It’s been while since Microsoft Hotmail team received a major overhaul. Last year Microsoft increased free email storage space from 2GB to 5GB and now they are rolling out new designs for free to all Hotmail users.

With new design you can choose how to display your reading pane to display messages : side, bottom, off(no preview). It also allows you to spice up your email account with few available Hotmail design themes.

The update brings much faster page load times for ‘full version’ users and drag and drop functionality for ‘classic version’ of hotmail.  Microsoft team have added a brand new auto-complete functionality for e-mail addresses, and a new contact picker (that even detects commonly misspelled addresses). Also there is a update in contact list which causes your messenger contacts picture to appear in your list.  Along with this, integration have begin with live messenger, although not to the level of Gtalk.

Hotmail team have completely redesigned the  ‘compose message’ window with new way to attach file and easier to use spell checker.

Words from Project Lead Manager,

I think this version is a big improvement in both appearance and performance, so I hope you love it!….  - Mike Schackwitz, Lead Program Manager, Windows Live Hotmail

New design claim to have power, control and flexibility like Outlook. Do you agree with this?