Microsoft optimizes its Office apps for iPad Pro, iOS 9, and watchOS 2

Microsoft helps Apple to succeed with the iPad Pro by improving its Office apps.

Apple iPad Pro running two Office apps side by side

Microsoft is making the iPad Pro, iOS 9, and WatchOS 2 more productive with the new Office update. Apple has just announced a bigger iPad, refreshed new hardware, and new software updates, and thanks to Microsoft, Apple products are getting new features and capabilities.

Yes, Apple has revealed a bigger iPad with a rechargeable stylus to fight back the successful Surface Pro 3, and thanks to the software giant, multitasking using Office apps on an iPad Pro is a lot easier.

Once iOS 9 rolls out, you’ll be able to “Slide Over” to open a second app without completely moving away from the work you’re doing. You can use two apps side-by-side using “Split View” at the same time, just like you were able in Windows 8, but now you can do it on an iPad when using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.

Office Slide Over feature for iPad Pro

Office Split View for iPad Pro

PowerPoint now has a “Presenter View” that will enable you to project the presentation on a second screen, while you’re working on your screen on PowerPoint and using OneNote on the second half of the screen with the notes you need to tackle your presentation.
Steve Jobs was always against inking, but Bill Gates might have won this battle. Not only the iPad Pro includes support for digital pen, but Microsoft is bringing its inking technology to the Office apps for iPad.

The next time you’re working on an Office document, you will notice a new “Ink” tab, which includes every tool you need for handwriting, highlighting text and more on your document using the Apple Pencil.

Office Inking for Apple's iPad

Apple is also bringing improvement to the Watch with watchOS 2, and Microsoft is helping to make the device more productive. For example, Outlook will now show details about your upcoming appointment and new emails. Furthermore, using the digital crown to access Time Travel will allow you to access future calendar entries and more.

Apple Watch Office update

Back in August, Microsoft released the Translator app for the Apple Watch, and with a new update you’ll be able to replay a pinned translation, and you’ll also start seeing common translations popping up in the watch based on your location.

The software giant is also helping Apple by bringing keyboard support to the Office apps for iPad, search has been improved too. Now when you search on your iPad or iPhone, results will include your Office documents.

The new changes on Office once again shows a Microsoft willing to put competition aside and doing the right thing, which is making new software features to customers no matter what device or platform they’re using.

Source Office Blogs

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.