The Office app for Windows and web version Office.com are getting a refresh and bringing new experiences. Microsoft announces this at Ignite 2021 as part of reimagining Office and transforming for a hybrid world. With the redesign Microsoft says it will serve as a hub for your content, easily finding content and taking action.
Changes to the Office app include a new homepage with a Quick Access section and a set of Recommended Actions. It also has a new My Content page to easily search and filter content and a Create page with all apps and tools, plus templates from all the apps. Microsoft will roll out the new features and experience to users gradually over the next couple of months.
The enhancements we’re making to Office.com is to help you optimize your time and simplify your work. These updates make it even easier to find all the content associated with you, access your apps and templates in one place, take action quickly, and understand what work needs your attention.
What is new in Office desktop app and Office for the web?
Microsoft Program manager Alyssa Galvin takes you on a deep dive into all the new changes.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Microsoft User Group Ghana (MUGGH) invites you to join the Global Microsoft 365 Developer Bootcamp 2019 event in Accra, Ghana. Come and learn about new technologies and products included in Microsoft 365 at the free, one-day, hands-on training event. Scheduled to take place October 26th 2019 at the Microsoft office in Accra.
The event will be led by Microsoft MVPs and community leaders. You’ll learn the latest technologies on Microsoft 365 platform that you can apply to your future projects. These including Microsoft Graph, SharePoint Framework, Microsoft Teams, Office Add-ins and Actionable Messages, etc. Get to meet and network with other IT Professionals.
Visit event page and register (free event but you need to register) to participate in the bootcamp. Don’t forget to share with your community of IT Pros, developers, admins etc.
Update: There are two event days now. So kindly click the event for the day that suits you or that isn’t filled up yet. Thank you.
The first Campus Connect Summit, A Microsoft Education Partner Summit takes place in Nairobi.
Microsoft hosted a 2 day education partner summit in Nairobi at the Villa Rosa kempinski hotel. The event brought together over a hundred Microsoft education partners, educators and from across the country.
Preparing graduates for 21st Century panel discussion led by (from Left) Michael Rasugu with panelist Audrey Cheng, Henry Hickman, Nancy Mokua and Sebuh Haileleul.
Conversations of the day higned on the theme; Digital Transformation in Higher Education – Future Trends and Best Practices. Through panel discussions and keynotes that explored Microsoft’s technologies enabling digital transformation in Education. Including Other Microsoft Education Partner solutions addressing challenges in Higher Education.
Claudia Johnston, Microsoft Education Sector Enterprise Channel Manager, Sub Saharan Africa speaking at event.
Sharing on Microsoft’s Vision in Education was Simon Ouattara, Education Lead MEA Multi Cluster Countries. He said “At Microsoft we have made a commitment to impart digital skills to 10 million youth across MEA in the next three years”.
The event saw Microsoft highlighting products like Microsoft Azure, LinkedIn and Microsoft 365.
Ghanaian Teacher, Richard Owura Kwadwo Hottish Akoto Appiah, one of ten Change-Makers who inspired Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella in 2018
10 Change-Makers that inspired Satya Nadella in 2018
Satya nadella has named Richard ‘Owura Kwadwo Hottish’ Akoto as part of individuals and teams who inspired him in 2018.
The CEO of Microsoft shared this in a post titled 10 change-makers who inspired me in 2018. He shared “that these change makers are solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, often overcoming odds“.
Here’s an excerpt of what the Microsoft CEO shared about the Change-Makers
“As I reflect on the year, I want to celebrate 10 people and teams who inspired me in 2018. With their ambition to think big and take action and also with their commitment to never lose sight of those whose lives they are trying to better. From a Ghanaian teacher who taught his students Word on a chalkboard, to a young entrepreneur in Paris who is reimagining recycling. To a Microsoft team in the United States working to improve outcomes in the foster-care system. These change-makers’ stories made me pause and reflect on the incredible opportunity each of us has to impact and spark change in our organizations, our local communities and the world.”
Richard’s post that went viral
Satya Nadella goes on to say that “to me, Richard exemplifies the dedication and creativity of so many great teachers who go above and beyond each day for their students“.
Satya recapped Richards story by saying; When Richard Appiah Akoto was preparing his students in rural Ghana for a national IT exam earlier this year, he refused to let a lack of working computers get in the way. In remarkably accurate detail, Richard drew the [Microsoft] Word user interface on his classroom chalkboard so his students could learn how to use it. His illustrations went viral, and our teams rallied to support him, providing the school with a computer lab.
Richard Owura Kwadwo Hottish Akoto Appiah speaks at E2 2018 in Singapore.
Satya Nadella concludes that each of these change-makers show us how one individual or team driven by passion and ingenuity can empower others and have meaningful impact in the world.
Microsoft’s Office 365 apps have a new design and boy they look wow. I mean i like them. They look fresh, clean, simple, modern and oh fluent lol. The design overhaul finally catches up with the office 365 apps. Microsoft calls this change “designs that honor heritage and welcome the future”
“Today, we unveiled redesigned Office app icons to honor the heritage of Office and welcome in the future. These app icons provide flexible visuals that reflect product changes and the new ways in which people are working” – Kirk Koenigsbauer, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365
Microsoft’s head of design for office 365, Jon friedman said “we’ve evolved our visual identity to reflect the simple, powerful, and intelligent experiences of Office 365”
The last time Microsoft Office apps were update was in 2013. The redesign includes changes to the letter and symbol ratio and has flexible visuals. Microsoft says the changes will be rolling out across platforms in the coming months, starting with mobile and web apps.
“We’ve changed the letter-to-symbol ratio. Traditionally, the letter occupied two-thirds of the icon, and the symbol took up one-third. We’ve changed this ratio to now emphasize the symbol”
To support this changing world of work, Office is transforming into a collaborative suite that lets you work together in real-time from almost any device. We’ve infused our tools with powerful AI: you can get insights from data with less effort, write a paper using your voice, or make your resume using LinkedIn insights. We’ve also added totally new apps to the suite like our AI-powered meetings and chat service, Microsoft Teams. In the end, it’s great design that makes these experiences fluid and seamless.
How do you like the new Microsoft Office 365 icons? Share your thoughts with us.
