Preview of Microsoft Office 2024

Embracing the Future: Introducing Microsoft Office 2024

Excitement is building: Tech enthusiasts and businesses alike are eagerly awaiting the launch of Microsoft Office 2024. Earlier this year, the leading productivity software provider announced the release of its new Office product within its Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). The commercial preview of LTSC 2024 began in late spring, with a general public release expected later this year.

Alongside Office LTSC 2024, which is tailored for specific use cases, Microsoft plans to launch a consumer-focused on-premise version of Office 2024 in the second half of this year. Both Office LTSC 2024 and Office 2024 will be device-based perpetual licenses, sold under the traditional “one-time purchase” model, with five years of support following Microsoft’s fixed lifecycle policy.

Once these products become widely available, you’ll be able to find them in the LicenceDeals store!

Why Release a New On-Premises Microsoft Office 2024?

It’s no secret that software vendors are increasingly pushing customers towards subscription models, with many eliminating or severely limiting perpetual licensing options. Microsoft has been a strong advocate of this shift, emphasizing its cloud-based Microsoft 365 subscriptions for years.

However, there are scenarios where a cloud-based model requiring constant internet connectivity simply isn’t feasible, and Microsoft understands this well. The Long-Term Servicing Channel is utilized in such situations as manufacturing environments with devices that aren’t connected to the internet, medical testing equipment with applications that must remain secure, regulated environments, computer labs, submarines, and more.

The goal for this on-premises product, Office 2024, is to provide essential productivity tools without the additional cloud services and capabilities offered by Microsoft 365 plans, such as real-time collaboration, AI-powered automation, or cloud-based enhanced security features.

So, what will be new in Office 2024? Let’s dive into what customers can expect from this upcoming release.

What’s New in Microsoft Office 2024 for Customers?

Microsoft Office 2024 promises to bring a host of new features and improvements designed to boost productivity and creativity. This latest version aims to meet the growing demands of modern workplaces, from enhanced performance and accessibility to increased security.

Here are some of the known new features in Office LTSC 2024:

Outlook: New Meeting Capabilities and Enhanced Search

• Automatic Online Meeting Links: Automatically add an online meeting link to all invitations. Choose the default online meeting provider directly from Outlook settings.
• Share Direct Links: Share direct links to specific sheets in attached Excel workbooks so participants can quickly access relevant data.
• Enhanced Search Capabilities: Search across multiple accounts with combined results from all configured mailboxes. Recursive search across folders and subfolders, along with an improved search interface for better visibility.
• Smart Email Organization and Integrated Task Management: Improved organization tools to manage emails and tasks efficiently.

Excel: Enhanced Data Analysis and Usability Improvements

• New Formulas and Charts: Introduces functions like TEXTSPLIT (splits text into multiple columns/rows), TEXTBEFORE/TEXTAFTER (retrieves text before/after a specified delimiter), and VSTACK/HSTACK (combines data ranges vertically or horizontally). It also includes REGEX functions such as REGEXTEST, REGEXEXTRACT, and REGEXREPLACE for handling text with regular expressions.
• Dynamic Charts and Arrays: Features for dynamic data visualization and complex calculations.
• Improved Collaboration and Accessibility: Enhancements for seamless collaborative work and better accessibility options.
• Refined Interface with Dark Mode: A sleek user interface with options for dark mode, offering a more comfortable visual experience.
• AI-Based Insights: New templates and AI-driven analytics to identify trends, speed up decision-making, and suggest formulas.

PowerPoint: Tools to Innovate and Impress

• Dynamic Content Options: Enhanced features for more interactive and engaging presentations.
• Advanced Animation Tools: Improved tools and features to captivate your audience with better animations.
• Collaboration Tools: Built-in chat and enhanced version history to support team collaboration.
• Integrated Security Features: Advanced data protection and privacy controls to ensure information security and compliance with industry standards.

Customizable Interface

• Personalized Themes and Toolbars: Options to customize themes, toolbars, and settings for a more personalized workflow.

While Office 2024 offers substantial improvements over previous versions, it remains an on-premises product and will not include advanced cloud-based features reserved for Microsoft 365 subscribers.

What Won’t Be Available for On-Premises Office 2024 Users?

Without a Microsoft 365 subscription, the following features will not be available:

• No Real-Time Collaboration: Users won’t have access to real-time co-authoring.
• No AI-Powered Automation: AI features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for automation will be unavailable.
• No Mobile Editing Access: Users won’t be able to edit Office documents on mobile devices.
• No Advanced Features: Features like dictation in Word, Editor in PowerPoint, data types in Excel, tips in Outlook, online storage, and deployment via Intune are not included.
• No Access to AI Assistant Copilot: The AI-powered assistant for productivity won’t be available.
• No Cloud-Based Security and Compliance: Users won’t benefit from continuous updates or cloud-based security features.

Although Office versions with perpetual licenses can interact with supplementary Microsoft services like OneDrive, Office LTSC 2024 is officially classified as a “disconnected product.” It operates primarily offline, suitable for specialized environments like laboratories or manufacturing plants.

Applications Included in Microsoft Office 2024

The overall goal of Office 2024 is to enhance efficiency, productivity, and ease of collaboration for both individual users and businesses.

The suite of applications included in Microsoft Office 2024 is expected to remain robust, featuring well-known apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and OneNote. Users can also expect updates to these core applications, including new templates, design features, and performance optimizations.

A notable change is the discontinuation of Microsoft Publisher, which will not be included in the 2024 version, while the Teams app will now only be available as a separate product.

Anticipated Editions of MS Office 2024

Microsoft typically offers different versions of its Office suite to meet diverse user needs.

Office LTSC 2024, designed for commercial customers and government agencies in exceptional circumstances, will be available in the following editions: Office LTSC Professional Plus, Office LTSC Standard, and Office LTSC Embedded. Microsoft has also announced a 10% price increase for these packages and individual apps when they become generally available.

Although official details are yet to be released, Office 2024 for consumers is likely to be available in familiar editions from previous versions, such as Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional, and Professional Plus, tailored to various market segments and usage requirements.

System Requirements for Office 2024

To ensure a seamless user experience, Microsoft Office 2024 will not significantly deviate from the system requirements of previous versions. While specific details have not yet been officially announced, users can anticipate some new prerequisites for hardware configurations and compatible operating systems to fully utilize its features.

The upcoming version of Office will be available for both Windows and Mac computers. Office 2024 will support devices running Windows 10 and Windows 11 (with Windows 11 required for ARM-based devices) and will be offered in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Other Windows system requirements include 4 GB of RAM and 4 GB of available disk space.

For Mac versions, a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, at least 10 GB of available disk space, and either an Intel processor or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, etc.) are required. It will be supported on the three latest versions of macOS.

What to Expect from Microsoft Office 2024

Microsoft has redefined the way we work and create. The wide range of applications and tools provided by Microsoft Office caters to various workflows and tasks, making it a versatile solution for different user groups. This is why MS Office remains the go-to productivity software for students, professionals, businesses, and public organizations.

Even though Microsoft has shifted its focus toward a subscription model, it continues to address specific use cases where on-premises products are necessary. This is why the new Office 2024 is on the horizon. Furthermore, the company has committed to releasing at least one more standalone version of Office in the coming years.

Whether you’re working in a highly regulated environment, need offline functionality, or simply prefer a one-time purchase over a subscription, Microsoft Office 2024 is set to deliver powerful and reliable tools to support your productivity needs. Keep an eye out for more updates as Microsoft continues to shape the future of productivity software.

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