Ask the Hotmail team anything [and we'll reply via video]

[McKay]

Any plans to revamp the design, the current one is uninspiring and bland.

Yes, any plans to revamp the UI on the Hotmail site?

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

Not a question per say, but I wish hotmail had icons again. Sometimes using the browser version (which is rare) I find myself looking for the reply, forward and delete button. I guess I don't use the desktop version enough to remember email control placements.

[SuperKid]

Do you have any plans for a Mac app like Windows Live Mail?

[cybertimber2008]

Why doesn't the Hotmail app for Android 4.0 not work? It displays your account with a red triangle, then afterwards when you try to open it again, it tries to do so then closes, an uninstall and re install doesn't work.

Let me take this one: The "Hotmail" app made by "Microsoft + SEVEN" and various other developers is an obvious fake and likely a password stealing app. If it isn't by "Microsoft Corporation" (like OneNote Mobile) then it isn't a microsoft app.

Hey on that note I have one question thus far! What does the Hotmail team plan to do about these fake apps?

[PoohGQ]

Thank you for creating one of the best web email service in the world. I still don't know why they are people out there that have not realized the improvements made to the service. I only dream of more integration of all MS assets under one portal. I still see the major effects that the government leaches had on MS. I enjoy SkyDrive access on my mobile phone as I tend to work on both the desktop apps and save them to the Sky for access anywhere.

Now what will I get for free for all the a** kissing. :)

How will you address the issues concerning the multiple handles on Microsoft web sites. I have lost count on the number that I have as those only pop-up when I'm logged into my Hotmail account in a browser.

You pioneered cloud storage before it was known as cloud storage (e.g. Online photo & video storage under "MSN Explorer" days. My issue is I lost all my digital photos of my daughter, nieces, nephews and other relatives who leave abroad (I was never able to recover some of those memories) when you discontinued the service back in 2002 or 03. How can I trust upload my precious collection onto SkyDrive now?

[JustGeorge]

1. Why doesn't Hotmail offer 2-step verification (one time use code sent to phone) like competitors? It would virtually eliminate account highjacks unless the hacker also cloned the victims phone.

2. How about adding a login history (Dates, times and IP addresses) to Hotmail so I can easily verify my account isn't being accessed by others

[00000000000000000000000000]

I'd rather choose gmail because it's lighter and faster than hotmail. Does Microsoft have any plans to remove all the clutter/other services on hotmail because when most of us want to consult our email, we just want to consult our email. It's also not easy on the eyes. The font gets annoying and most of the email I get on my hotmail account is unfiltered spam, something gmail filters way better than hotmail. Thanks for reading.

[still1]

Let me take this one: The "Hotmail" app made by "Microsoft + SEVEN" and various other developers is an obvious fake and likely a password stealing app. If it isn't by "Microsoft Corporation" (like OneNote Mobile) then it isn't a microsoft app.

well, I think you SHOULD NOT answer questions if you dont know the answer... the app made by "Microsoft + SEVEN" is the official app from microsoft.

Click on the Android link on this link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/hotmail/mobile?T1=t1

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Let me take this one: The "Hotmail" app made by "Microsoft + SEVEN" and various other developers is an obvious fake and likely a password stealing app. If it isn't by "Microsoft Corporation" (like OneNote Mobile) then it isn't a microsoft app.

Hey on that note I have one question thus far! What does the Hotmail team plan to do about these fake apps?

If I could, I'd buy you guys a beer for asking that for me! THAT TOO, Microsoft....where's our official...REAL...droid app? I can't believe I didn't ask it myself...... :argh:

well, I think you SHOULD NOT answer questions if you dont know the answer... the app made by "Microsoft + SEVEN" is the official app from microsoft.

Click on the Android link on this link http://windows.micro...il/mobile?T1=t1

that may be true...but I still don't trust it, I mean, I use it, because of what the developer's name is and all, but I have problems changing, from say, my inbox to my junkmail folder with it...so it makes me wonder who is actually the developer....I mean, I could call myself a tomato all day long, but I'm still a human....I need some concrete-ness (just made that one up)

[subcld]

- i would love to see new UI with metro design google took Metro and added to gmail this should be done by Microsoft on hotmail not google with gmail

- Ok since skydrive part of windows live i would like to see one location not two for uploaded files through browser or or live mesh app or the future skydrive app

- yesterday i uploaded large excel sheet to skydrive and i can scroll and view it fast on IE9 but on firefox or opera its slow and cells are not organized correctly

good luck

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I'd rather choose gmail because it's lighter and faster than hotmail. Does Microsoft have any plans to remove all the clutter/other services on hotmail because when most of us want to consult our email, we just want to consult our email. It's also not easy on the eyes. The font gets annoying and most of the email I get on my hotmail account is unfiltered spam, something gmail filters way better than hotmail. Thanks for reading.

