Microsoft Office Support Coming to Touch Bar on MacBook Pro - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Microsoft Office Support Coming to Touch Bar on MacBook Pro

by

During its keynote today, Apple briefly mentioned that Touch Bar will be gaining heavy support from third party applications when the laptop launches. Namely, Microsoft is working on introducing support for Touch Bar into Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Skype.

f1477591830
Apple didn't say specifically what the Touch Bar will be able to do within each app, but the company gave detailed demos of what users will be able to do in Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Djay Pro. Sketch, DaVinci Resolve, and many others apps will update with Touch Bar support on the new MacBook Pros, as well.

Top Rated Comments

130 months ago
Apple should just give in and release a computer with a full touch screen already.
Phil Schiller Says Apple Tested and Rejected Touch Screen Macs, Finding It 'Absurd' on a Desktop ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/14/phil-schiller-touch-screen-macs/')
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
iWork will never compete with MS Office.

Anyone that says iWorks is close to office has never used office in a professional environment before.

For high-end jobs it's usually know your way around excel or go home - and Apple knows this (hence why they showed the Toolbar on Excel)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
What about Apple's own iWork suite? Why did they not feature Numbers, Pages, and Keynote being used with the TouchBar?
Because MSFT Office is the standard and Apple understands this.
I was wondering the same, especially as iWork has had some decent updates to compete with MS Office. Ditching "Aperture" with the promise that "Photos" extensions could produce an "all-in-one" consumer - professional level photo editing suite have fallen short. This much was obvious when a non-Apple pro-suite was used to demonstrate their new MacBook Pro's. Years back when we began moving away from professional markets, many clamored that it was "too niche" of a market. Unfortunately, that mentality has been proven wrong. We've seen a massive decline in profits from editing studio's, professionals, etc. who annually invested in an easy six figures for hardware updates and editing suites. Add that up and it's far from niche. Most have moved on to Adobe, Avid, Ableton, etc., requiring massive investments in new hardware, software, training, etc. We lost the creatives that heavily invested in Apple and will never get them back. iOS devices are reaching market saturation levels which leaves little recourse for Apple to grow as it was when Jobs was ultimately calling the shots.

Apple became successful again when Jobs slashed products upon his return ('http://www.casestudyinc.com/apples-four-quadrant-product-grid'), his focus while seeing the bigger picture in a rapidly evolving technological world while ensuring the core of Apple's success remained: the successful symbiotic relationship between hardware and software. Cook seems to be throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, Jobs would look at that wall and find the one thing he knew would succeed and make it happen.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
131 months ago
So that's how Microsoft knew it could easily steal Apple's thunder.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vjl323 Avatar
131 months ago
What about Apple's own iWork suite? Why did they not feature Numbers, Pages, and Keynote being used with the TouchBar?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
28monkeys Avatar
131 months ago
During its keynote today, Apple briefly mentioned that Touch Bar will be gaining heavy support from third party applications when the laptop launches. Namely, Microsoft is working on introducing support for Touch Bar into Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Skype.



Apple didn't say specifically what the Touch Bar will be able to do within each app, but the company gave detailed demos of what users will be able to do in Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Djay Pro. Sketch, DaVinci Resolve, and many others apps will update with Touch Bar support on the new MacBook Pros, as well.

Article Link: Microsoft Office Support Coming to Touch Bar on MacBook Pro ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/27/third-party-apps-touch-bar/')
"Incredible", "Amazing", "revolutionary", "great", "cool"
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday

Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from Friday: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27

14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2

Friday October 30, 2026 12:42 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26, bringing enhancements to Siri AI, adding Suggestions in Messages, and sneaking in a string of smaller additions across Photos, Podcasts, Games, Apple TV, and FaceTime. iOS 27.2 is available to download to your device now via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models....
Latest Stories
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
2 hours ago
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
3 hours ago
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
4 hours ago
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
4 hours ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
5 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
5 hours ago
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
5 hours ago
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
6 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
6 hours ago
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
6 hours ago
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
7 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
8 hours ago
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
4 hours ago
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
11 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
11 hours ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
1 day ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
1 day ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
1 day ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
1 day ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
2 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
3 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
3 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
3 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
3 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
3 days ago