Microsoft to soon roll out mouse, trackpad support for Office apps on iPad

By Aaron Mamiit May 9, 2020

Microsoft will soon add mouse and trackpad support for its Office apps for the iPad, after Apple introduced cursor support for the tablet in March through the iPadOS 13.4 update.

Recommended Videos

Microsoft is reportedly working on iPad cursor support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps, with the rollout to happen this fall, according to TechCrunch.

However, the plan to include cursor support for Office on iPad is reportedly expected to have already arrived by the fall, according to The Verge, so the feature may be introduced sooner than initially expected. Microsoft, meanwhile, is not yet sharing specific details, including definite release dates.

The iPad cursor appears as a small circle that transforms into various shapes while hovering over different on-screen elements such as icons and text fields. Mouse and trackpad support for Office on iPad will take advantage of the new feature, allowing people to get more types of work done on their tablets.

Microsoft introduced Office for the iPad in 2014, bringing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to Apple’s tablets. More features were added to the apps over time, including drag and drop in January 2018.

iPad’s 10th anniversary

The iPad marked the 10th anniversary of its original release in April, but the tablet’s iconic design has not changed much over the decade. In addition, while there is a large gap in performance between the entry-level iPad and the current iPad Pro, even models from several generations past still feel fast.

Apple’s unified approach for its iPad experience, and the strong support for software and accessories, also helped fuel the tablet’s success, especially compared with similar devices running on the Android mobile operating system. Apple has maintained its standing as the leader in global tablet sales, as Android tablet makers have never able to surpass iPad sales figures.

The 2020 iPad Pro has encroached on computing territory, especially with the addition of a magic keyboard, raising new challenges for the tablet as Apple aspires to make it a straight-up replacement for a home PC. However, with the iPad’s track record, its greatest years may be yet to come.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…

Mobile

I’m worried about Apple’s new iPads

Apple typically releases a new version of its products every year, but 2023 was different. That was the first year Apple did not release any new updates across the entire iPad lineup.

We’re now a couple of months into 2024, and it’s rumored that Apple could be dropping new iPad models this month — as early as this coming Monday or Tuesday. After all, a new M3 MacBook Air just came out, so naturally, we should expect new iPads after not having any update last year.

Mobile

Apple may announce new iPads next month. Here’s everything we expect

When it comes to Apple, we expect a new product refresh annually at this point, including for the iPad. However, that didn't happen in 2023. In fact, 2023 was the first year that Apple didn't release a new iPad model at all, which means we haven’t had new iPad releases since 2022.

It’s unclear why we didn’t see any new iPads last year. However, that should also be an indicator that we can expect some big changes for the next generation of iPad models, which are rumored to come out this year. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has even said that we could see new iPads as early as March.

Mobile

Apple’s new iPad Pro may not be as expensive as we feared

Apple didn’t release a new iPad last year, which means 2024 should be a banner year for the popular tablets. And now there's been word that the upcoming iPad Pro lineup, likely to include OLED for the first time, might not cost as much as we once feared.

According to a new report from DigiTimes, the upcoming iPad Pro models won’t see a dramatic price hike, as was suggested in December. Previously, it was reported that the 2024 11-inch iPad Pro would cost at least $1,500, while the next 12.9-inch model (which will have a larger 13-inch display) would start at $1,800. The current models start at $799 and $1,099, respectively.