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Microsoft announces Office updates to support iOS 9 multi-tasking and Apple Pencil on iPad Pro

Microsoft has announced that its Office apps will be all set for the launch of iOS 9 and the iPad Pro, with support for multi-tasking and marking up documents using the Apple Pencil. The company highlighted five features on its blog, the first two of particular note.

Slide Over lets you open a second app without leaving the one you’re in. Jot down a reminder in OneNote while you’re catching up on email. Or reference your notes while you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation.

With Split View, you can have two apps open and active at the same time. Copy numbers from Excel into PowerPoint or rehearse a PowerPoint presentation while reviewing background information in Word … 

Additionally, if you tap on an Office attachment in Outlook, it will now automatically open the document in Word, Excel or Powerpoint in a second window alongside Outlook; presenters can view their PowerPoint slides alongside their talking points in OneNote; and the Apple Pencil can serve as both a pen and a highlighter to mark up documents just as you would on paper.

Microsoft is also supporting the Time Travel feature in watchOS 2, allowing you to skip forward and back in your Outlook appointments right from the main watch face, and Translator will now automatically show you the correct greeting (Good morning, afternoon or evening) based on your country and time of day.

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Comments

  1. scumbolt2014 - 9 years ago

    The whiners got a part of their wish. The iPad Pro starts at 32gb of storage, and starts at 800 dollars also with a 200 premium to expand it to 128gb. Now we’re going to hear them complain it’s overpriced. If Apple gives them what they want with the iPhone we’ll all see the price go up for them also.

    • Will Van Gelderen - 9 years ago

      The problem isn’t with the whiners, its the fact that the jump from 16gb to 32gb should at most cost $3-$4 but it is probably much much less. Yet Apple will charge $100 to the customer for the increase in storage. Apple is one of the few companies aside from a few low end Androids and Windows Phone devices that offer 16gb still. Those other devices also usually have a micro sd card slot.
      I get it though, Apple knows the consumer will buy into what ever they offer, but this trend that Apple is pulling will eventually fall.
      Don’t get me wrong Apples eco system is bar none the best out there right now, but the prices are starting to get crazy when you think about how cheap Apple can make these

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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