Microsoft has begun testing the Office 2016 for Mac update in September 2018, and Office Insider program participants are the first to get it.
Slow ring users can download the new update right now. It's labeled build 16.17.180904 and is scheduled to roll out to everyone else by the end of the month.
This month, the Office for Mac update comes with a lot of new features, and it all starts with LaTeX equation support in Microsoft Word.
Microsoft says this was one of the most requested features of Microsoft Office for Mac, and the company explains that most math keywords are already supported in Word.
Microsoft Excel is also getting an update based on user feedback, so custom shortcuts are back.
“Many users find that using an external keyboard with Excel for Mac keyboard shortcuts helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision impairments, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are a key alternative to using a mouse,” the company explains.
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint are getting support for @mentions with this new update, a feature that has already been implemented in Windows apps and which allows users to mention colleagues directly in a document.
Word, PowerPoint, and Excel users can also draw in ink with this update, as the apps support mice, touchpads, and pens for tasks like writing, drawing, and highlighting within a document. Finally, all three apps can work more effectively with 3D models, as they support inserting and rotating them 360 degrees.
The September update for Microsoft Office on Mac should start rolling out to all users in the coming weeks, but as with all preview stages, it all depends on how development progresses and how many bugs are found before it's released.
