Microsoft has launched a new version of Office designed for users who prefer not to subscribe to Microsoft 365. The standalone release of Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for both consumers and small businesses. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook applications for both Mac and PC.
Office 2024 features numerous updates that Microsoft has rolled out to Microsoft 365 subscribers over the past few years. The last standalone version of Office was released in 2021, and this new version includes enhancements to the core applications, as well as changes in accessibility and user interface.
Office 2024 comes with a new default theme based on Fluent Design, matching the visual updates seen in Windows 11. Microsoft has also introduced accessibility-focused improvements.
The most significant changes in Office 2024 can be found in the Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook applications. Microsoft has added new features to Excel for utilizing text and arrays within worksheets, including the new IMAGE function that can pull images from the internet. Excel 2024 can now also reference dynamic arrays in charts that can update automatically, as opposed to being tied to specific data points. Microsoft claims that overall speed and stability in Excel 2024 have also been enhanced.
In PowerPoint, Microsoft introduced the cameo feature, allowing users to embed a live camera feed into slides. The application also includes a new audio recording feature that supports voiceover recording, animations, transitions, and handwriting input. Additionally, users can add subtitles to videos and audio files in the slides, significantly enhancing presentation accessibility.
Outlook 2024 has seen improvements in search capabilities and more meeting options, including the ability to automatically shorten meetings. Mac users can also customize swipe gestures in Outlook.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now make it easy to insert images from Android mobile devices, and Microsoft supports version 1.4 of the OpenDocument format (ODF), which includes several new enhancements. Word and PowerPoint now also allow users to "like" and react to comments in documents.
Word 2024 users will benefit from session recovery in the event of a PC crash, as the program will automatically reopen all previously open documents after a power failure, system crash, or unexpected Word closure. OneNote 2024 users will have access to new handwriting and drawing capabilities.
Microsoft states that Office 2024 will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection. The new suite will run on Windows 10 and 11, as well as the three most recent versions of macOS.
Office 2024 is available in two different versions. Office Home 2024 is priced at $149.99 (3899 UAH for Ukraine) and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for PC or Mac. If Outlook is needed, the Office Home and Business 2024 version must be purchased for $249.99 (9999 UAH). This version also includes rights to use the software for commercial purposes.
Source: The Verge
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