New features for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint this time

Mar 5, 2021 17:40 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has released a new Office Insider update for iOS users, bringing the app to version 2.47 and previewing features that are supposed to launch for the production channel as soon as this month.

There are three major improvements for Office users this time, and it all starts with Microsoft Word.

Beginning with this release, the dictation feature available in Microsoft Word is offered in more languages, with Microsoft says it’s working on adding even more in the coming updates.

“Dictation is now available in more languages. With the addition of more languages, more speakers worldwide can use speech-to-text. Dictation now supports seven new languages: Hindi, Russian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Korean, Thai, and Chinese (Taiwan). We are continuing to add more languages as well,” the company explains in the release notes.

All Office apps under the same roof

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now come with iPad goodies as well, as a new context menu has been specifically implemented for users with a mouse and trackpad.

In other words, it’s now easier to use certain features of the three apps, all thanks to these new menus that are built with trackpads and mice in mind.

“Users who use a mouse or trackpad with their iPad can access the new context menus designed for these devices, giving them quick access to useful commands. This feature is available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint or the new Office app on iPad,” Microsoft says.

And last but not least, Microsoft officially announces the new Office app for iPad, which brings all productivity apps under one roof. This unified Office app has actually been released a few weeks ago, but with this Insider update, Microsoft brings it to everybody, thus paving the way for a more convenient experience with the productivity suite on an iPad.