Microsoft Launcher set to unveil 5.3.0 beta with multiple time/weather widgets, work accounts, more

Jonny Caldwell

Microsoft Launcher beta testers will be able to enjoy a new update today, as the team behind the app have announced the release of version 5.3 for those who sign up to try early releases. The update seems to mostly focus on aesthetic changes at first glance, with the company redesigning the time/weather widget, replacing the Segoe UI font with Android’s own Roboto font, among other unnamed UI improvements.

Of course, UI improvements aren’t the only new additions, with the new time and weather widget now supporting multiple sizes, and now allows user to place multiple widgets each with a different custom locations. Microsoft has also added support for work accounts to be used, which the company says will give those users access to their work apps. Here’s the full list of changes:

– Time/Weather widget redesign- Now you can have multiple widgets in multiple sizes in multiple styles for multiple locations! Also check out the updated and more detailed L2 page with hourly and 10 day forecast.
– UX refinements to the Home Screen, Dock and Search widget
– Tasks card now supports “My Day” and “Flagged Emails” from Microsoft To Do
– News tab now supports “Technology” as a news interest
– Font type changed from Segoe UI to Roboto
– Work profile customers can now get access to their work apps
– Beta community link in Settings changed to lead to Microsoft Tech Community

Interestingly, with the downfall of the Google+ social media service, the company has moved its official Microsoft Launcher community for the Android app over to the company’s own Tech Community. This means that those beta testing the app and wishing to provide feedback will now need to do so from there, as Google+ will be officially retired from consumers as early as next month.

The beta update will rollout to users gradually, with the launcher’s blog post saying that the update will need “a couple of hours or a day to propagate” before the update will be available for all users. Those who aren’t signed up to test the app can do so from the launcher’s Google Play beta testing page.

Microsoft Launcher
Microsoft Launcher
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