Tag Archives: Office

Alleged Office roadmap says Office for iOS possibly not until 2014

The rumor mill had previously stated that Office for iOS might be coming as soon as last month, but obviously that never happened. Now, an alleged roadmap for the Office family of products from Microsoft says we may not see Office for iOS this year at all.

ZDNet reports that it has obtained a roadmap from the company which does not list iOS or Android support for Office until fall of 2014. The roadmap doesn't specify if we'll see Office for iPad or Office for iPhone then, either. Instead, it just says that iOS will finally be supported. But if this roadmap is indeed legit, fall of 2014 represents a much longer wait than anyone expected for these tools.

The roadmap also says that April of 2014 is when Microsoft will have the next version of Office for Mac ready, and the plans also include a number of updates to the Windows desktop and Windows Phone and RT versions. Just like all of the rumors we've heard about these releases before (and there have been quite a few), these roadmap plans are completely unconfirmed. But if ZDNet's information is legit, there's still quite a while to wait for that iOS version of Office to see release.

Alleged Office roadmap says Office for iOS possibly not until 2014 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacTech, Microsoft team up to offer Office for Mac support credential

Got Macs? Got Office? For support personnel who want to show the world that they know which end of a pivot table goes into a stylesheet and how to upgrade PowerPoint for full compatibility with Exchange Server 2013*, your opportunity has arrived.

MacTech's upcoming seven-city BootCamp II tour, which provides a full day of seminars for people supporting the Mac in small to medium size business and other contexts, now has a frontloaded (and free) certification option for Microsoft's new Office for Mac Accredited Support Professional credential. For a half-day ahead of the BootCamp, attendees can learn all about Office installation, deployment, troubleshooting and much more.

While the Office credential program, including the final evaluation and certificate, is free, MacTech BootCamp II itself is $299 for early-bird registrants, $499 for regular registration. The tour kicks off in Seattle in early March, so check to see when it's coming to your neck of the woods. If you do sign up, be sure to use our TUAW reader affinity link to make sure you get your special benefit!

*Yes, those are nonsensical support challenges. Congratulations, you passed the first quiz.

MacTech, Microsoft team up to offer Office for Mac support credential originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft does a stealth price increase of Office for Mac

While no one was looking, Microsoft hiked the price of Microsoft Office for Mac. A note in Computerworld also says Microsoft has stopped selling multi-license packages of the suite of office tools.

That makes Office for Mac 2011 the same price as Office 2013 for Windows. It comes about as Microsoft pushes for its cloud-based Office 365, a subscription-based plan.

A single license for Office for Mac Home and Student is now US$140, up 17 percent from the old $120 price. Office for Mac Home & Business was hiked 10 percent to $220.

We confirmed the new prices at the Microsoft online store and at the Apple online store. Some online retailers, such as Amazon, are still showing the lower prices, so you might want to grab a copy from those retailers before the price hike kicks in.

The prices might cause some people to shift to Apple's iWork, but that suite of applications hasn't been updated beyond bug fixes since January 2009.

Microsoft does a stealth price increase of Office for Mac originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft patches Office for Mac licensing bug

Microsoft has released an update to its Office for Mac 2011 software. The Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.3.1 Update fixes an issue that could "...cause Office 2011 applications to report a problem with Licensing even though the applications continue to run unaffected," according to the company. In other words, the bug caused several genuinely licensed copies of Office 2011 to think they were unlicensed and stop working.

The bug first appeared after Microsoft released the Office for Mac 2011 14.3 Update last week. That update delivered a number of genuine critical bug fixes and apparently spread the licensing bug. To install the latest update, users can launch any Office for Mac 2011 app and select "Check for Updates" under the Help menu. You can download the update directly here.

Microsoft patches Office for Mac licensing bug originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Apple set to relocate its Tokyo headquarters

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is all set for a planned move with its Tokyo headquarters. The company will relocate its Tokyo, Japan-based offices from the ward of Shinjuku to the slightly trendier neighborhood of Roppongi Hills. The building Apple is moving to also contains offices for Goldman Sachs and Barclays, as well as an art museum, apartments, a hotel and a private club.

Bloomberg also says that rent in Tokyo has been dropping since around 2008, and the lower prices make it a great time for Apple to make this move. Apple's spokesman in Tokyo declined to comment on the move, but sources there say the company's current lease will be done in June, so the move should be all complete by then.

