It's about time. Microsoft Office for Mac is getting its first major update in years.
The company rolled out on Thursday preview versions of the new Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote and Outlook for Mac — the first time the Office suite for Mac has had a new release since 2011.
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Better yet, Microsoft said that from now on, Office for Mac will be updated as regularly as Windows.
Office 2016 include applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. They’re available as a one-time purchase for use on a single PC. Microsoft 365 plans include premium versions of these applications plus other services that are enabled over the Internet, including online storage with OneDrive and Skype minutes for home use. Mar 05, 2015 Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac Preview - Duration: 1:00:21. Office 2016 for Mac: Top 10 reasons to get the new version - Duration: 3:23. Microsoft 365 74,289 views. Today, we are taking a big step forward for Mac users—Office 2016 for Mac is now available in 139 countries and 16 languages. Based on feedback from the great Mac Office community, we’ve made major updates to each of the apps, and we couldn’t be more pleased to deliver it first to our Office 365 customers. Yes, you can install and use Office 2016 for Mac and Office for Mac 2011 at the same time. However, we recommend that you uninstall Office for Mac 2011 before you install the new version just to prevent any confusion. To uninstall Office for Mac 2011, follow the steps in Uninstall Office 2011 for Mac. How do I pin the Office app icons to the dock?
'This will be the first time Office for Mac is updated on a regular basis like Office 365 is today,' Jevon Fark, Microsoft's consumer marketing manager, said. 'We're talking about new features, functionality, as long as you're an Office 365 subscriber.'
Those who aren't subscribers will still be able to use the Office apps for free during the preview period, but will need an Office 365 subscription or perpetual license once they become generally available later this year.
Office For Mac 2016
With Office for Mac for 2016, Microsoft will finally bring the apps' features to the same level as the existing Windows and mobile apps. Word and Powerpoint, for example, will get the same real-time collaboration features that Windows users have had for some time. This means multiple people will be able to contribute to, and have conversations within, a single document in real-time.
On the Excel side, Microsoft is adding new statistical functions for power users. For those accustomed to using Excel on Windows, it revamped the shortcut keys so the same shortcut keys in Windows will also work in Mac (existing Mac shortcuts will continue to work, as well.)
Powerpoint users will also have access to the same Presenter View as Windows. The feature allows presenters to see the current slide, the upcoming slide, notes and a timer, while viewers only sees the current slide.
Microsoft said its Office preview versions are close to what the software will look like when it becomes generally available some time this summer. As with previous early releases, however, the company is asking for feedback during the preview period. Those who don't want to wait can check out the previews on Microsoft's website.
Updated March 5, 2015 at 11:20 a.m PT to clarify the Office apps will be free during the preview period, but will require an Office 365 subscription or perpetual license once they become generally available.
As a Mac user who loves Microsoft, I have been eagerly awaiting a new release of Office for the platform. The latest version of Office for Mac was back in 2010, and a substantial overhaul of the software suit has since been needed. Microsoft has announced the Office 2016 preview is now available for Mac, with the final version coming later this year.
While there is a lot to see in Office 2016, there isn’t a lot to talk about. The significant change in the most recent edition of Office is simply its UX design. While the old version of Office felt dated even at the time it was released, the latest design for Mac is on par with the Windows variation – if you have seen Office 365 for Windows, then you have seen Office for Mac 2016. The new design is cleaner and features an enhanced ribbon bar; icons reflect the new flat design changes introduced to OS X Yosemite.
Beyond the surface changes, there are fixes under the hood for improved stability and tighter OneDrive support – that being said, remember that this “preview” should be treated as a beta release. Accessing File Save, and File Open menus drop users directly into their OneDrive folder, as many are already used to on the PC. Collections of new templates are also available – bringing welcomed changes to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Office Preview For Mac 2016 Download
Users downloading Office 2016 for Mac will notice that Outlook looks familiar; that is because Microsoft has already released Outlook as a standalone application. In addition, OneNote is not included in the bundle and continues to serve as a separate download (for free) directly from the Mac App Store. Note that OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) or higher is required to access the App Store.
Check out the above video to take a quick look at what Microsoft has to offer Mac users with their latest desktop Office Suit. I apologize ahead of time that I am not able to bring you the beautiful accent that Zac is known for in his WinBeta videos – I hope you enjoy nonetheless.
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Deleted Preview For Mac