Last January, Microsoft introduced the pretty useful inking feature to the Office mobile apps, which made it easier to annotate and put notes on your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote apps. But it was then just limited to iOS and Windows desktops. Android smartphone and tablet users who were pretty envious will now be able to enjoy this feature as support for inking has finally arrived. We also get a peek at a soon-to-be-on-Android-too feature called travel and deliveries support.
If you’re not yet familiar with what digital inking is, it is part of Microsoft’s efforts to bridge the online and offline worlds to make using the apps more intuitive and relatively easier. Using your finger, pen, or stylus, you will be able to make notes, sketches, drawings, and annotations on your documents, presentations, spreadsheets and notes. You don’t even need to select a feature or control as it will sense the approach of an active pen and will immediately let you start drawing. You can also turn hand-drawn shapes into actual shapes if you want to create diagrams, process flows, etc.
Meanwhile, coming soon to your Outlook for Android app is support for your travel plan and package deliveries. Right now, events from your email are already added to your calendar. But soon, all your travel and delivery information will be shown in simplified summary cards in both your Inbox and your calendar. You will also be able to check in for your flights, manage your hotel and rental car reservations, and even track your packages with just one button.
The inking feature is already rolling out in the latest update to the Microsoft Office apps for Android devices. No word on when the travel and delivery integration will happen, except that it will be “soon”.
SOURCE: Microsoft Office
