Tablet takes the last step – thanks to Microsoft

With this step, Apple’s iPad is finally a real alternative to the laptop for many users. Because Microsoft has released an important new feature for all users via update.

Office for iPad: Trackpad support now for all users

A new era began for Apple’s iPad almost a year ago. No exaggeration: after almost a decade as a tablet to which keyboards could be connected, Apple turned the iPad into a notebook. First there was the Magic Keyboard, which combines a backlit keyboard with a small trackpad, only for the iPad Pro. It can now also be used with the iPad Air. Accessory manufacturers now offer similar cases with a trackpad.

Since then, developers have also adapted their apps for trackpad support in iPadOS. For its Office apps Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Microsoft delivered updates to some users last year that fully supported the trackpad (and connected mice). Trackpad support is now available to all users.

Can be used best for Office with the Magic Keyboard – Apple’s iPad Air:

Click here for the Office apps Word, Excel and PowerPoint in the App Store. They can be downloaded for free. If you want to work properly with it, you need a valid license for tablets with a screen larger than 10.1 inches:

PowerPoint is now helping

Microsoft’s description of the latest update for Word sounds a bit awkward: “Use the trackpad of the brand new magic keyboard to interact with your document” can be read in the App Store. What is meant, of course, is Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which apparently overlooks the automatically generated translation – and which is no longer that “brand new”. Microsoft points out that Word can also be used with an externally connected trackpad or mouse. With the new Excel version you can also work on several spreadsheets at the same time and PowerPoint now offers a “presenter coach” who can give feedback on speaking speed, pitch, filler words or “sensitive phrases”, among other things.