What’s new in Microsoft 365?

Voice Search in Word

This new feature in Word allows you to search your document or execute commands by voice. How does this work? Click the Microphone icon in the Word search box (see the image below) in the right corner of the search box. Or press Alt+Q to go to the search box, then press the right arrow key and then Enter.

If this is your first time using Search a window may appear asking you to sign up for intelligent services. Then follow the prompts to sign up.

Speak what you are looking for, for example, “insert icon.” You will then see your pronounced search term appear in the search box. Énd a number of options appear in a drop-down menu.

It’s that simple!

Next-level PowerPoint presentations

PowerPoint becomes more sophisticated with each passing year and still leaves every competitor miles behind. This latest functionality once again demonstrates that.

Of course, you could already record your presentation by clicking Record Slide Show under Slide Show. But now PowerPoint makes it possible to capture your PowerPoint presentation including speech, handwritten movements and yourself on screen! Your recording can then be played back for as a slideshow or you can export it as a video file.

As a presenter, you see the slides, slide notes and participants in one clear view. Participants can personalize their experience. For example, navigating through the slides at their own pace, enabling a high-contrast picture mode or turning on automatic subtitles. Soon, the slide translation feature will allow participants to select their native language and have the slides automatically translated for them without changing the display for other participants.

As a presenter, you see the slides, slide notes and participants in one clear view. Participants can personalize their experience. For example, navigating through the slides at their own pace, enabling a high-contrast picture mode or turning on automatic subtitles. Soon, the slide translation feature will allow participants to select their native language and have the slides automatically translated for them without changing the display for other participants.

Form Follow-ups

Microsoft Forms is a handy tool for when you want to easily and quickly collect responses from customers or colleagues. In no time, you can set up a complete survey or questionnaire that you can share online with your employees or third parties.

In March or April, a new feature will become available within Microsoft Forms. This not only allows you to share a form directly with individual users and distribution lists within your organization, but also to set up automatic follow-up emails and updates.