Microsoft to Discontinue Windows Mail, Calendar, and People Apps in Favor of Outlook

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Microsoft has officially announced that it will end support for the Windows Mail, Calendar, and People apps by the end of this year, marking a significant shift in how the company handles its email and scheduling tools. Instead of relying on separate apps for each service, Microsoft is directing users to its new Outlook for Windows app, which consolidates emails, calendar events, and contacts into a single, unified platform. This change is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to streamline its productivity offerings and encourage users to embrace the enhanced capabilities of Outlook.

According to a blog post from Microsoft, the company has decided to phase out the Mail, Calendar, and People apps to make way for a more integrated experience within Outlook. The redesigned Outlook app boasts a simpler user interface along with a host of new features designed to improve efficiency. After December 31, users will no longer be able to send or receive emails through the existing Mail and Calendar apps. Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to Outlook for continued access to their email, calendar, and contact management services.

For users who are concerned about the transition, Microsoft has assured them that local data such as emails, calendar events, and contacts stored in the Mail, Calendar, and People apps will still be exportable. This means that users can back up their information before fully migrating to Outlook. Additionally, Microsoft is providing flexibility by allowing users who are not interested in the Outlook app to revert to the older Mail and Calendar apps, though they will lose support and updates.

The new Outlook for Windows app will support a variety of email accounts, including those hosted by Microsoft (like Outlook and Hotmail), as well as work and school accounts. The app will also be compatible with third-party services such as Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud through the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), ensuring that users have access to a wide range of email platforms within the new ecosystem. This move signifies Microsoft’s commitment to improving the user experience by focusing on a single, powerful app for managing multiple communication and scheduling needs

The launch date for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series has reportedly been leaked, with the release possibly coming earlier than expected.

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Samsung typically unveils its latest Galaxy S series smartphones in late January or early February, with the exact dates varying each year. However, a recent leak suggests that the company might launch its upcoming Galaxy S25 series earlier than usual. While Samsung has yet to officially confirm the launch date, the new series, including the base Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and a potential Slim variant, could hit the market ahead of its typical schedule. Last year’s Galaxy S24 series was unveiled in January, while the S23 lineup debuted in February 2023, indicating that Samsung often keeps a tight timeline for its flagship launches.

The rumors of an early release gained traction following the discovery of a leaked promotional survey, shared by X user IMEI Pham. Screenshots of the survey, translated from Vietnamese, show that users who complete the survey will receive a 10% discount on the 2025 Galaxy S series. The survey specifically mentions “January 5” as the date when the promotion will be available, hinting that the official announcement for the Galaxy S25 lineup could occur around that time. If true, this would mark an unusually early launch for Samsung’s flagship phones.

This leak suggests that Samsung is considering moving up the announcement for the Galaxy S25 series compared to the previous year. For instance, the Galaxy S24 series was introduced during the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17, 2024, with pre-orders opening the same day. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 series was unveiled on February 1, 2023, and became available for purchase later that month on February 17. Thus, a January 5 announcement would be a significant shift in Samsung’s usual timing for the series.

While the exact details are still under wraps, the early January timeline is supported by the leaked survey and could indicate that Samsung is aiming for a quicker market entry for its next-generation flagship devices. If this early release pattern holds true, it could be part of a broader strategy to gain a competitive edge in the highly competitive smartphone market, which sees numerous high-end releases from various brands early in the year.

Google is reportedly enhancing Gemini Live to enable support for user-uploaded files.

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Google is reportedly enhancing its Gemini AI with a new feature that will allow Gemini Live, the two-way verbal conversation tool, to interact with uploaded files. Currently, users can engage with content via text, but the upcoming update will enable Gemini Live to handle voice interactions with files as well. This new functionality is expected to make the chatbot even more versatile by allowing users to verbally discuss and manipulate files, providing a more hands-free, efficient experience for those using the platform.

Gemini Live, which is designed for real-time, interactive conversations, will soon allow users to upload and discuss files through voice commands. The new feature has been uncovered through an APK teardown of the Google app’s beta version, revealing several code strings that point to its development. Phrases like “Open Live,” “Talk about attachment,” and “Open Live with attachment” suggest that Gemini Live will soon support files in a more dynamic way, making it easier for users to engage with documents, images, and other content during verbal exchanges.

The introduction of this file-upload support is a significant development for the Gemini platform, which is already gaining attention for its advanced conversational AI capabilities. By integrating this feature, Google is not only improving Gemini Live’s functionality but also expanding its potential use cases, particularly in professional environments where file sharing and voice communication are crucial for productivity.

Although there has been no official confirmation from Google regarding the exact release date for this feature, the inclusion of file-handling capabilities in Gemini Live could significantly elevate its value. Users will soon be able to seamlessly upload, discuss, and interact with files using voice commands, streamlining workflows and providing a more natural user experience. If this feature is successfully rolled out, it could help set Gemini apart from other conversational AI tools by blending voice and file management into one cohesive interface