14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has started testing the September 2018 update for Office 2016 for Mac, and participants in the Office Insider program are the first ones to get them.
Users in the Slow ring can download the new update right now. It’s labeled as version 16.17.180904 and is projected to be released to everyone else by the end of the month.
This month, the Office for Mac update comes with several new features, and it all starts with LaTeX equation support in Microsoft Word.
Microsoft says this has been one of the most requested features for Microsoft Office for Mac, and the company explains that most mathematical keywords are supported already in Word.
Microsoft Excel is also getting an update based on user feedback, so custom shortcuts are back.
“Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Excel for Mac helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are an essential alternative to using a mouse,” the firm explains.
More improvements
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint get support for @mentions with this new update, a feature that has already been implemented in Windows apps and which allows users to directly mention co-workers in a document.
Users of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel can also draw with ink starting with this update, as the apps support mice, touchpads, and pens for tasks like writing, drawing, and highlighting within a document. And last but not least, all three apps can work with 3D models more efficiently, as they support inserting and rotating them through 360 degrees.
The September update for Microsoft Office on the Mac should begin rolling out to all users in the coming weeks, but as with everything still in preview stage, it all depends on how development advances and how many bugs are discovered before the public launch.