Screenshots: iOS and OS X messaging platforms
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Apple messaging platforms
Apple messaging platforms
This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.
Email remains the killer dominant app. Whether using Linux, Mac, or Windows — and whether communicating for business or personal reasons — email persists as a critical application. Where POP3 previously met users’ needs, and IMAP improved synchronization capabilities, droves have adopted Microsoft Exchange services to power back-end email, contact, and calendar operations.
OS X Internet Accounts preferences
OS X Internet Accounts preferences
ApplernOS X Internet Accounts preferences supports the configuration of numerous different emailrnaccounts. In addition to supporting iCloud mailboxes, OS X makes it easy forrnusers to connect to Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, POP3, and IMAP accounts.
Connecting to Exchange
Connecting to Exchange
An OS X Apple wizard simplifies Exchange account configuration.rnWhen connecting to a Microsoft Exchange email account, users begin by providingrntheir name, email address, and password.
Configuring an Exchange mailbox
Configuring an Exchange mailbox
When configuring an Exchange mailbox using OS X, users mustrnprovide their Windows account user name and the email server’srnaddress.
Microsoft Outlook for Mac
Microsoft Outlook for Mac
One email client option available to Mac users is MicrosoftrnOutlook for Mac. The Outlook email client requires that users enter their name,rnemail address, authentication method, domain user name and password, and other information. Clicking the Advanced button at the bottom right providesrnaccess to the account’s Server tab, where server ports and SSL settings arernconfigured.
Mail, Contacts, Calendars Settings
Mail, Contacts, Calendars Settings
iOS users leverage the Mail, Contacts, Calendars entry within thernSettings menu to add and configure email accounts.
Exchange Settings
Exchange Settings
When configuring Exchange accounts, iOS users can customizernExchange elements that synchronize with the device, including Mail, Contacts,rnCalendars, Reminders, and Notes. Users can also specify the number of days ofrnmail that should synchronize with the device.
iCloud Settings
iCloud Settings
When adding iCloud email accounts to an iOS device, users canrnspecify additional synchronization parameters, including for Safari, Keychain,rnPhotos, Documents & Data, and the Find My iPad feature.
Connect to Exchange via iOS
Connect to Exchange via iOS
iOS users must enter an email address, server address, Windowsrndomain, Windows user name and password to connect to an Exchange server.
OS X Mail General settings
OS X Mail General settings
Numerous customization features exist within the OS X Mailrnprogram. Users can specify a default email reader, new message check intervals, and new message notification sounds, among other options.
The OS X Mail application
The OS X Mail application
The OS X Mail application supports connecting to multiple emailrnaccounts. A sidebar provides account and folder navigation, while a second columnrnprovides access to individual email messages. The lion share of display space,rnof course, is typically configured to display mail messages themselves.
OS X compose email message window
OS X compose email message window
The OS X compose email message window is spartan but utilitarian.rnUnlike Outlook, which possesses and displays myriad buttons, icons, features, and options, Mail designers simplified the interface and offer ready access tornthe most commonly required features.
OS X Junk Mail preference
OS X Junk Mail preference
One classic email problem is spam, or unsolicited mail. The JunkrnMail preference within OS X enables enabling filters to help manage unwantedrnmessages.
OS X Rules
OS X Rules
Many OS X business users have become dependent upon rules tornprocess incoming mail. Rules help automate message sorting.
OS X Mail customizations
OS X Mail customizations
OS X Mail offers infinitely customizable rules.
OS X Mail Signature options
OS X Mail Signature options
Signatures make it easy for users to standardize signaturerninformation to be added to every outgoing email message. The Signature optionsrnshow here are reached from within OS X Mail by clicking Mail, selectingrnPreferences, and clicking Signatures.
Mail folder on an iPad
Mail folder on an iPad
ArnMail folder superimposes within a left-hand navigational pane on iPads.
Mail displayed on an iPad
Mail displayed on an iPad
Users can select individual email messages on an iPad and displayrnthem using the tablet’s entire screen, as shown here.
Mail folder navigation on an iPad
Mail folder navigation on an iPad
Mail folder navigation consumes the entire screen on smallerrniPhones.
iOS displaying Mail
iOS displaying Mail
Just as with iPads, when users select an email message, thernmessage can be displayed using the iOS device’s entire screen.
Microsoft Outlook for Mac
Microsoft Outlook for Mac
OS X users are not limited to using Apple’s Mail application,rnof course. Microsoft Outlook for Mac is another option. Here you can see therntoolbars, sidebar, mail folder, and message display window within Outlook forrnMac 2011.
Outlook for Mac compose mail window
Outlook for Mac compose mail window
Outlook for Mac 2011’s compose mail window possesses morernicons, buttons, and formatting options (by default) than the OS X Mailrncompose mail view.
Outlook for Mac Rules
Outlook for Mac Rules
Mac Outlook users can also leverage Rules to help managernoverflowing inboxes and help ensure critical messages aren’trnoverlooked and receive the attention they require.
Outlook for Mac Rules customizations
Outlook for Mac Rules customizations
Just as is true with OS X Mail, Outlook for Mac 2011 Rules arerninfinitely customizable.
Outlook for Mac Signature creation
Outlook for Mac Signature creation
Signature creation and editing is straightforward for Outlook forrnMac users.
Outlook for Mac Junk Mail filters
Outlook for Mac Junk Mail filters
Outlook for Mac also possesses Junk Mail filters. Users canrnselect no protections, a low protection setting, a higher level filter, or evenrnan Exclusive option in which only messages from Address Book contacts, SafernDomains, and Mailing List Manager entries (a user-friendly rules manager, oftenrnknown as MLM) are accepted.
Outlook for Mac Safe Domains
Outlook for Mac Safe Domains
Outlook for Mac users can specify individual safe domains, fromrnwhich email should always be accepted, using the Safe Domains feature.
Outlook for Mac blocked domains
Outlook for Mac blocked domains
Using Outlook for Mac, users can also specify specific emailrndomains that should be automatically blocked and treated as junk mail.
Outlook for Mac email
Outlook for Mac email
As with most email clients, double-clicking an email messagernwithin Outlook for Mac 2011 opens the email within an independent window, asrnshown here.
Out of Office replies
Out of Office replies
One often needed feature is automatic out-of-office replies. Suchrnmessages are configured within Outlook on OS X by clicking Tools and selectingrnOut of Office.
OS X Delegates
OS X Delegates
Many businesses extend additional user access to other staffrnmembers’rnmailboxes. Once appropriate server-side permissions are set, users canrnconfigure the Outlook OS X client for corresponding Delegates access byrnclicking Tools, choosing Accounts, clicking Advanced, and choosing Delegates.
Outlook for Mac Security tab
Outlook for Mac Security tab
Advanced security options can be configured using Outlook for Macrnby clicking the Security tab, which appears immediately after the Delegates tab.rnDigital signing certificates, signing algorithms, and encryption settings canrnall be set from the Security tab. (Apple Mail leverages the OS X Keychain tornstore and manage encryption keys and digital certificates.)
OS X Mail Mailbox Behaviors tab
OS X Mail Mailbox Behaviors tab
OS X Mail also possesses advanced settings. Message storagernsettings — including specifying whether draft, sent, junk, and trash email itemsrnshould be stored on the email server — are configured from within an emailrnaccount’srnMailbox Behaviors tab.
OS X Mail Advanced tab
OS X Mail Advanced tab
Selecting the OS X Mail Advanced tab provides users the abilityrnto customize email server paths and ports.
