Microsoft fully embraced inking in Windows 10 starting with the Anniversary Update back in 2016, which added the Windows Ink Workspace to the taskbar with a host of features across the OS. However, inking wasn"t implemented into one of the places where users would most expect it: the Mail app. Until today, that is.
The company has started rolling out a new update to the app to Insiders in the Fast Ring, bringing it to version 16005.10228.20091.0, and it introduces a new "Draw" tab in the composer, which allows users to ink up messages using a variety of tools with different colors and patterns. The feature seems to be in A/B testing, and it may not be available for everyone.
Despite being aimed at touchscreen and pen users, the feature may be available for any device, if you want to try your luck drawing something using a mouse or trackpad, as we tried to do in the screenshot above. Messages created using ink will be sent to the recipient as PNG files.
Despite information pointing to a slowed-down development of Windows 10 inbox apps, Mail has received a couple of improvements over the past few weeks, including some Fluent Design tweaks last month, indicating that it may be one of the apps Microsoft is still betting on.