Make Office Better Attach files from online storage

In Issue 487 (page 60), we explained how Outlook.com was being upgraded and what you needed to do. A new feature in the latest version is the option to attach files from Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or Facebook (you could only do this with Onedrive previously).

First, you need to make sure you’re using the updated version. Go to www.outlook.com, then log in using your Microsoft (Outlook or Hotmail) account. If the top bar has Outlook Mail or Outlook Email on it (see top left of screenshot), you’re using the latest version. If you still see a blue header with Outlook.com on it, you’re still using the old version and won’t have access to the new features (your account should be upgraded over the coming weeks).

To use the new attachment options, click ‘+New’ at the top left, write your email, then click the paper-clip icon at the bottom (to add an attachment). Click the account you want to use on the left, log into that account, then click Allow. Navigate to the relevant folder, tick to select the files you want to attach, click Next (see screenshot), then click Attach and send your email.

As well as letting you stay in contact with friends and family, Allo can also put you in touch with Google Assistant – Google’s personal helper, which is similar to Cortana on Windows 10. We think it’s more useful than Microsoft’s tool and certainly less obtrusive. To see what it can do type help into the chat window to see a list of categories. Tap one to bring up a guide to the types of task it can do, along with optional questions to help get you started.

One of Google Assistant’s best features lets you set up news reports or weather updates at certain times (Google calls these ‘subscriptions’). For example, type Show me the local weather at 8am every day, then tap the ‘Yes at 8am’ button when prompted.

You can set as many of these as you like. To see all active subscriptions, type show active subscriptions and scroll from left to right. To cancel one, tap it then select ‘Cancel the subscription’ from the list of automatic replies.