New versions of Microsoft’s word processing, spreadsheet and email programs will sport touch-based controls. Like an upcoming redesign of Microsoft’s Windows operating system – Windows 8, the new Office will respond to touch as well as commands delivered on a computer keyboard or mouse.
Wow, this is an awesome indication that the next Windows Tablet is gonna hit corporate users! Imagine using the MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and all other Office apps on a tablet supporting the touch functions! Woot-woot! That’s a lot better and cool!
Features in the new Office include:
- Inkling, which lets you use a stylus to write on a device’s screen. Handwritten notes are converted automatically to text.
- Integration with Yammer, a social network for businesses, and with Skype, a video chat service.
- Bing Maps will be part of the new Outlook email program. If there’s an address in an email, just tap on it to get directions.
- A “reading” mode on Word will make it easier to read word-processing documents on a tablet or e-reader. That mode will make the document look more like a book page. You can also embed video into Word documents, or share a document directly on Facebook.
Microsoft is currently planning to release the company’s full Office suite for not only Apple’s iPad, but for Android tablets as well. The company is targeting November of this year for both launches.
