Microsoft 365 got a November 2018 update for Office. As noted in a post on the Microsoft 365 Blog, the November update brings new AI features to Word, Microsoft Teams on Android and iOS, as well as improvements to PowerPoint and Outlook on the web. Here’s a look at all of the new features available in November and what’s on tap for December.
Keep track of to-dos and collaborate with others with new AI features in Word
Now you can more easily focus on your writing when working in Word. When you type a to-do item, like TODO: finish this section or <<insert closing here>>, Word recognizes and tracks them as to-dos. When you come back to the document, you’ll see a list of your remaining to-dos, and you can click each one to navigate back to the right spot. Additionally, when you @mention someone within a to-do, Word emails them a notification with a “deep link” to the relevant place in the document. This new capability is available today in Preview for Word on the Mac for Office Insiders, with availability for all Office 365 subscribers coming soon.
Microsoft Teams on iOS and Android
The updated Microsoft Teams mobile app now empowers you to be more productive on the go with features like the ability to schedule meetings and search for colleagues within your organization’s directory. With Quiet Hours, you can focus on other activities with greater control over push notifications. These features are available now via the Microsoft Teams mobile app on Android and iOS.
Outlook on the web
The updated Tasks feature in the new Outlook on the web now lets you create a task by dragging and dropping an email into your Tasks pane or easily schedule a task by dragging it from the Tasks pane to your calendar. Your tasks then travel with you on the To-Do app. The new Tasks pane capability will start rolling out to customers who opt in to the new Outlook on the web in December 2018.
Also coming in December, Office 365 subscribers who use Outlook on the web can now sign in to their work or school accounts through www.outlook.com. When a user signs in through www.outlook.com, Outlook redirects them to their organization’s sign-in page, which is pre-populated with the email address they entered. From there, they just follow their organization’s sign-in process.
New PowerPoint features
Editor in PowerPoint: Editor leverages machine learning and natural language processing to provide an intelligent proofing and editing service that delivers recommendations in context. For example, Editor highlights and provides suggestions to fix awkward word choices and incorrect grammar and offers guidance on clarity and conciseness. Editor in PowerPoint will be available to all users with an Office 365 subscription beginning December 2018.
Interactive forms and quizzes: Microsoft Forms is now integrated with PowerPoint for Office 365, providing a seamless way for speakers, trainers, and educators to connect and interact with participants. Now, presenters can get real-time audience feedback via forms and quizzes without asking them to leave PowerPoint. To get started, in PowerPoint under Insert, click the Forms icon to create a new form/quiz or insert one you’ve already created.
In addition to all these Microsoft 365 updates for November, Microsoft just unveiled new Office 365 apps icon designs for the first time since 2013. Stay tuned for new features coming to Microsoft 365 in December 2018.
