Search OutlookPower's 8,981 Outlook and all-things-email article archive 
Home
EasyPrint
News details Click here for the RSS feed's XML code. This is not a browser URL.
Articles-only Click here for the RSS feed's XML code. This is not a browser URL.
Twitter Feed Click here for the Twitter feed.
THIS WEEK'S POWERTIP
Is it Service Pack time already?
By Diane Poremsky

Although Office 2003 was released just three months ago, Microsoft is already planning for Service Pack 1. While service packs rarely contain new features, they do try to fix existing features that aren't working the way users expect them to.

I'm compiling a list of things that I think need fixed in SP1, including the ability to choose between re-using Internet Explorer windows or opening new windows when opening URLs from Outlook. Customizing the Navigation pane, including the ability to remove Favorite Folders is also on my list.

If there is a feature in Outlook 2003 that you feel isn't working correctly, email me at outlook@cdolive.com as soon as possible and I'll add it to my list. Be sure to explain why you think the feature needs changed. You can also send requests to mswish@microsoft.com, entering Outlook in the subject line. Again, be sure to include why your wish is important or useful.

While I can't guarantee they will follow our suggestions, it doesn't hurt to ask.

One suggestion that won't make it into SP1 is newsgroup support, but just because Microsoft won't add it doesn't mean you can't have newsgroups in Outlook. An Outlook add-in called Newsgator (at http://www.newsgator.com) pulls RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds into Outlook and can pull newsgroup posts from any news server. At this time, you can't use it to post to newsgroups, but it's great if you like to read newsgroups and rarely post or want to create an archive of your favorite newsgroups.

IntraVnews (at http://www.intravnews.com) is another RSS addin for Outlook. While it doesn't pull newsgroups, it can pull complete news articles into Outlook, so you can read the articles offline. Because the articles are HTML, they often are in the 50 to 100kb range.

My favorite RSS feeds include Dilbert (http://dwlt.net/tapestry/dilbert.rdf), Slipstick.com's Outlook and Exchange news (http://www.slipstick.com/rssnews/rssnews.aspx), and my own Outlook Tips (http://lists.outlooktips.net/rss/index.rdf). OutlookPower itself also has an RSS 0.92 feed, at http://www.outlookpower.com/shares/userland-rss/channeldata.xml. These "feeds" all require you to use an RSS reader, a program different from your browser.

We'll be talking more about what RSS is, and how you can take advantage of it in Outlook in future issues.

Product availability and resources
For more information on Newsgator, visit http://www.newsgator.com.

For more information on IntraVnews, visit http://www.intravnews.com.

To get your Dilbert fix via RSS, visit http://dwlt.net/tapestry/dilbert.rdf (requires an RSS reader).

To get Slipstick.com's Outlook and Exchange news via RSS, visit http://www.slipstick.com/rssnews/rssnews.aspx (requires an RSS reader).

To get Diane's Outlook Tips via RSS, visit http://lists.outlooktips.net/rss/index.rdf (requires an RSS reader).

For OutlookPower's own official RSS 0.92 feed, visit http://www.outlookpower.com/shares/userland-rss/channeldata.xml (requires an RSS reader).

Diane Poremsky is the president of CDOLive LLC and a Microsoft Outlook MVP. She's author of Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours (Sam's, 2003) and coauthor of OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide). For questions or suggestions for future columns, write her at outlook@cdolive.com.


Other articles you might like
Home > Using Outlook > Migration & Setup > Updates > Outlook > Outlook 2003 (6 articles)
   Readers share their Outlook 2003 SP1 wishlist
   Important Outlook 2003 updates you may need to install
   Navigating Outlook 2003
Home > Using Outlook > Older Outlooks > Outlook 2003 > Updates (4 articles)
   Readers share their Outlook 2003 SP1 wishlist
   Important Outlook 2003 updates you may need to install
   Navigating Outlook 2003
Get Weekly Email Updates
Subscribe to our regular weekly email newsletter. It's packed with tips, reviews, deep analysis, and the latest news.
 
Recent OutlookPower Articles
Running auto-respond rules when Outlook is closed
Running rules when Outlook is closed
Disappearing text that's not supposed to disappear
What to do when Outlook complains about a program you know you uninstalled
Nothing says new year better than emails from crazy people
Say goodbye to the Uh-Ohs. Long live the Tens.
How to have a clean inbox in 2010
OutlookPower News Center
EML to PST Converter - Conversion of Popular Email Formats to Outlook
Windows 2000, XP SP2, Vista RTM support nears end
Windows 7 Just Being Honest About Battery Life
Remo Software Launches Data Recovery Software
US scientists get free cloud on-ramp
Leaky anti-virus defences letting malware through
Patch Tuesday Release Will Tie Microsoft's Record
>> Read all the news
More from the ZATZ journals
Computing Unplugged: The iPad: Apple's latest heartbreaker
David Gewirtz Online: CNN commentary and analysis
DominoPower: Lotusphere 2010: mobility and collaboration
-- Advertisement --

BLOGGING AND PODCASTING WITH ONE EASY-TO-USE TOOL
Now you can publish your thoughts, opinions, and comments in your own blog or podcast.

  • Supports multiple authors and multiple blogs or podcasts.
  • Generate and publish RSS feeds for iTunes and other directories.
  • Post photos, images or animations.
  • Get feedback and have conversations with visitors to your site.

Personalize your blog or podcast with your own unique domain name -- or integrate it with your existing site by setting it up as a subdomain.

Tap here and get blogging or podcasting within minutes.

-- Advertisement --

Sent Items Organizer
When you need to file your sent email into their proper folders based on keywords or who it's to. It's also perfect for shared mailboxes.

It also adds a "Send And File" toolbar button while you're composing (similar to the way Lotus Notes used to work) for quick and easy filing.

Find out more!

ZATZ Home  ·  News  ·  Back Issues  ·  Credits/Trademarks ·  Link To Us
The Power Magazine for Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Users at OutlookPower.com
Copyright © 1998-2010, ZATZ Publishing. All rights reserved worldwide.
Outlook is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Editor's Login