14 DAY TRIAL // We’ve known for a while that Microsoft planned to bring trackpad support to Office apps running on iPadOS, and now it looks like the feature is almost here.
More specifically, Microsoft has recently started testing the trackpad support on the iPad, and although no ETA is available right now for production devices, an official announcement in this regard could be made next month.
MSPU writes that the trackpad support is currently available in Word and Excel, but there’s a chance Microsoft would bring it to the other Office apps, including PowerPoint, shortly after the original launch.
In addition, the new Office apps for iPad come with a redesigned Home tab that should make finding a specific file more straightforward after the update.
Still in beta with version 2.42
In essence, there are three different improvements in the latest beta version of Office for iPad, according to the cited source:
Use a Pointing Device on iPad: Connect a trackpad or mouse to your iPad and you’ll get rich visual feedback and just the right level of precision needed to enhance your productivity. iPad Home redesign: Quickly get to your files in the simplified Home tab with a new appearance. The Fluent Design System is a more coherent, productive experience. Magic Keyboard trackpad support: Use the trackpad from the all-new magic keyboard to interact with your document.
While for hardcore Microsoft fans such an update isn’t the right way to go because it makes the iPad overall an even better productivity device, the Redmond-based software giant has pledged to provide its users with the full capabilities, no matter where they are.
This is the reason the company has also decided to launch an Android device in the first place, thus giving its customers a first-party hardware choice when it comes to smartphones.