Top 3 FREE add-ins for Outlook in 2024

Hey everyone — it’s John from On The Pulse.

How are you all doing this week?

In this week’s edition of On The Pulse, we’re giving you our top 3 FREE must-have add-ins for Outlook. Also, we’ve got good news for classic Outlook users!

This week’s topics include:

🤖 Copilot+ PCs Now Available for Purchase
🔄 New “Restyle” Feature in Microsoft Designer
📊 Copilot Now Available in Classic Outlook

Let’s Go!👇

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✉️ TOP STORIES (WITH OUR INSIGHTS)

🤖 Copilot+ PCs Now Available for Purchase

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC range of laptops are now available for purchase at microsoft.com.

Full Story and Our Insights:

A few weeks ago, we announced that Microsoft were releasing their Copilot+ PC range of laptops, slated as the “most intelligent PCs” ever built.

These super-intelligent laptops are now available for purchase under the Surface brand, including Surface Laptop and Surface Pro models.

These devices are designed to be thin, light, and aesthetically pleasing, catering to various user needs such as creative projects, social connections, and business endeavors.

The Copilot+ PC range are positioned as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs available, featuring the new “recall” feature, and multiple configurations and color options starting at $999 ERP.

Product	Specifications	Price
Surface Laptop (7th Edition), 13.8-inch Display, Black	Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) Processor, 1TB SSD Storage	$2,399.99 ERP USD
Surface Laptop (7th Edition), 15-inch Display, Black	Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) Processor, 1TB SSD Storage	$2,499.99 ERP USD
Surface Pro Essentials Bundle	Includes Microsoft 365 subscription and Microsoft Complete Protection Plan. 20% off accessories.	Starting at $1,144 ERP USD

🔄 New “Restyle” Feature in Microsoft Designer

The new Restyle feature for Microsoft Designer allows you to upload an image and restyle it using various predefined styles such as Cartoon, Pixel Art, and 3D.

Full Story and Our Insights:

If you ever need to restyle your images to create a fresh look, this new feature in Microsoft Designer has everything you need to make that happen.

First, sign into Microsoft Designer.
Scroll down and locate “Restyle image” in the “Get started with generative AI” section.
Click “Try it.”
You may be prompted to “Agree.”
Click “Image” in the top left and choose an image to upload.
Click “Style” and choose a style.
Optionally, click “Background elements” and type in any additional elements you want in the image.
Click “Generate” to restyle your image.

📊 Copilot Now Available in Classic Outlook

Microsoft has announced that Copilot will now be available for users in Classic Outlook.

Full Story and Our Insights:

At the last Ignite event, Microsoft announced plans for integrating Copilot into Outlook, prioritizing the new Outlook for Windows. Recognizing that many users still rely on classic Outlook, Microsoft has been gradually rolling out Copilot features to this version as well.

Key Features in Classic Outlook:

Summarize by Copilot:
- Provides quick summaries of email threads.
- Accessible via the “Summarize” button in the reading pane.
- Available in build 16.0.17028.10000 in Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel.
Coaching by Copilot:
- Offers suggestions to improve email tone, clarity, and sentiment.
- Accessible via the Copilot icon in the ribbon.
- Available in build 16.0.17231.20182 in Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel.
Draft with Copilot:
- Assists in drafting emails from prompts with adjustable tone and length.
- Accessible via the Copilot icon in the ribbon.
- Available in build 16.0.17425.20174 in Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel.

Starting in June, the Copilot for Microsoft 365 chat experience will also be available in classic Outlook, allowing users to draft emails, summarize conversations, and connect across enterprise data without leaving Outlook.

This feature will be pinned by default on the left app bar and will roll out to the Current Channel in June and the Monthly Enterprise Channel in August.

Note: Copilot in Outlook requires a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license.