Microsoft just announced plans to release Office 2016 sometime this year. This comes right after yesterday’s unveiling of Windows 10.
Microsoft Office 2016 will offer universal apps
The new Office for Windows 10 will include universal apps that make it simpler for mobile users. It includes touch-optimized versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. The apps were designed from the ground up on Windows 10 but built specifically for touch.
The Office blog summed it up in a recent post, “Simultaneously, we are hard at work on the next release of the Office desktop suite that will be called Office 2016. (Unexpected, I know!) We will have more to share on Office 2016 in the coming months, but this suite will remain the comprehensive Office experience you’re long familiar with, best suited for a PC with keyboard and mouse. We have compelling new experiences coming as part of this Office suite–stay tuned to the Office Blog for more details. We expect to make Office 2016 generally available in the second half of 2015.”
Microsoft Office 2016: New features
The new Word for Windows 10 includes the Insights for Office feature in Read mode, which allows users to bring extra online sources, including images, web references, and definitions, into the reading experience. Excel, which allows users to create and edit spreadsheets, now has touch-first controls that make it easier to create/edit charts without a mouse.
The new PowerPoint comes with Presenter View and Ink Tools to help people annotate slides in real time. These new features make presenting slideshows easier. OneNote enables users to share their notes, recipes, party plans or ideas with others.
Last, but certainly not least, is the new Outlook Mail and Outlook Calendar. It now has Microsoft Word built in, which makes it easier to insert tables or add pictures or other eye-catching features to really share your point. It also comes with touch gestures that allow users to read, sort and archive their email.