The last update to MS Office happened in 2010. The next one is slated for this year. The new version, called Office 2013, is already available as a preview. Here's a look at the radial changes incorporated into this new productivity suite...
Metro in Office
One of the biggest changes in Office 2013 is it's 'flat' design, with no 3D effects to distinguish clickable buttons from the background. This gives Office 2013 a very stark and clean look.
The ribbon interface that debuted 2007 is part of the new suite. But if you don't like it, you can hide it:A full screen mode, which hides all distractions is a new addition to Office 2013.
Overall ,the new suite looks great, gelling wall with Windows 8, which features single-toned two dimensional tiles. Getting used to the new interface, however, may take a week or two.
Some neat improvements
- Word and PowerPoint feature a mode called web presentation that allows allows users to share a link through which they can broadcast their file on the web.
- PowerPointt gets Presenter View that allows a user to review the next slide in advance before it to audience on the large screen.
- PowerPoint and Word now come with new 'Resume' feature. Which this, when you close a slideshow or a document, it remembers the position you were at. Open the file again, and the software takes you to position to you were at when you closed it. If you use the online version to sync files on different devices, you can close a document on your workplace PC, and then seamlessly resume editing it from your PC at home.
- Outlook features a new tool called Peek. Hovering over Mail or Calender provides a quick preview of information in these apps.
- In Excel, a new features called Flash fill reformats data automatically based on how you use the cells and auto-completes the remaining entries without needing a formula. Microsoft gives an example of a list that contains email ids with a pattern of 'firstname.lastname'. Once a user fills two or there email ids, the others are automatically prepared by Flash fill and the blank slots in front of each name are automatically populated.
- Word has a feature called Object Zoom that allows a user to click on embedded image or video and see it in bigger size in a floating window.
Skype comes to Office:
Skype, the popular video and voice calling services that was bought by Microsoft in 2011, has been integrated with Office 2013. This means you can clicking a button in Outlook. Calling from one Skype account to another is free, but if you want to call a cell or landline number you have to pay extra. Microsoft is promising 60 minutes of free Skype calls every month to Office 2013 users.
Two flavors:
Office 2013 will come in two flavors- the Standalone version and Office 365. While the former will require you to pay a one-time change, Office 365 comes with a yearly subscription fee. For individual users, the standalone version will be limited to use on a single machine. Office 365 version, however, will support five machines.
Share and embed:
A user can directly share documents from Word, Excel and PowerPoint. If you want to publish a post to your blog, you can do that too by integrating your blogging account. The new Office 2013 supports services like Blogger and WordPress, among others.
Try Before you buy
Given the changes it packs, it is a good idea to try Office 2013 before you buy. The Consumer Preview version is available at www.microsoft.com/preview/en. Log on to the website using your Microsoft account, select the kind of computer you have and download the installer.
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