYN Outlookusers can use those smartphone apps—somewhat. For example, for entering newtasks while on the road. Or for viewing your highest-priority tasks (they are starredin To Do).

However, you cannot configure the To Do smartphone apps with “real”MYN views. So MYN users who want a full MYN view in their smartphone must use athird-party app like Preside or TaskTask to see and manipulate MYN tasks. Wileboth are good apps, they are not native Microsoft apps, so they don’t connectwith all Microsoft servers.

Another approach MYN users can take to solve the smartphoneissue is this: Consider using Todoist, or Toodledo for tasks insteadof either To Do or Outlook Tasks. Both the Todoist and Toodledo app families implementMYN well on their smartphone apps. Using either of these app families on your phoneand computer, you can then continue to use Outlook for email and calendar (or useGmail for that matter) while jumping to Todoist or Toodledo for managing tasks.Both have good links to Outlook and Gmail, too.

The Many Versions of Outlook Can Get Confusing

But let’s get back to discussing the new Windows DesktopOutlook beta release. First, do not confuse this app with other Outlookversions like Outlook for Mac, Outlook Online, Outlook iOS or Android. TheOutlook label is overused and gets confusing. Microsoft is merging theirfunctionality, but versions still differ greatly. For example, dual access toboth To Do and Tasks is only in this new Windows version.

Also, don’t confuse this latest Windows release with a beta versionof Windows Outlook released earlier in May. It was reviewed extensively in thecomputer press as the new “One Outlook.” While that version looks nearlyidentical, it has far fewer features including no access to the old Tasksmodule, nor access to add ins. Rumor is, Microsoft will retain it or a similar scaled-backversion to replace the free Windows 11 Mail and Calendar apps delivered on all newWindows computers.

But if you are an MYN user on Windows, ignore that version. You’llwant the full new Windows Desktop Outlook that includes the original Tasksmodule, as I discussed above. It’s the paid one sold with Microsoft Office as partof a Microsoft 365 paid subscription or through your company’s subscription.

Get It Now?

Should you get that beta now? Well, if you have the currentcopy of Windows Desktop Outlook and you use MYN, I see no reason to rush to getthis. The current release works fine for MYN. And since it’s beta, it’s likelymissing features.

Granted, if you use To Do, it’s nice that To Do launcheswithin Outlook now. But using To Do in a separate app still works fine too. Alltasks still sync, and any emails you convert to tasks in Outlook still conveyinto that separate app. So again, no need to rush.

But if you really want to test it out now, the new WindowsDesktop Outlook upgrade is reportedly available only to Beta Channel usersrunning Version 2205 (Build 15225.20000) or later. I belong to that channel,and this new version installed automatically on my computer recently. Once installed,you will need to activate the new features using the Coming Soon, Try It Now togglein the upper right.

Conclusion

MYN users on Windows Desktop Outlook can now rest easy knowingthat Microsoft is continuing to support its more powerful, original Tasksmodule in the latest Windows Desktop Outlook release. That bodes well for MYN’sfuture in Outlook—and really for everyone using tasks in Outlook.

And for those using To Do, it’s good to see To Do as a full,built-in module in Windows Desktop Outlook. No more jumping to a web browser touse it.

This is all good news!