The iPad finally has its own unified Microsoft Office application

If you enjoy using the iPad to work on the go, there is good news. Microsoft has updated the Office mobile app and finally optimized it for the iPad.

The new update means you can now use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint from a single application. Technically, you could use the programs earlier. In 2014, Microsoft added three individual apps to the App Store for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Then, about a year ago, Microsoft launched a unified mobile app for iOS and Android. You can use this app on your iPad, but it will work as a windowed version of the iPhone app. Now, in the year of Lord 2021, you can finally download a single iPad-optimized Office app that combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The new iPad app also has some additional tools for mobile work, including a way to quickly create and sign PDFs (with an Apple stylus, if you wish). Another notable feature is the ability to convert images to editable Word or Excel files. The app is free to use, but requires a subscription to Microsoft 365 if you want to use the sharing and collaboration features. Meanwhile, iPad Pro users still need to have a paid subscription to even do anything. However, if a unified Office application isn’t really your problem, for now, you can still download and use individual Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.

By the way, this is also good news for Apple. In recent years, Apple has been pushing the iPad as a work device that could do just that potentially replace a laptop. This is especially true with the iPad Pro, which now has support for the mouse and trackpad, and if you have the new $ 300 left over Magic keyboard. But even with new luxury accessories, the main problem for most people is the difference between iPad OS and macOS applications (and damn, even iOS apps). Many times you end up working with windows iPhone apps (such as the Office app before today’s update) or looking for the fuller versions of your laptop. Given how many people trust Microsoft Office, having an iPad-optimized version of the software makes it a more attractive work device. Even if we are real, the iPad will always be better for consuming media.