Microsoft adds Hotmail desktop notifications in IE9

SOFTWARE OUTFIT Microsoft is enhancing Internet Explorer 9 to give desktop notifications for Hotmail.

While Hotmail is not an application, it can be pinned to the Windows taskbar in the latest version of the Vole's web browser, effectively giving it a range of useful features previously only seen in Windows programs.

It works by signing into Hotmail from Internet Explorer 9 and then dragging the Hotmail tab to the taskbar. Once done this acts like a direct bookmark to Hotmail, instantly opening the webpage within Internet Explorer 9 without having to open the browser first.

Another handy feature is the context menu that appears when users right-click the Hotmail icon on their taskbar. This gives options to compose new emails, view the calendar, check the contacts list and so forth, saving the time of going through the long route.

The best feature to date, however, is desktop notifications, with the Hotmail icon displaying the number of new emails received. This saves the user from having to constantly check email on a regular basis to see if anything new has arrived, as the taskbar itself will keep them up to date.

Now if only we could pin Gmail too. µ