Outlook.com - the MS gmail alternative
Posted: 06 Aug 2012, 12:10
 | Microsoft has decided to compete with Google's gmail. They have been marketing outlook.com for some time now so I went over there to get an account. My old hotmail account was enough to log in - and then they wanted my cell phone number in case I loose my password.  I was kind of hoping that Microsoft would take a different approach than the Google spying method - but no. Google even has a tiny "go on without entering the data" link which Microsoft has not. Still you can save the false data and go on so it has the same effect. Next you get the classic Microsoft tale that they cannot live without:  |
Internet Explorer should be downloaded to get the best experience - It may not work etc etc... I have to add that I was using Iron for the registration, that might have confused things a bit, so I contiued the registration in FireFoX but it was the same there.
But if I will accept the exeptionally stupid thing of registrating without IE I can go on - and probably end up in Hell so I went on.....
My reasons for registering with Microsoft was that I have always given them more cred in the privacy department than Google - but with Outlook.com that seems to change:
http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/default.mspx
Personal Information
Additional Details
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When you register for certain Microsoft services, we will ask you to provide personal information.
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The information we collect may be combined with information obtained from other Microsoft services and other companies.
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We use cookies and other technologies to keep track of your interactions with our sites and services to offer a personalized experience.
That truly sucks and shows that Microsoft is only trying to copy Google without exploiting the one strong point they have had (compared to Google) - the respect for privacy.
But wait Microsoft is better
Sharing of Your Personal Information
Except as described in this statement, we will not disclose your personal information outside of Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates without your consent
Or so I thought until I realized that Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries is pretty much the whole world....
But to be fair: I can alter my setting and be private so that others cannot view my profile, and Microsoft does not claim ownership of any of my content. They appear to be more aware of the privacy issues that Google so deliberately ignore.
Well anyway I have set up this Outlook account now.... eh no I have logged in to my Hotmail account and there is a new interface.
I tried to send a mail to me at outlook.com and that did not arrive but when I sent it to me at hotmail.com it did arrive.
So what really is new here other than that Microsoft has improved Hotmail and worsened the privacy?
Edit:
While surfing arround in my outlook.com I was prompted to log in again and accept the conditions. Then I was lead to Skydrive - a service that looks like Dropbox. Does not look as good though.
It is pretty clear that Microsoft is going for the Clouds.