Microsoft's new update makes your taskbar a productivity hub - here's how

4 days ago 4

Microsoft will be pushing an update to your work computer soon, and it actually looks pretty useful

ZDNET's key takeaways

Microsoft has released new "lightweight" companion taskbar apps.
Companion apps launch when you start your computer.
The apps include People, File Search, and Calendar.

Microsoft will be pushing an update to your work computer soon, and it might actually be fairly useful. A series of new lightweight Microsoft apps is on the way, but you'll be able to launch them straight from your taskbar.

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In an update on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, the company detailed a new suite of companion apps, or apps that automatically launch when you start your computer and give you quick access to important information straight from your Windows taskbar.

Available apps include People, File Search, and Calendar. Here's a look at each one, and why you'd want quick access.

1. People

Microsoft People is a contact management app and address book that lets you organize and connect with your contacts, plus look up anyone in your organization. You can sync contacts from different sources like email accounts, social networks, and other apps, or start a Teams call with a contact.

2. File Search

File Search companion lets you quickly find Microsoft 365 files (from OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, and other services) straight from your Windows taskbar, meaning you don't need to switch apps to find what you need. You can search by file name, file author, or keywords. There's a comprehensive search, options to narrow down search results using filters, file previews to make sure you have the right document, and the option to share files directly within the app.

3. Calendar

The Microsoft 365 Calendar app is a collaborative calendar that lets you create events, set reminders, and more to keep your day organized. It syncs across all of your devices, and it integrates with other tools to let you view and manage your schedule, tasks, and to-do lists in one place.

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This doesn't bring any new functionality to these apps, but it ties 365 services a little deeper into Windows (and from Microsoft's view, hopefully keeps you using the easily accessible Windows services instead of a competing one).