The Windows RT devices that will be running the Windows 8 operating system will feature a preview version of Office 2013. These RT devices are due to be released on October 26. Microsoft has laid emphasis on more “cloud based” features with this version of its productivity suite. Through SkyDrive, Microsoft’s file hosting service, users can upload files to cloud storage and access them from multiple devices.
With an all new start experience; this version of Microsoft Office also incorporates reading, writing and editing support for PDF and office open XML. The interoperability with other versions of the office suite is also aimed to increase its implementation in the public sector.
Besides, the new office suite has a modern, user-friendly design with optimizations that include low power consumption and touch friendly enhancements. It has new and improved features such as a flatter appearance of the ribbons, an additional read mode in word, added slide designs in PowerPoint along with a presenter view, various improved animations and slide transitions.
A new feature in Microsoft office outlook would be its ability to configure and support hotmail.com accounts. Further, this office suite would be more interactive with the direct addition of Skype and the option to embed video clips and images from various sources including YouTube and Flickr in all documents. It also integrates social networking forums; facebook and LinkedIn.
The Office 2013 suite will also have a new visualization pane for tasks scheduled by users, an option to resume reading of a document or file in Word and PowerPoint in addition to the complete revamping of all the components and programs.
However, on the downside, Microsoft Office 2013 does not include the clip organizer, the picture manager or the formats supporting 3D cone, cylinder or pyramid charts. The lack of incorporation of twitter in the social networking forums might be seen as a negative, but even though it is not present natively, it can be made possible through an additional API.
During the testing of this suite, it has also been noticed that most of the features in excel are not as user friendly or accurate in terms of data pattern recognition or survey. It may also appear that the new Microsoft office suite has been modified to fit itself to the look and feel of the new windows 8 rather than being an all new productivity suite with exclusive state-of-the-art features.
Microsoft’s upcoming service update due to be released in November will allow the Office 365 Enterprise users to get an early access to Microsoft Office 2013. Microsoft will launch three versions of the office 2013 suite:
• Home and Student suite priced at USD139.99 with a single PC license;
• Home and Business suite costing USD219.99 with a single PC license will have Outlook along with Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint present in the Home and Student suite;
• Professional suite priced at USD399.99 with all of the above feature and Publisher and Access.
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