Microsoft Office updates could be a game-changer for iPad users

iPad Air
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Microsoft recently announced updates to their Office 365 solutions, specifically how they will improve user experiences on iPads. 

Bill Doll from Microsoft states "We know the Office experience on iPad is an important tool for the many people who use it to work, learn and create. The latest iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad models have introduced powerful new features and capabilities to enable people to be productive in more ways. Accordingly, we have made several updates to the Office apps to take advantage of these enhancements and make it even easier to work on the iPad."

Some of the major updates will affect Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps and allow them to take full advantage of trackpad support in iPadOS. This gives iPad users using a mouse or Apple’s new Magic Keyboard easy cursor control, fluid navigation, and precise adjustments.

There will be a new start screen across the board and a new ribbon of feature menus. Microsoft claims the changes will provide a cleaner, more modern experience that is easier to navigate. These updates reflect improvements made using Microsoft's Fluent Ui and that will be incorporated throughout the 365 ecosystems. 

These updates are currently being rolled out in multiple phased roll-outs which all Office users will be receiving in the upcoming weeks. Other major improvements will be made that will take advantage of the iPad's unique capabilities, versatile accessories and the ability to open and use multiple documents in Word and PowerPoint

Microsoft also adds there will be more upcoming updates during summer 2021 that will take advantage of keyboard shortcuts. All in all, Microsoft seems very busy trying to enhance and optimize its Office 365 products, especially for iPad. 

Mark Anthony Ramirez

Mark has spent 20 years headlining comedy shows around the country and made appearances on ABC, MTV, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, Food Network, and Sirius XM Radio. He has written about every topic imaginable, from dating, family, politics, social issues, and tech. He wrote his first tech articles for the now-defunct Dads On Tech 10 years ago, and his passion for combining humor and tech has grown under the tutelage of the Laptop Mag team. His penchant for tearing things down and rebuilding them did not make Mark popular at home, however, when he got his hands on the legendary Commodore 64, his passion for all things tech deepened. These days, when he is not filming, editing footage, tinkering with cameras and laptops, or on stage, he can be found at his desk snacking, writing about everything tech, new jokes, or scripts he dreams of filming.