Microsoft Begins Beta Testing Trackpad Support in Word and Excel Apps for iPad - MacRumors
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Microsoft Begins Beta Testing Trackpad Support in Word and Excel Apps for iPad

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Microsoft this week began testing mouse and trackpad support in the latest beta versions of its Word and Excel apps for iPad. The functionality was introduced in version 2.42 of each app, available through Apple's beta testing service TestFlight.

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Mouse and trackpad support provides rich visual feedback when editing documents or spreadsheets. When using a trackpad, the cursor displays as a circle on the screen, popping up only when you have a finger on the trackpad. The circle then morphs into various other shapes when hovering over app icons, text fields, or other on-screen elements.

iPadOS 13.4 introduced trackpad and mouse support on all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, the fifth-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. Keyboards with built-in trackpads include Apple's Magic Keyboard, Brydge's Pro+ for the iPad Pro, Logitech's Combo for the 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air, and more.

Microsoft previously said that mouse and trackpad support in the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps will be made available to all users at some point this fall.

Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Office

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Top Rated Comments

P
Powermax
74 months ago
I am still waiting for Pause/Play with the Spacebar in the YouTube App.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
GeoStructural
74 months ago

Better late than never?
What? Trackpad for iOS/iPad OS was released just recently.


I'm still waiting for the day when I can advance slides in Powerpoint on iOS with a keyboard like on a Mac or PC.
This is already possible with the current app and it has been possible for a long time.

I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
Aluminum213
74 months ago
Please take your time Microsoft, I know you’re a small company with limited resources. Don’t stress yourself too much
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justiny Avatar
justiny
74 months ago
I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.
This x1000

I travel for work and carry both my iPad Pro and MBP with me. I would love to leave my MBP at home but the fact is, I need it because the iPadOS Office apps only get me 80% to completing my work. Even on Word, I can't get the job done without needing 3 other apps and switching back and forth, it's just not worth it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
Spock
74 months ago

Can we just make a touch screen MacBook already. All of this just seems to be beating around the bush.
Adding touchpad support to the iPad somehow equals beating around the bush for a touchscreen MacBook? If anything it shows that Apple shouldn’t use a touchscreen in the MacBook..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
G5isAlive
74 months ago

Adding touchpad support to the iPad somehow equals beating around the bush for a touchscreen MacBook? If anything it shows that Apple shouldn’t use a touchscreen in the MacBook..
Why? I don't follow your logic here. Why does an iPad with touchpad support have anything to do with whether a MacBook would or would not benefit from a touch screen? Serious question. I get that iOS has been designed from ground up to be a touch screen, and a MacBook would not be as good of one, but that doesn't mean it would be bad with one.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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