Microsoft rolls out Office 2024 for Mac and Windows
Microsoft has introduced its latest standalone version of Office, the Microsoft Office 2024. This new release is now accessible to both individual consumers and small businesses. The package includes updated versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook for both Mac and PC users. The last independent version was released in 2021.
Office 2024 incorporates improvements and accessibility changes
The new Office 2024 incorporates several enhancements to its core applications, along with accessibility and user interface modifications. It introduces a fresh default theme in line with Microsoft's latest Fluent Design principles, mirroring the visual alterations seen in Windows 11. Additionally, the company has integrated accessibility-focused improvements to assist users in identifying potential accessibility issues within documents, slideshows, workbooks, and emails.
Significant updates in Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
The most significant updates in Office 2024 are seen in Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. New features have been added to Excel for using text and arrays in worksheets. A new IMAGE function that can extract images from the web has also been introduced. Additionally, Excel 2024 now supports Dynamic Arrays in charts, that can automatically update rather than being fixed to set data points.
PowerPoint brings new recording studio feature
PowerPoint 2024 now includes a cameo feature that allows users to insert a live camera feed into slides. A new recording studio feature has been introduced, offering recording capabilities for narration, transitions, animations, and inking. Users can also add closed captions or subtitles to videos and audio files within slides. These additions aim to make presentations more accessible and engaging for all users.
Outlook enhances search and meeting options
Outlook 2024 has improved its search function to provide more relevant results for messages, contacts, attachments, and calendar entries. The latest release offers more choices for meetings, including the ability to automatically shorten them. Mac users now have the flexibility to customize swipe left and right gestures in Outlook, further enhancing user experience.
It introduces new features for Word and OneNote
In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, users can now easily insert a picture from an Android mobile device. Microsoft also supports version 1.4 of the OpenDocument format (ODF), which includes various new improvements. Word and PowerPoint now come with the ability to like and react to comments in documents. If a PC crashes during a session, Word 2024 users will be able to recover their work as the program will automatically reopen all previously open documents.
Office 2024 is available in 2 variants
Microsoft Office 2024 is up for grabs in two different editions. The Office Home 2024 edition, priced at $149.99, comprises Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for PC or Mac. For those who want Outlook included in their package, they will need to buy the $249.99 Office Home and Business 2024 variant, which also grants rights to use the apps for commercial purposes.