Wow, and I thought I had a unique username..........what's your arch-nemisis, 111111111111111111111111111111? LOL...j/k....rather unique, though! Props for that! :D

[Stokkolm]

Here is a list of issues I've had with Hotmail. I did recently try to switch from Gmail, but unfortunately, I had to move back.

1. Hotmail is ugly. Gmail has really nice themes with full screen pictures, Hotmail's themes consist of small differences to the top portion of the page.

2. Replying to emails, while functional, isn't as good as Gmail. Why load a new page when you could just load a small editing box or at least have that option.

3. Importing my emails from Gmail worked at first, but after a few hundred emails, it stopped importing. It even stopped importing new emails that would come into the Gmail inbox.

4. Ads, they're too big and in your face.

5. No archive option. It's nice to be able to hide emails you don't care about from your inbox.

[greenwizard88]

Not a question per say, but I wish hotmail had icons again. Sometimes using the browser version (which is rare) I find myself looking for the reply, forward and delete button. I guess I don't use the desktop version enough to remember email control placements.

This, a million times. Even if we don't get icons back, the UI could be more metro-y, instead of that blue gradient that I love to hate every time I log in :(

I really don't have any questions, as I use it every day without complaint. It does what I want, and doesn't get in my way. For that, thank you.

[ryde or die]

I agree with making the UI metrofied. But the main thing about the UI is responsiveness. I feel theres so much lag when trying to delete an email that I sometimes accidentally delete the next email. And there should be an undo button, like in GMail.

[Kevin.]

Hi Galileo and Nic. As someone who switched from Hotmail to Gmail, what convincing argument could you use to get me to switch back to Hotmail? Allow me to explain why I switched to Gmail:

-No IMAP support which is a deal breaker right out of the gate. It's 2012 and there's no excuse not to support when Gmail supports it right out of the box.

-Terrible UI. I'm not an interface designer so I can't suggest on how to make it better but Gmail's UI is much more simpler and easier to use.

-Gmail's spam filter is so much better. I've never gotten a single spam e-mail in my Gmail inbox whereas I get spam in my hotmail inbox. Spam that shouldn't be slipping through the filter.

-The name "Hotmail" is seen as unprofessional. I would never put a Hotmail address on a resume or on professional work.

Rebranding can go a long way at improving the reputation since the name "hotmail" has a stigma against it. Why not rebrand it as @office.com and replace the UI with Exchange 2010's Outlook Web Access UI? It would give it a big professional boost, maybe regarded even more professional than Gmail since Office is so widely used.

-There's also a matter of trust. I remember back then if you didn't log into your hotmail account for 30 days (although now it's 270 days) all of your e-mails would be deleted. This may have been more understandable back when space was more limited and expensive, but nowadays there's no reason to still have this policy around when space is much bigger and cheaper today. There's been times where I haven't logged into my Gmail for months and they never deleted any e-mails.

When Gmail first came out with a gig a storage that was absolutely mind blowing at the time. Gmail labs is one of the best things to ever come out of any web-based e-mail service. You need something that is absolutely compelling and not just playing catch up.

[JOHW]

Why doesn't Hotmail implement conversation threading as a choice for people who like it that way in Gmail and wouldn't hop over just because of this one feature?

EDIT: Just realized there's conversation threading in Hotmail as it is not by default, and there was no clear indication that this option was available. However, replying to an email brings you to a new email page, which breaks the flow of a conversation. After sending the email, we get a notification that the email has been sent. There's no auto-redirection to the inbox or the email we were replying to.

[-Alex-]

Hi Galileo and Nic. As someone who switched from Hotmail to Gmail, what convincing argument could you use to get me to switch back to Hotmail? Allow me to explain why I switched to Gmail:

<snip>

Best post so far!

[throwawar679]

Constructive criticism: hotmail UI feels dated and unprofessional, and I think this is one reason why people use Gmail as their "professional" email rather than hotmail. In other words, there is a connotation between hotmail and immaturity.

You can fix this by:

1) change UI to metro

2) change default theme to something simpler, maybe using two tone colours.

Personally, I like the current layout and font of hotmail, but I really don't like the immature themes. I'm yearning for a simple, two tone color that mirrors the simple color scheme of my windows phone's start screen.

