It’s no secret that Loop bears some resemblance to Google Wave. This was a project that showed plenty of promise but was ditched by Google a decade ago. Loop comprises three core elements – Loop Components, Loop Pages, and Loop Workspaces. Loop Components are defined as “atomic units of productivity” and can include a simple list or more complex projects. These components will stay in sync when they’re used within Office applications. Loop Pages, on the other hand, are documents that may also include links or files. Lastly, Loop Workspaces are an easy way to view your pages and components from a specific project. In Microsoft’s words, “Workspaces make it easy for you to catch up on what everyone is working on, react to others’ ideas, or track progress toward shared goals.” Shared components can also include those developed outside Loop, the company said (via). Microsoft has worked on these collaboration tools for quite some time, and this appears to be a reaction to the prevalent hybrid work environment.
Microsoft said the Loop app would be available in the coming months
The company isn’t without competition, however. Rival app Notion offers similar features, although Microsoft implementation is undoubtedly more robust. The Fluid framework allows developers to utilize multiple components to create apps that boost collaboration with features like real-time editing. This could be practically anything within the Microsoft ecosystem, including content on a Teams channels. Microsoft claims the Loop app ”combines a powerful and flexible canvas with portable components that move freely and stay in sync across apps – enabling teams to think, plan and create together.” Microsoft Loop is not available right away, while the company hasn’t offered a precise timeline for its arrival either. “We will share more about the availability of the Microsoft Loop app in the upcoming months,” General Manager of Microsoft 365, Wangui McKelvey said. Meanwhile, Loop components will make their way to Outlook, Teams, OneNote, and other Microsoft 365 apps later this month. Although Loop looks pretty impressive, it’s too early to reach conclusions since it’s not widely available yet.
