We’ve talked about Power Map for Excel 2013 before, but now seemed like an opportune time to provide a timely reminder (see the video demonstration below). Power Map is a three-dimensional data visualisation tool that lets you look at information in new ways by plotting data on Bing renders of the globe – all embedded in Excel. Not only can you plot geographic and temporal data on a 3-D globe, you can also show it over time and create visual tours you can share with other people. We’ve actually used to embed informative videos in a PowerPoint display for example. You can use Power Map to:

Launched in the United States June, the past two months have seen the latest hybrid laptop / tablet become available in a further 25 markets. However, you might have had difficulty in procuring one with some retailers (e.g. Australian) reporting scorched surfaces...

We’ve talked about ModelOff before, happy to promote anything proving that you can have fun with that killer mix of Excel and finance (hmmm…), but still unsure whether bastardising your keyboard in order to type 37,000 formulae a minute is necessarily a good thing....

We have reported previously that Excel is now available for your iPad (see Apple of Your Eye for further details). Now, Microsoft have updated this Excel app. Reported improvements for Version 1.1 include:External Keyboard Support: Using an external keyboard to input...

One of SumProduct’s regular contributors, Zack Barresse, has combined with fellow Excel expert Kevin Jones to write a warts and all tell-all book on Excel Tables. The two Excel MVPs have combined to write a book that explains what Tables are and how to create them....

Apologies to our readers not Down Under, but SumProduct hits the road in Oz having been invited to present for the Certified Practising Accountants of Australia (CPA Australia).There will be four half-day CPA Excel Masterclasses held as follows (all from 9am –...

SumProduct would like to pass on its congratulations to Norman Harker and Ron de Bruin who have recently created the Excel Function Bible.The Bible contains 468 example files and a Function Index workbook to aid navigation. And it’s free – although donations are...

May saw the holding of the inaugural Excel MVP Euro Summit in Amsterdam. SumProduct’s very own Liam Bastick, in between training in London and Kuala Lumpur, was there to listen to hear what some of the keenest Excel minds in the world had to say. Key topics and discussions included the benefits of using Power Pivot and integrating third party add-ins into the spreadsheet software. More to follow in later news. Indeed, SumProduct continue to forge links with experts around the world including a revised Power Pivot training course co-developed with Excel Guru’s Ken Puls. We think the T-shirts may probably say it all…

Back in March, Microsoft introduced an IT Pro and Developer Preview for the Office 2016 release and now they are releasing a version for the broader public. From 4 May (US time), the Office 2016 Preview has been expanded, making it available to Office users everywhere in preparation for general availability later in the year. Not only will Office 2016 previewers will get an early look at the next release of Office on Windows desktop, users may provide interactive feedback which could shape the final version.

Microsoft has been busy updating the Excel Online experience as they try to convince spreadsheet diehards that the future lines on the web. The company has acknowledged that early adopters have found the experience rather limiting but they have been working hard incorporating several major updates. To try to encourage Excel users, Microsoft has prioritised Excel Online’s list of features and functionalities based on customer feedback and market research so that many missing links can now be accessed whether you use it via OneDrive (previously SkyDrive) or Office 365.