Another round of updates is scheduled for Windows 8 and RT this Tuesday, but this week the stock apps are getting some love. Mail, Calendar, and People are getting updates with some much needed improvements (and a an unfortunate change.) The stock apps leave a lot to be desired, especially on Windows RT. Lets take a look at what these updates have to offer.
We’ll start off with Mail. Windows RT users will be very happy to hear that the app will be receiving some much needed speed improvements. On Windows RT the Mail app is dreadfully sluggish. There Folder creation, deletion, and renaming is now supported. Gmail users will be able to mark messages as spam and have it show up in their spam folders. other changes include an improved compose experience, better contact suggestion, better draft saving, and a lot more little changes that will go a long way to improve the app.
Calendar will be relieving a bittersweet update. On the plus side it will get better font sizes and colors for readability. There is a new work week view that only shows Monday through Friday. The current time is now displayed inline with appointments, and you can forward meeting invitations and check attendees. Unfortunately that’s where the good ends. On the negative side we have the removal of Google sync. After the update you will no longer be able to view Google Calendar events in the calendar. This is of course due to the Google killing off Exchange ActiveSync. No word on when new standards will be supported.
Lastly, the People Hub is getting a few minor tweaks. There is a new filter for the “What’s New?” feed, the ability to post on friend’s Facebook walls, and support for GAL (business users).
Nice updates for the stock apps, but we’re sad to see Google Calendar support go. If you absolutely need that you might want to consider holding off on the update. We’re not sure when Microsoft will implement the new standards to support CalDAV, but they are currently working on it for Windows Phone. Hopefully that means soon. Check Settings>Update tomorrow to install these updates.
[via The Verge]
