However doubtful it might seem, Microsoft only voiced two new versions of Office, and the new builds aren't pieces of inscrutable, soul-killing bloatware per the company's capability apartment tradition. Believe it or not, Microsoft has at last made Office not clear-cut cool.
Facing contest from Google Drive and Apple's iWork/iCloud integration, Microsoft is stepping up its game, creation actual strides in an Office apartment that everybody uses, but no a unequivocally enjoys. On Monday, Microsoft strictly denounced Office 2013 and Office 365. With the clouded cover at core theatre and a rested pattern borrowed from the Windows 8 Metro interface, the new Microsoft Office is obviously applicable - and beguiling to use.
And that's a great thing, deliberation Office's purpose as a Microsoft money cow.
Office sales made up $22.2 billion of Microsoft's 2011 revenue, more than any other singular Microsoft product, inclusive Windows. But as more low-cost alternatives have turn available, and the change to cloud-based capability continues, Microsoft has mislaid a few of its dominance. Enter two new Office versions, that have a luck to legitimately vie in the new world order.
I outlayed a week with a loaner Samsung Series 7 inscription from Microsoft to assessment out the Customer Preview of the new Office. Here's what you must be know.
In the ultimate Office suite, Microsoft is introducing a subscription-based clouded cover service (and thus an wholly new business model). You'll still be able to buy the new Office 2013 in the same way you would with formerly versions - by profitable a one-time price is to correct to use Office for all time on a singular PC. But right away there's moreover a revamped Office 365 that you can pay for monthly.
Unlike the stream web-based chronicle of Office 365, the new chronicle will enable you to buy a subscription to the Office 2013 desktop applications as well. And if you buy Office 365, you'll be able to download the desktop program onto multi-part devices. For example, the consumer-facing Office 365 Home Premium lets you download Office on up to 5 PCs.
"It's right away your Office, not your machine's Office," Chris Pratley, General Manager of Microsoft Office Labs, Planning and Design, told Wired. "In the new world, you pointer up for Office and your files and information and settings live in the cloud, and obtain synchronized with any device you own or any device you use, even if you steal somebody's device."
With Office 365, you can pointer in with a Microsoft Account at the top-right dilemma of the application, and it will sync everything from your account. Save your files to SkyDrive, and they will moreover sync opposite devices.
This is a extreme change for Microsoft that creates Office more applicable in today's multi-device world. You can beginning using Office on a PC, and collect up precisely where you left off on other Personal Computer - or mobile device, for that matter. While you weren't able to assessment the new Office on a Windows Phone handset, Microsoft does say that you'll be able to access your Office files opposite all devices, inclusive smartphones, with Office 365. This could be a outrageous speed up to Windows Phone adoption.
Another reward to Office 365: Microsoft says you'll obtain new features and updates pushed to the Office apps, as long as you have a subscription.
Pricing for Office 2013 and Office 365 hasn't nonetheless been announced. But if Microsoft wants people to adopt the new Office 365 subscription model, it will must be offer aggressive pricing, notably deliberation Google Drive and iCloud are both primarily giveaway (albeit with fewer features and paltry storage).
All of the desktop apps have received a Metro-powered redesign. Now, these aren't Metro apps. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook all sojourn desktop-only applications, but when you setup Office 2013, tiles for any focus show up on the Metro Start Screen. When you daub on one, it opens up in Windows 8 desktop mode. It's a bit differing to pierce from a mode to the other, but when the app opens, you can see how Microsoft is creation Office fit in to its Windows 8 Metro-based UI.
The Word app looks washed and fresh. It's far reduction cluttered than its predecessors, and features the same chrome-less pattern that matches Metro apps. Overall, it's sufficient improved seeking than formerly versions of Office. "We took the Metro beliefs to heart and unequivocally spotless up on this to make all of the Chrome disappear. We try to make it as washed and authentically digital as you can," Pratley said.
And even even though these apps are made is to desktop mode, they're moreover inscription and touch-device ready. There's a Touch Mode existing on every app that enlarges the size of on-screen menu options and buttons, so you'll be able to daub on precisely what you want. Using the apps in hold mode is unquestionably more tough than with a rodent and keyboard, but the touch-based function does work in a pinch.
Both Office and SharePoint, Microsoft's craving platform for handling common documents, will right away encouragement third-party apps. Like apps for Windows 8, users will must be go in to a well-defined app store to buy and download these apps.
Pratley showed us the Bing Maps app for Outlook, and demoed how to tract an residence on a chart correct inside the the letter client. Other examples add apps that lift out action things in e-mails, make grill reservations, dictionaries and more. "We're using a lot of third parties, as everybody would similar to to expand Office," Pratley said.
Unfortunately, you weren't able to assessment out any Office apps, but this could be other large, untapped marketplace for Microsoft if the platform proves successful.
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