Quick overview:
After the renovation of Windows, Microsoft Office 2016 will now be released for individual users in September 2015; companies will be able to install the new package from October. This marks the launch of the latest version of software that many people work with, but not everyone likes. The old programs Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook remain on board - but a lot is changing in and around them. We explain the new features and changes at a glance.
Office goes mobile
With Office 2016, it is now possible to download Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile to your mobile device. The mobile apps run on smartphones and tablets - but only in a slimmed-down form. However, this should be enough for most everyday applications. Good news: the apps can be controlled better than ever before on the small displays with a pen or finger.
"Clippy" is back - well almost
The Office helper is back - but you can rest assured: according to Microsoft, the function called "Tell me" has nothing in common with the opinionated and annoying Karl Klammer from older Office versions and provides intelligent assistance with the many functions of the programs. A completely new feature is the optimized cloud connection, which saves all documents in the network on Microsoft's own cloud server OneDrive. The documents can be edited by several users in workgroups within one user interface. They can communicate with each other via Skype or text message.
Another new feature is the integration of Internet images into Word documents without an intermediate step. Another new feature for Word use is the Bing Translator add-on, which is designed to translate texts almost in real time.
Outlook now with "Clutter"
Microsoft has now added a tool called "Clutter" to the Outlook email program, which helps to tidy up the inbox. It also makes it much easier to attach documents to an email. Other new features in Office 2016 include a color separation ("themes") of Excel, Word and PowerPoint for better orientation and an intelligent web search that can be started directly from the three programs. Excel has a new function that many users will appreciate: Time series analyses and trend calculations have been combined and can now be implemented with just a few mouse clicks.
All in all, Microsoft has not reinvented its Office suite, but has rejuvenated it with many improvements and adapted it to the trends of recent years - so you should take a closer look at the program on your monitor.
Screenshot above: products.office.com/en/word
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