If you’re like me and use Microsoft Exchange or Office 365 for work or school, you’ll quickly find out how much of a pain it can be, trying to find a solution outside of your web browser in a GNU/Linux system. Hiri, ((https://www.hiri.com/)) is an application specifically designed for this purpose.
While Hiri is available for Windows and Mac, it’s nice to see it available for penguin users as well, and if you’re using a distribution that makes use of Snaps, Hiri is incredibly easy to install as well. The thing that may turn many people off? The cost.
Installation
If you’re using debian or derivitives, including Ubuntu/Mint, or using OpenSUSE, Fedora, Arch, Manjaro or Solus, just to name the major systems that use Snaps, installation of Hiri is as easy as can be:
sudo snap install hiri
Done!
If you’re not able to use Snaps, you can follow the official guide to install Hiri, https://support.hiri.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003791229-Linux-installation-instructions.
Using Hiri
The first thing I’d like to point out, is that for anyone who is new to Snaps, be aware that launching them for the first time can take a little longer than normal, as a cache is built. That said, Hiri took probably 2-3 minutes to launch, but only the first time. Hiri is reletively straightforward, and easily synced up with my exchange account in just a few clicks, without any advanced configuration needed.
Once I was in Hiri, I noted that the interface was very minimal, and thats something I seriously enjoyed. The mail composition page is simple, effective, and has everything that I think is needed for email, personally.
Contacts synced nicely, as well as did my calendar, with the ability to make new calendar reminders, and actively sync them.
The catch
So, the program works great, but sadly this does not come free, beyond a 7 day trial.
Hiri has an interesting system built-in to its trial, where each day you use the trial, your cost gets closer and closer to the full price, whereas the earlier you buy it during the trial, the cheaper the price / steeper the discount.
The Hiri website lists the price as $119 (assumedly USD) for a lifetime plan, or $39 annually, but these costs go down during your trial.
Last thoughts
Good chance I will buy Hiri myself in the near future, as I would much prefer to use it, rather than my web browser, and I have no issues supporting developers for their hard work. However, I can see the cost turning some GNU/Linux users off. Nonetheless, Hiri stands as a great piece of software for its purpose, and at the least, is well worth checking out for the 7 day free trial.
The post Hiri – Office365 and Exchange for GNU/Linux appeared first on gHacks Technology News.