<p>As businesses and consumers alike start to think about upgrading to Windows 8 and Office 13, Microsoft is talking up Exchange 13 and the Outlook 13 client, pointing to new features which include greater security, a better "social networking experience," and a touch user interface (UI).</p><p>A new Touch Mode in Outlook 13 allows thumbs-friendly "Quick Actions" from mobile devices, noted Ankur Kothari, a senior product manager at Microsoft, during a conference call. Outlook's "new look" also includes one-touch access to a minimized ribbon, a new online reply feature, and new "Quick Peeks" for accessing your calendar, tasks, and "people" contacts while still in your mailbox.</p><p>Kothari also said that Microsoft will use its Yammer acquisition for heightened social networking experiences. In the current preview edition of Outlook 13, you can already connect to social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn without the need to install an add-on. You can also pull up to five news and/or weather feeds directly into Outlook 13.</p><p>If you're using Outlook 13 in an Exchange 13 business environment, you'll be able to access both e-mail and Microsoft SharePoint documents from a single folder in Outlook, Kothari said in the briefing.</p><p><a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6581">Keep reading...</a></p>