We are all used to working
on Office (earlier Microsoft Office) on
our desktops and laptops. Most of us use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
routinely without even having heard of anything else. They are a natural part
of our computing life.
And now, Microsoft has come
up with an Android and iOS version of Office. Anyone can download the Office app on phones for Android and iOS.
The app is free to use, even without signing in. An Office 365
or Microsoft 365 subscription
will also unlock various premium features, consistent with those in the current
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps. Just head to the Play Store or App Store and
download the version appropriate for your use.
Now, who will think of
typing letters on his mobile phone? Or making spreadsheets? Welcome to Office
on your phone – Word, Excel and PowerPoint, all rolled into one. On your phone
you can open all original Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint
presentations which you may have received by email, WhatsApp or SMS. But you
can do even more. Let’s explore.
In Word, you can scan text directly into a Word
document. So, if you read any printed text in a letter or book or newspaper,
you can just point your camera to the text and scan it right into your Word
document. This allows you to edit, save or forward the document for further
use. This is a real cool feature which helps you create Word documents without
having to type them.
Besides, if you wish to
create a totally new document, apart from typing it (boring and cumbersome) on
your phone, you may just dictate it directly. Just tap on Dictate and you will
be able to create a new Word document seamlessly. A few spelling errors, when
the microphone does not accurately catch what you are saying, may just need to
be edited and you will have your document ready in a jiffy. An easy way to
dispense with your secretary or at least not be fully dependent on him / her!
You can dictate while you are travelling or even on a Sunday when you get
bursts of inspiration.
Of course, the traditional
methods of creating a document right from scratch or using a pre-configured
template are also available, just in case you want to type out your document.
Coming to Excel, you have the option to create a
new spreadsheet the old, boring way – by entering the cells manually or from a
pre-configured template. But now you have another exciting way to create a
spreadsheet – just scan a printed table on your phone and get your cells
populated instantly into an Excel file. If the original is well printed and
your phone has a reasonably good camera, you may not even have to edit the file
– else a bit of editing may be required. But the very idea of having a full,
ready table imported directly into an Excel sheet is a dream come true – you
have to try it to experience the joy of importing.
PowerPoint has
the option to create a new presentation right from scratch or from a
pre-configured template. You may choose pictures from your phone and also
create an outline for the presentation. It’s a bit difficult, but still doable.
The best part is that you can Rehearse your PowerPoint presentation with a
built-in coach. Just run the PowerPoint presentation and start speaking as if
you are presenting it live. The Rehearsal Coach will analyse what you are
speaking and give you tips to improve your speaking skills – it could give you
hints such as ‘Do not read out your presentation verbatim’ or ‘Vary your tone
and pitch’ or ‘Don’t use too many filler words like “umm”, or “you see”’ or
even help you with the speed of your speech – whether you are too fast or too slow
or just right. Indeed, a wonderful in-built tool to help you prepare a
perfectly timed and worded presentation.
Apart
from the expected tools of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Office also helps you
with PDFs in a variety of ways. It allows you to sign any PDF document with your
signature and you can scan a document directly to a PDF file on your phone. You
can even convert your pictures to PDF, convert your document to PDF, or convert
PDF files to Word documents. Extremely useful for day-to-day functioning.
With QR
codes becoming more and more prevalent, Office allows you to scan a QR code and
decipher what it says – you can save it as Text or even save it as a Note.
Office also allows you to
create Surveys and other Forms which you
can share and solicit responses to from your clients, suppliers or co-workers.
And finally, Office helps
you create Yellow Post-it Notes
which can be stored on your phone and are searchable instantly.
The Search function in Office is very
powerful. It allows you to Search for keywords in your Office files, your media
(including text within images) and in your notes. The Search works on all your
folders within your phone, or on
One-Drive, or on your Google Drive or any other drive that you connect it with
(e.g. even Dropbox or Box.net).
Now,
with so many wonderful, unique and time-saving features, why would you not use
Office on your phone regularly?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your
shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And
you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…
— Dr. Seuss,
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
