Microsoft Updates iOS Outlook App With Security-Enhanced Touch ID Support

[MacRumors]

Microsoft recently updated the iOS version of its email client Outlook [Direct Link] with the ability for users to enable Touch ID when accessing the app. Outlook is the first of the major email apps on iOS -- including Gmail and Apple's own stock Mail app -- to support the fingerprint security features of Touch ID.

To set up Touch ID in Outlook, navigate to the "Settings" tab within the app, and then toggle on "Require Touch ID." In addition to basic email features, Outlook provides a calendar feature and the ability to send and view documents via sharing apps like OneDrive and Dropbox, without having to actually leave the app. All of these features can now be guarded by Touch ID as well.

You can now protect your inbox with Touch ID and get the privacy you deserve. Keep your messages away from prying eyes by requiring your fingerprint or device passcode in order to access your Outlook account. To enable Touch ID, take a look at the app Settings under Preferences. (iOS 9 users) Your inbox - and dare we say it, the world - is now at your fingertips.

For anyone looking to switch to Outlook to try out the Touch ID enhancement, the Microsoft app does support other email services including Yahoo! Mail, iCloud, and Gmail. Other basic updates in version 2.2.2 of the app introduce profile photos of event attendees in agenda view and a shortcut in the day and 3-day view that lets users create a new event by simply tapping and holding.

Microsoft Outlook is available for free from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Microsoft Updates iOS Outlook App With Security-Enhanced Touch ID Support

 

[sp3k0psv3t]

Beating Apple with their own app support lol.

Love it

 

[BMcCoy]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

 

[d5aqoëp]

LMAO Microsoft betters Apple on Apple's own platform!

Seriously though, Apple's default mail app too needs a locking feature. Don't force it on people. Just give us an option to enable it if we want. It is the next logical step!

 

[Chatter]

So I was super excited to use this BUT its not unlocking quickly. Took me 3-4 touches to get the app to recognize my fingerprint and still jumped me to the passcode screen.

Unlock phone - instant touch id
Touch app to unlock app - not smooth

So maybe the implementation will improve. Love the idea.

 

[avanpelt]

So I was super excited to use this BUT its not unlocking quickly. Took me 3-4 touches to get the app to recognize my fingerprint and still jumped me to the passcode screen.

Certain apps shouldn't be less or more accurate than others in terms of the Touch ID sensor so I'm not sure what's going on there.

 

[Kaibelf]

So I was super excited to use this BUT its not unlocking quickly. Took me 3-4 touches to get the app to recognize my fingerprint and still jumped me to the passcode screen.

Unlock phone - instant touch id
Touch app to unlock app - not smooth

So maybe the implementation will improve. Love the idea.

Doesn't make sense. It's the same process, and mine opens just fine.

 

[emulajavi]

This should be a system-wide setting of iOS which you could enable when first launching an App or enable/disable it, for each app, later in Settings.

When you clic on a App Icon in the Homescreen a prompt will say "Please Scan you Fingerprint" and then the app launches quickly....

Current implementation on a per-app-basis is slow and not very streamlined.

I hope Apple makes this a system-wide setting with iOS10....

 

[LordQ]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

Indeed. I would love to have this for the Photos app and WhatsApp / iMessage.

 

[odditie]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

Also secures it from someone who knows your phone's PIN.

Edit: I'm wrong.

 

[coolfactor]

So I was super excited to use this BUT its not unlocking quickly. Took me 3-4 touches to get the app to recognize my fingerprint and still jumped me to the passcode screen.

The "super excited" part probably had you sweating, so the fingerprint recognition wasn't as good?
[doublepost=1457970019][/doublepost]Respect to Microsoft... they are taking the Apple-IBM collaboration very seriously. Enterprise customers would love this feature.

 

[stulaw11]

Now if MS would only address the big lapses in their email app- like no HTML signatures, can't search mail older than 60 days, cant search your calendar tab in the app, cant perform all actions on email from "all mail" or a search.

You know, the major things people do with email. Still missing a ton of basic features. Apps like Spark (which FYI just release a beta syncing emails between devices so if you read/archive/delete on the PC or another device it gets synced and is gone from notifications/badge in about 5 seconds; works great like Outlook did it but a better overall app) have already passed Outlook by; it maybe was the best email app a year ago.

Im amazed people still use Outlook which gets 1 tiny update every 2-4 weeks adding 1 tiny feature- ooooo colored highlight lines for marked as important as a whole update. But still cant send a business email (Outlook, um hello business email?) with a company HTML signature!

 

[Gudi]

This should be a system-wide setting of iOS which you could enable when first launching an App or enable/disable it, for each app, later in Settings. When you click on a App Icon in the Homescreen a prompt will say "Please Scan you Fingerprint" and then the app launches quickly....

So that the app developer has no control over where in the app fingerprint identification is or isn't required. Great idea! /s

 

[Peepo]

Also secures it from someone who knows your phone's PIN.

No not doesn't. If you don't authenticate with fingerprint it gives option to enter the iOS inlock code. They should use a different code to secure this like some other apps which use Touch ID do eg 1password.

 

[2457282]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

Indeed. I would love to have this for the Photos app and WhatsApp / iMessage.

Also secures it from someone who knows your phone's PIN.

I am on board with all these comments. Never really thought about this past the access to the phone. Given FBI prying eyes, I think we should make this mandatory on all apps. FBI somehow breaks into my phone only to be met with another challenge trying to access any of my apps. The Functionally Brainless Individuals will never get it. LOL

 

[bushido]

i dont understand why apple doesnt just have a touchid toggle panel for each and every app. they always lack at implementing the most obvious things

 

[b0nd18t]

This is such an overdue feature for an email app. FINALLY. Apple adds Touch ID for notes and not email. Wtf?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

Yep, I'd like this on Messages. With 9.3 bringing password protection to notes maybe we'll see that extend to Messages threads as well some day.

 

[odditie]

No not doesn't. If you don't authenticate with fingerprint it gives option to enter the iOS inlock code. They should use a different code to secure this like some other apps which use Touch ID do eg 1password.

My mistake. I tested it and I didn't see a way to switch to PIN but now I see that when you fail it changes it.

That does make it a lot less valuable. I have some apps with touch id enabled that have their own pin assigned like you mentioned.

 

[Nicksd84]

I like it and the app. Should add a timer for re-entry, but otherwise solid update.

 

[LordQ]

This is such an overdue feature for an email app. FINALLY. Apple adds Touch ID for notes and not email. Wtf?

I think they might be testing the implementation on the stock apps + prepping us for full iOS 10 integration.

 

[a0me]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

That's what my bank's app does as soon as it's not the active app anymore.

 

[jonnysods]

Initially I wondered why this was needed - after all if you have TouchID enabled for the phone, then why would you want it for individual apps?
But I can see the option being useful if you hand your phone to someone else for some reason (eg. look at a video/photos) but you don't want them to be able to open up your email while they have your phone. So I guess having the option to keep individual apps secure makes sense.

I would like it on my email so my young 'uns don't hop on it and delete stuff by accident. It's happened before!

And others using my phone.

 

[Ballis]

MS is really stepping up their game! Love it.

 

[DrumApple]

I switched to using Outlook as my email client. While it isn't perfect, it beats the Apple Mail app by miles. Plus it gets better and better because they update it regularly like this, unlike Apple who seem to think their app is perfect. Outlook pushes mail MUCH faster than Mail which mostly fetches every 15 minutes, if you want your mail in real-time use Outlook.