Microsoft updates universal apps for iOS, Android, Windows 10

Microsoft is combining its previously separate OneNote apps for iPhones and iPads into a single universal OneNote app for iOS.

One more bit of Universal app news from the company: Microsoft has removed the "preview" tag from its Office universal apps for Windows 10. These are the touch-first, mobile-first versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook for Windows 10.

Microsoft officials said last week that the final versions of these Universal Office apps would be generally available to Windows 10 for PC users starting on July 29.

Microsoft officials have said previously that the coming Office Universal apps will be bundled for free on Windows 10 devices with screen sizes of 10.1 inches and below. On Windows devices of screen sizes of 10.2 inches or greater, Microsoft is expected to do what it's done with Office for iOS and Android: To require an Office 365 subscription only in order to unlock more advanced functionality.

On the OneNote for iOS front, here's Microsoft guidance for users of the current OneNote for iPad app:

"If you are an iPad user today, you will need to get the new OneNote app from the store. When you open your current iPad app, you will see instructions for getting the app. If you are an iPhone user, you don't need to do anything--we merged the iPad app into the iPhone app so you already have it."

The new universal OneNote app for iOS includes a number of updates for the iPhone version that are now available for the iPad, too.The OneNote app for Android is already universal, meaning it works on both phones and tablets.

Microsoft's goal with its universal iOS/Android and Universal Office apps for Windows is to reuse as much code as possible across the various platforms.