Excel
Latest
Microsoft's tool for AI reading lessons is now a standalone app
Microsoft is rolling out Reading Coach as a standalone app, which will expand its tools for educators in Microsoft Teams.
Netflix’s first engagement report reveals its most popular shows and movies
Netflix published the first of a new twice-a-year engagement report called What We Watched. The first installment, launched Tuesday as a Microsoft Excel file, lists the hours viewed for every title, original and licensed, tallying more than 50,000 viewing hours.
Amazon will give you a $50 gift card when you buy a year of Microsoft 365 Family
The deal is available today only.
'EVE Online' and Microsoft Excel pair up for the year's hottest collab
This is only sarcasm if you're not an EVE player.
Microsoft Office's simplified visual update is now available
Microsoft has released a visual update for Office that promises a simpler, sleeker look with extras like better theming.
Video editing and audio recording are coming to Microsoft Office apps
Microsoft is bringing video editing to Office by adding Clipchamp — and PowerPoint will finally get audio recording.
Microsoft Excel spreadsheets now take custom live data
Microsoft Excel now takes al kinds of custom data, expanding spreadsheets well past the usual text and numbers.
Scientists rename genes because Microsoft Excel reads them as dates
Scientists have been renaming human genes to prevent Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates and corrupting data.
Microsoft details potential new designs for the Office UI
Some might think that Microsoft should pick a user interface for its Office products and stick with it, but its UX designers are having none of that. The company has unveiled yet more potential changes to its Microsoft 365 user interface in an ambitious Medium post.
Office for iPad will reportedly get trackpad support 'by the fall'
Microsoft is actively working to update its Office mobile apps to take advantage of the iPad's new and more robust trackpad support.
Microsoft releases its unified Office app for Android
Microsoft has followed through on its promise of a unified Office mobile app -- for some people, anyway. Following months of beta testing, the company has released the all-in-one productivity app for Android phone users. Like before, this lets you edit Excel, PowerPoint and Word documents without having to switch apps. You can also sift through your OneDrive files, scan real-world documents with Office Lens and read QR codes.
Microsoft's redesigned Office apps for iOS are faster and simpler
Microsoft is acting on its promise to give its mobile Office apps a makeover. It just released new iOS (and iPadOS) versions of Excel, PowerPoint and Word that all tout a "simpler, faster and more beautiful" redesign. Really, that's another way of saying they have a more consistent look with an interface that helps you quickly edit documents when you're away from your desk.
Microsoft Excel can provide real-time stock data
You might use Excel to track your budget, but your investments? That's less likely when stock prices change from moment to moment. Now, though, you don't have to think much about it. Microsoft has teamed with Nasdaq and market info provider Refinitiv to bring real-time stock data to Excel spreadsheets in Office 365. Type in a stock symbol, click Stocks and you can fill cells with real-time data like the price, last trade times and 52-week highs or lows. They can be used in formulas, too.
Excel quickly adds data from iPhone photos into spreadsheets
Microsoft Excel is making its "Insert Data from Picture" feature available on the iOS app. The AI-powered tool lets Excel users take pictures on their phone of data and convert it into a spreadsheet in seconds. The new function debuted at Microsoft's Ignite event last September and has already been released for Android. Combining a mix of image recognition and AI, it's a useful perk for both chronic and occasional Excel users that will eliminate hours wasted on manual input.
Russian hackers are hijacking computers at embassies (updated)
Russian hackers have apparently launched cyberattacks against embassies, although it might not be the kind of campaign you're expecting. Check Point Research reports that the attackers have attempted to compromise PCs at embassies for countries like Italy, Bermuda and Kenya by tricking officials into loading malware. Most often, they emailed Excel spreadsheets with malicious macros that would hijack a computer using the popular remote access app TeamViewer.
Office 365 for Mac now supports Dark Mode
As promised, Office 365 is ready to wring more out of macOS Mojave. Microsoft has updated the Mac version of its subscription productivity suite with several helpful features, two of which are tied to Apple's latest software. The obvious one is Dark Mode support -- you won't strain your eyes quite so badly if you're writing a school essay at night. And if you need to quickly add a photo to your presentation, PowerPoint now supports Mojave's Continuity Camera feature to let you directly import pictures from your iPhone or iPad.
Microsoft's redesigned Office icons reflect its move to the cloud
Microsoft's Office icons on Windows and the web have been conservative, to put it mildly. They've been functional things you click while you scramble to finish a business spreadsheet or school report. The company would like you to sit up and take notice this time around, though. It just unveiled redesigned Office icons that will reach apps and the web in the "coming months," and they're decidedly more interesting. To Microsoft, they're a reflection of how much Office has changed in the five years since the icons last received a makeover.
Microsoft releases Office 2019 for Mac and Windows
Just because Microsoft is bent on moving everyone to cloud-based subscriptions doesn't mean it has forgotten about those who want a one-and-done purchase. The company is rolling out Office 2019 for Mac and Windows, giving you a "subset" of the upgrades that have come to Office 365 ProPlus in the past three years. They're not revolutionary, but they could be helpful if you've stuck to Office 2016 or earlier releases.
Microsoft merges search across Windows 10, Office, Edge and Bing
Amid hardware updates and other announcements at Ignite 2018 Monday, Microsoft said it's releasing a string of new features to boost productivity, including one major change that will affect how you find what you're looking for. The company is unifying search across Windows 10, Office, Edge and Bing in Microsoft Search. The search box will live in a "consistent, prominent place" across the apps, the company said.
Microsoft opens Office 2019 for Mac business preview
Mac users who prefer Microsoft's suite of productivity tools but aren't keen on Office 365 are getting their first chance to try Office 2019 for Mac. A preview of the suite (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote) is now open to business users.
