Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

The Microsoft Office app is a mobile app that lets you view, create, and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more with Office apps designed for mobile devices and tablets. It serves as a hub to access Microsoft 365 apps in one place including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. The app works seamlessly with office 365 to connect you to your documents and content.

Image showing iOS and android  Microsoft Office app

The app helps you to be productive by allowing you to work from anywhere, anytime, with anyone using Office apps for Android and iOS. You can use the Office app for free and download it from Google Play or App Store and access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other features without a subscription. However, some advanced features may require a Microsoft 365 subscription.

You can scan and save documents with OneDrive document scanning using your phone. Letting you skip the bulky scanner and turn your paper documents, receipts, and whiteboards into PDFs. Another feature that helps you to be productive on the go is co-authoring. You can collaborate with others on Word and PowerPoint documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. You can see who else is working on the document and their changes as they happen. We share more on scanning to pdf and co-authoring below.

Here are five things that you might not know about the Microsoft Office mobile app

  • You can scan a document or a whiteboard in Outlook by tapping on the camera icon while composing a mail. The app will automatically trim and enhance the image for you.
  • You can use voice commands to create emails or dictate text in Word or PowerPoint. Just tap on the microphone icon on your keyboard and start speaking.
  • You can use Lens mode to capture text from images or documents. The app will convert it into editable text that you can copy or paste into other apps.
  • You can use Quick Notes to jot down ideas or reminders without opening a new document. Just tap on the note icon at the bottom of your screen and start writing.
  • You can use Smart Lookup to get definitions, synonyms, or related information for any word or phrase. Just select it and tap on Smart Lookup from the menu.

To scan a document with your camera using the Microsoft Office app, follow these steps:

  1. Lay out your paper on a flat surface
  2. Open the Microsoft Office app
  3. Tap Scan to PDF
  4. Adjust corner points if needed
  5. Tap Confirm
  6. Save as PDF
  7. You can also scan multiple pages into one PDF file by tapping Add Page after each scan.

Co-authoring on the go

Co-authoring features allow you to work together with others on Word and PowerPoint files stored online. To co-author with others, you need:

  • A shared storage area such as OneDrive or SharePoint
  • Apps that support co-authoring such as Word or PowerPoint for office mobile

When you open a file that someone else is editing you will see their name at the top of your screen. You will also see their cursor position and changes as they happen. You can also chat with them using Skype for Business by tapping on their name. To invite others to co-author with you just share your file link via email or other apps.

Other exciting features

  • Action pane: A quick way to access common tasks such as signing PDFs converting images into text creating QR codes etc.
  • Lens mode: A powerful tool that lets you capture text from images documents whiteboards etc.
  • Quick Notes: A simple way to jot down ideas and reminders without opening a new document
  • Voice commands: A convenient way to create emails dictate text etc.
  • Smart Lookup: A handy way to get definitions synonyms related information etc.

If you want to learn more about these features please visit this link.

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Dubber brings conversational intelligence solutions to Microsoft Teams

Dubber brings conversational intelligence solutions to Microsoft Teams

Dubber Corporation Limited is announcing the ability to capture video recordings and perform advanced recording controls on Microsoft Teams. Dubber video recording for Microsoft Teams will deliver recording on a single platform with real-time search, keyword analytics, and AI-enriched insights.

The advanced recording controls for Microsoft Teams will give users flexibility and control when recording voice or video calls. The features include the ability to pause and resume recordings, record on-demand or selectively manage which types of calls or meetings are recorded.

Dubber Microsoft Teams

James Slaney, COO, Dubber: Businesses increasingly recognise default and basic recording solutions fail to meet their enterprise-grade requirements for security, compliance and data sovereignty. No other company offers the completeness, scalability and robustness of Dubber’s unified call recording and conversational intelligence capability as a Microsoft Teams certified service“.

“Capturing video recordings adds critical context to knowing what was said, particularly as video has become a primary communications medium for every business driven by hybrid work”.