Why doesn't Hotmail implement conversation threading as a choice for people who like it that way in Gmail and wouldn't hop over just because of this one feature?

EDIT: Just realized there's conversation threading in Hotmail as it is not by default, and there was no clear indication that this option was available. However, replying to an email brings you to a new email page, which breaks the flow of a conversation. After sending the email, we get a notification that the email has been sent. There's no auto-redirection to the inbox or the email we were replying to.

There's an option to go straight to your inbox. It's not default yet, but it's there. I turned it on as soon as the feature was available

I agree with making the UI metrofied. But the main thing about the UI is responsiveness. I feel theres so much lag when trying to delete an email that I sometimes accidentally delete the next email. And there should be an undo button, like in GMail.

I find that hotmail is very fast now, no matter what I do. I'm a hotmail user and Gmail user, so I've compared the two UIs and performance speeds. Speed is honestly the same.

[Kelvin_paull]

Hi, I have a question for the Hotmail team

I commonly use the search feature in hotmail to find emails and to mass remove emails that fit my search criteria.

I get a lot of results when I search in my hotmail inbox and I would like to sort them but I can't. The message I when I try to sort the emails is as follows

"Right now we can only sort your search results by date."

Are there any plans to include sorting by From, Subject or Size for search results??

Thanks in advance

Kelvin Paull

[Glassed Silver]

Indeed, Hotmail needs IMAP in order to look halfway decent. :/

I'm a VERY happy (and even paying) GMX user, however, I care about my friends who use it and I'd like them to have a better experience. (Y)

Glassed Silver:mac

[nytiger73]

In the Windows Live Mail client there is an option in the spam filtering that rather than sending junk mail to the junk mail folder, you can just have it permanently deleted without even seeing it. I seem to recall that this was an option a while back on the web based version of Hotmail, although I could be mistaken. I think this is a great feature that I would love to see implemented in the web version. Is this a possibility. I do understand that a feature like this might require some sort of multiple step confirmation process to save users from themselves (i.e. "I'm not getting my emails!").

Anyway, you get my drift and this is something I would like to see, or is there some sort of back door way to accomplish this?

In the Windows Live Mail client there is an option in the spam filtering that rather than sending junk mail to the junk mail folder, you can just have it permanently deleted without even seeing it. I seem to recall that this was an option a while back on the web based version of Hotmail, although I could be mistaken. I think this is a great feature that I would love to see implemented in the web version. Is this a possibility. I do understand that a feature like this might require some sort of multiple step confirmation process to save users from themselves (i.e. "I'm not getting my emails!").

Anyway, you get my drift and this is something I would like to see, or is there some sort of back door way to accomplish this?

[Rudy]

Any plans on adding regular exchange support. It would be nice to use a native client on OSX

[brent3000]

Lets give this a spin shall we,

Hotmail is the flagship for WP7 with regards to contacts and bring the link to all Social Networks,

Why has, or is Hotmail planning to, show better support for within the Hotmail COntact list to support Linking between social Networks? I find it too common when using my WP7 device etc that it does not seem to remember any linking or have any linking of its own on the website?

For example, unless the users defult email is set to their Live account etc there is no way to 'force link' the users together?

Also a lack of twitter from within Messenger but thats a diffrent department i gather :)

P.S. Love the work keep it up!

[shra1]

Hi Galileo & Nic,

I've been wanting to ask some very important stuff about Hotmail for a while now. However, I haven't found a support link anywhere in the UI. So here goes! :-)

Why are the SPAM Filters so bad? I keep getting mails in my inbox from random people claiming I've won lotteries, buy replica jewelry, buy replica watches, Viagra 20$ off!, etc. Doesn't Hotmail understand that its fake junkmail? I mean, I probably see one mail like that once in 2 months on Gmail, but more then 4-8 times a week on Hotmail. Also, I've tried to block out a particular domain ( ens.net.in & @enjayworld.co.in ) by repeatedly marking all emails as Junk. But they still find their way into my inbox. Please try & make the experience better. Fortunately or unfortunately, when Windows Live Domains launched about 3-4 months before Google Apps, I was quick to jump on-board for my domain's email to Hotmail as at that time, it was something that was unique! Now however, I keep wishing I'd waited until Google Apps had launched. Here's hoping that there's going to be a sea change in Hotmail!

Cheers!

Shravan

[Athlonite]

Not so much an Hotmail question but a service related one when can we expect Skydrive to work with Opera 11.6x or 12.xx Next x86/OOP x64 we're getting mighty sick of it telling us we can not upload a folder when trying to upload a single .jpg file