14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just released a new update for its Office productivity suite on iOS, pushing Word, Excel and PowerPoint to version 1.25 on iPhones and iPads.
The new version brings improvements that first made the headlines in late August when all release notes got leaked, so if you’re the kind of user who keeps an eye on everything Microsoft, this update might not be super exciting.
On the other hand, if you’re new to Office for iOS, version 1.25 brings improvements for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that refine general performance on iPhones and iPads, but also add new functionality on these devices. What’s important to know, however, is that some features are exclusive to iPhones.
Exclusive iPhone features
First and foremost, this new version brings support for Edmodo and Tencent for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, so iOS users can store their documents on any of these two services.
Additionally, iPhone users are also getting a new PowerPoint feature that improves the laser pointer behavior. Microsoft explains, “In presenter view, point your phone at the screen, then press and hold in the notes area to turn your device into a laser pointer. For Office 365 subscribers only.”
And last but not least, Word is being updated with support for Smart Lookup, a new feature that’s also available on the desktop and which makes it super easy to get information, imagines, and definitions from the web. All you have to do is press and hold on a word or phrase and choose the Smart Lookup option. This feature is exclusive to the iPhone.
Just like all the other updates, this new one is shipped via the App Store, so if you already installed Office, the new version should be pushed to your device automatically. A similar update is also going live for Mac OS X devices and more improvements are expected this month, as work on improving Office continues for both insiders and retail users.