“For example, every customer presentation captured, attached and connected to a CRM significantly improves revenue forecasting, sales coaching, training and more. For compliance intelligence, capturing video completes the requirement to know your customer and employees. The release of advanced recording controls provides flexibility and practical control for administrators and end-users to select the types of calls that are recorded and additionally to record on-demand or pause and resume recording”.

We are addressing the critical need for any service provider or reseller of Microsoft Teams to differentiate, drive revenue and increase retention,” added Slaney.

Feature release details:

  • Video call recording: Capture and unify all your video calls, meetings and voice recording on Microsoft Teams in Dubber’s infinitely scalable Voice Intelligence Cloud. Affordable and flexible plan options start as low as $39.95 (USD) per user/month, with 100GB of storage included.
  • AI-powered video: Enrich video recordings with AI to unlock best of breed Dubber AI capabilities such as intelligent keyword search, transcriptions, analytics, sentiment plus tone analysis and real-time notification and alerts.
  • Pause-resume: Users can effectively pause and resume voice and video calls on mobile and desktop. When initiated, it results in the same consistent experience across the native app as well as calls using Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency codes (DTMF).
  • On-demand: Once configured, when a call/meeting begins, it gets recorded only when the user presses the “record” button in Dubber’s app.
  • Selective recording: Allows Administrator users to select which type of calls/meetings are recorded. The following call types will be supported at launch, including the ability to record all call types.
    • Record external parties (determined by users’ tenancy) only
    • Record meetings only
    • Record PSTN only

Head to the Microsoft AppSource to get the latest control features and learn more about Dubber on Teams.

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Microsoft redesigns Office for web and app, brings new experiences

Microsoft redesigns Office for web and app, brings new experiences

office app update Microsoft

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 brings official store to Jumia Nigeria online mall

Microsoft brings official store to Jumia Nigeria online mall

Microsoft Nigeria is hosting an official store on the Jumia Nigeria online mall.

Microsoft Store Jumia Nigeria

Microsoft now has an official store page on the Jumia Nigeria online mall. A move to help consumers and businesses buy and use genuine Microsoft products and solutions. This solves an earlier challenge as payments are in the local currency, Naira.

The Microsoft store page currently features only Microsoft Office 365 product suites. Offering Office 365 business, Office 365 Business Essentials and Office 365 Business Premium. The store page mentions buying Windows 10 software, that is not presently available.

Get the best tools you need on Microsoft official store page on Jumia mall. Find the best deals on this page. Do more with Office 365 for less. Are you are interested in Windows 10 software? Everything you are looking for is available online at the lowest prices.

Microsoft Nigeria earlier this year also partnered with FirstBank Nigeria. To provide SME’s with an education platform and access to its productivity suite tools at discounted rates payable in Naira.

Microsoft discourages piracy as it has so many negative effects it brings to a software user. Malware ransomware being a major one that opens a software user to cyber attacks. But buying genuine software was a challenge in the African region. This narrative is however changing.

We are unable to confirm to you at this moment if there will be products targeted at individuals. As well as if other Microsoft products like the Surface and Xbox devices will be available in the near future. Or if the Microsoft store will become available in Jumia’s other ten online malls across Africa.

We will bring you updates on this. Click to check out the official Microsoft store on Jumia.

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App Review: Introducing Microsoft Forms

App Review: Introducing Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms is a simple, lightweight online app that lets a user easily create surveys, quizzes and polls.

Microsoft says Forms “can be used to collect customer feedback, measure employee satisfaction, improve product, business or organize events.
Microsoft Forms is simple to use, works on any web browser and comes with themes and question branching so you won’t have to do a lot of work to get to a great survey
“.

It can be accessed in a number of ways. From the Forms website, Onenote, OneNote Online, OneDrive, Excel app and Excel Online.

How to create a simple form using Microsoft Forms

  • Go to your preferred mode. [Either web browser, Onenote, OneNote Online, OneDrive, Excel app and Excel Online]
Microsoft Forms
  • Click on new form or new quiz under My forms
Microsoft Forms
  • Name form and start adding questions.
  • Click preview to see your form and submit if it looks good.

Here is a more detailed procedure and other features you can use in your form creation.