14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new Office Insider build for Windows, pushing the OS version to 1804 (Build 9226.xxxx).
This month there are significant improvements for Excel, Outlook, and Project, all of which are getting new features that will roll out to everyone when the testing program comes to an end.
First and foremost, Excel is getting Insights to analyze your data. The feature works in a pretty straightforward manner, and you only have to click a cell in a data range and then select the Insights button in the ribbon. You’ll then be provided with graphs and charts to get a further insight into your data.
Microsoft PowerPoint receives a new feature that’s addressed to those using a pen, as the app can now convert notes and drawings into readable text and shapes for presentations.
Microsoft Outlook can read your emails
Outlook is being updated with three different features, one of which allows users to configure reminders to pop up over the windows you are working on. If this new setting isn’t enabled, the reminder only flashes the taskbar icon.
The second improvement is an eagerly-awaited refinement that automatically marks deleted items as read. This option needs to be enabled from File > Options > Mail > Mark messages as read when deleted. And last but not least, Outlook can now read your emails. Again, you have to enable this functionality manually from File > Options > Ease of Access > Show Read Aloud.
Microsoft Project gets its own pack of goodies this month, and one of them is task board filtering, a tool that’s been developed based on user feedback. Furthermore, Project now lets you set percent complete from a task board and switch from one sprint view to another quickly.
The new functionality is available for insiders for the time being, but later this month Microsoft Is expected to release it to all Office 365 subscribers as well.