With how robust Google’s office-like applications have become it’s no surprise that many people have opted to stick with apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides entirely without interacting with other apps. Microsoft’s Office for Android apps are also available options for users who have a need to create documents and other office files through their mobile devices, and while they haven’t been around for Android users as long as Google’s options, Microsoft has done a pretty good job at bringing in a rather full-featured experience to the mobile users that aren’t utilizing smartphones or tablets on its own OS platform.
In Office for Android’s latest update, Microsoft has added in some nifty little changes worth mentioning, not the least of which is actually making the app package sizes smaller, thus making them easier to store on a device since they now take up less space. That also means they’ll be faster to download and update going forward, and that’s always a good thing for users. In total, Microsoft says that app sizes have been reduced by 50 percent. Microsoft has also added the capability to find, download, and use different fonts from the cloud, so for users who aren’t happy with the font selection available in the apps currently, the good news is that fonts can be added and swapped out to something new. This goes for all of Microsoft’s Office for Android apps, so you’ll see cloud font support in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
All three apps also now openly support Android for Work and are in compliance with the Android for Work standards, and they support Android M for Enterprise. This goes to show that although Microsoft may not have customers on their own mobile phones, they’re still open to letting users work with their software which not only brings more choice to professionals and regular users, but also opens another avenue for Microsoft to gain users it may not have had. If not for hardware, for software. The last couple of changes include file compatibility with read-only recommended and formula views, and Microsoft states that the steps for signing into the apps is easier than it’s ever been in the past. All updates should be live on the Play Store for new and existing users of these apps.