Microsoft updates Office 2016 for Mac Preview, intros new iPhone apps for Office 365
Microsoft on Wednesday released an updated version of the Office 2016 for Mac Preview, cleaning up bug and performance problems while adding new features, as the company also simultaneously launched two new Office 365 apps for the iPhone, Office Delve and Office 365 Video.
Office 2016 for Mac Preview
New to Outlook in the Preview is a "Propose New Time" option, which lets meeting guests suggest a new event time, and organizers view those proposals and update meetings accordingly. Excel has a new Analysis ToolPak, as well as a new Solver feature. Solver is a previously Windows-only tool that can find an optimum value for a formula based on constraints imposed in other cells.
The most additions have been made to Word, which now supports macro recording, searching for online document templates, and user information settings in preferences. When proofing, extra dictionary options allow excluding a dictionary or choosing a custom one.
PowerPoint has gained just one significant tweak, which is better VoiceOver support.
During the preview period, Office 2016 is a free download, even without an Office 365 subscription. Users can download the updates manually or through Microsoft's AutoUpdate tool.
Office Delve & Office 365 Video
Office Delve provides a glimpse at what colleagues are working on — so long as those documents have been shared — and can also let users quickly jump into files they've been working on, or suggest relevant documents.
The app is a free download for iPhones running iOS 8, but intended only for organizations using both Office 365 and Delve.
Office 365 Video is likewise organization-oriented, demanding an Office 365 Academic or Enterprise license. The app helps institutions propagate videos such as mission statements, training guides, or meeting recordings. Users can record and upload videos on their own however, as well as search for videos across different channels and see trending material.
Users must have an iPhone with iOS 7.0 or later.
26 Comments
I got off this treadmill a long time ago, but I acknowledge that Office remains one of Mac's oldest and most important software packages. I wish Microsoft well, but I prefer to watch them slide into irrelevancy. :)
[quote name="Suddenly Newton" url="/t/185780/microsoft-updates-office-2016-for-mac-preview-intros-new-iphone-apps-for-office-365#post_2710274"]I got off this treadmill a long time ago, but I acknowledge that Office remains one of Mac's oldest and most important software packages. I wish Microsoft well, but I prefer to watch them slide into irrelevancy. :)[/quote] The sliding into irrelevancy part isn't happening. MS Office is doing better then ever since it was introduced to the iPad and iPhone. Updating the Mac app will only strengthen the company even more in the area of software.
Is it possible to instal the Preview without interfering with the 2011 Office Suite I'm currently using?
I'd love to find out if it solves some of the network problems I have sharing, in particular, Excel files with Windows colleagues at work.
Until 2008, the company I work for was a Windows/Office company. Today, all the staff have switched to OS X/iWork (and other non-MS software). That's over 10,000 people worldwide.
The UK government has indicated that it will switch all of its workers to open source.
The local medical centre runs a mix of Linux and OS X.
Personally, I only know a couple of people who still use Office. They are both retired.
Is it possible to instal the Preview without interfering with the 2011 Office Suite I'm currently using?
I'd love to find out if it solves some of the network problems I have sharing, in particular, Excel files with Windows colleagues at work.
Indeed it is, I have had no issues switching between Office 2011 and the Preview version.