Office updates for the iPad Pro, iOS 9 and WatchOS 2
Today Apple announced the iPad Pro, iOS 9 and WatchOS 2. We’ve developed a number of new features for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and Translator to take advantage of these enhancements. This post provides an overview of some of the most useful new features, including multitasking, inking, intelligent search, wireless keyboard support and updates to Outlook and Translator on Apple Watch.
Multitasking on the iPad
Slide Over and Split View on iOS 9 will help you get things done faster by allowing you to quickly switch between the Office apps. Here are a few examples:
1. Quickly use a second app. Slide Over lets you open a second app without leaving the one you’re in. Jot down a reminder in OneNote while you’re catching up on email. Or reference your notes while you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation.
2. Use two apps simultaneously. With Split View, you can have two apps open and active at the same time. Copy numbers from Excel into PowerPoint or rehearse a PowerPoint presentation while reviewing background information in Word.
3. Run Outlook side-by-side with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Tap on a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file attached to an email message and Outlook will automatically launch the corresponding app with the file ready for editing, right next to Outlook. While you edit the Word document, you can still view the email message. After your edits are made, tap the back button in Word and the document will be attached to a new email message in Outlook, ready to be sent.
4. Use OneNote and PowerPoint to present with confidence. While you’re projecting a PowerPoint presentation to an external display, Presenter View provides tools like a laser pointer, pens, highlighters and slide thumbnails. Use Split View and OneNote to scroll through your talking points while the audience sees only your slides on the big screen.
Inking
With the new iPad Pro, we’re adding inking to the Office apps and making it easier than ever to create documents and collaborate with others. The new tools include pens, highlighters, an easy-to-use thickness control and a new color wheel. Using Apple Pencil, you can mark up documents just like you would with pencil and paper—making the collaboration process natural and intuitive. And with inking-specific features like shape recognition in PowerPoint, the apps turn the pencil into a first-class content creation tool.
Intelligent search
When you search for something on your iPad or iPhone, the search results will now also include OneNote notes and Outlook email messages. The OneNote content can be typed, handwritten or scanned—and even Outlook messages with Rights Management protection appear in search results.
Wireless keyboard support
If you use a wireless keyboard with your iPad, keyboard shortcuts are often a big time-saver. But it’s not always easy to remember all shortcuts. Now, just tap the Command key to get an overview of all of them. In Outlook for example, you can start a new email with ⌘n. And move between Email, Calendar, Files, People and Settings with ⌘1, ⌘2, ⌘3, ⌘4 and ⌘5 respectively.
Enhancements to Microsoft Outlook and Translator on the Apple Watch
Complications are important pieces of information you can see right on the face of an Apple Watch. With the new WatchOS 2, data from apps can be Complications, too. Now, Outlook will show you essential information about your next appointment and incoming email. With Time Travel, you can turn the Digital Crown of the watch to check your Outlook calendar appointments for later today and tomorrow.
Microsoft Translator for iPhone and Apple Watch was introduced a month ago and is getting rave reviews in the App Store. With the upcoming update, a recent or pinned translation can be played back later through the watch speaker. When you’re abroad, the watch face will automatically show you common phrases like “good morning” and “goodbye” in the local language based on your location and the time of day. Using Time Travel, you can see phrases for a later time, like “good night.” This makes it easier to communicate when traveling.
Available when the new iPad Pro, iOS 9 and WatchOS 2 arrive
We’re looking forward to releasing our updated apps when the new iPad Pro, iOS 9 and WatchOS 2 are available. Install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and Translator today and you’ll get these great new features when we publish the updates to the App Store.