Report: Apple set to relocate its Tokyo headquarters originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Lets You Work with Microsoft Office Documents with New iPad App

Quickoffice for iPad Google has been hard at work trying to improve its conversion software so that Google Docs users can convert Microsoft Office files to the productivity service better. The search engine giant even added the development team at Quickoffice to the efforts.

In a recent breakthrough, Google succeeded with Quickoffice conversion technology. In addition to properly converting Office files, Google, in collaboration with Quickoffice, launched an app that lets users edit them on the iPad.

The free app is only available to Google Apps for Business subscribers. However, there is a Pro HD version for $7.99 that Quickoffice created in October for users without an account. With Quickoffice, users will be able to open and edit any Microsoft Word, Powerpoint or Excel file that is stored in Google Drive, right from an iPad.

Using the multi-edit toolbox, you can change text, paragraphs, backgrounds and cell arrangements across an entire document. Navigate horizontally and vertically through folders and file with a single screen view. Organize files with easy-to-use drag and drop controls in the File Manager.

The free app is available for Google Apps for Business customers and the paid app is available to anyone.

» Related posts: Microsoft Hesitant to Launch Office on the iPad Microsoft Office for iOS Revealed With Basic Functionality Get Microsoft Office on Your iPad via CloudOn

Microsoft updates Office 2011 and 2008 with a host of Outlook and other fixes

If you haven't seen it already, sometime in the next few days you'll get a software update for Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 and 2011.

The update has security patches that Microsoft deems "critical" and improvements to Outlook. The update requires a Mac running OS X 10.5.8 or later. Some Macs will need multiple updates because this is not a single patch.

Here are the details of the updates:

This update fixes an issue in which automatic configuration did not work correctly for Outlook.com accounts. This update addresses an issue when importing data from a PST file. If an email message in the PST file contains inline images followed by attachments (in that order), the attachments will be missing from the message after it is imported in Outlook for Mac. This update fixes an issue in which certain kinds of distribution lists were not being recognized correctly as distribution lists and could not be expanded. This update addresses an issue when you use a Gmail account in Mac Outlook 2011 14.2 and later versions. When you move a message between folders, a duplicate of it was incorrectly created in the All Mails folder. This update addresses an issue in which spaces sometimes disappear when pasting content from Word or replying to messages generated in windows Outlook (which uses WordMail as editor). The issue was caused by incorrect parsing of the copied content in Outlook for Mac. This update adds a designated error to inform users when an expired password results in authentication failure. Previously, users were not provided this level of detail when an authentication failure occurred.

Microsoft updates Office 2011 and 2008 with a host of Outlook and other fixes originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Office for iOS Revealed With Basic Functionality



When Microsoft announced that it would be launching its own line of tablets, our hopes of ever getting a mobile version of the Office line of apps was all but dashed. Why would Microsoft offer the much sought-after application for iOS when it can have exclusive rights to Surface customers instead?

Even though it seemed like a pipe dream two months ago, we’ve been receiving a steady stream of rumors that Microsoft is still planning on releasing Office for iOS in the near future. The company’s product manager Petr Bobek recently announced the official March launch of MS Office for iOS and Android at a media event in the Czech Republic turning our dreams back into possibilities.

Today, The Verge is reporting that Microsoft plans to release Office for Android and iOS in “early 2013,” which coincides with Bobek’s announcement. According to The Verge, Office Mobile will be free to download, but will require a Microsoft account. Users will be able to register an account and purchase an “Office 365” subscription.

When it is first released to the public, the app will provide users access to basic viewing functions. Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents will be viewable with a basic Microsoft account, while files will be editable with the Office 365 subscription. According to unnamed sources who spoke with The Verge, the apps will allow for basic editing, but “this won’t go very far in attempting to replace regular full use of a desktop Office version.”

» Related posts: MS Office for iOS Now Expected to Launch by March 2013 Microsoft Rumored to Release Office for iPad This November Microsoft Office for iPad – Coming Soon?

The Verge shows Microsoft Office on iPhone

In November of last year, The Daily reported that Microsoft was working on a version of its Office suite of apps for the iPad. One year later and The Verge now claims to have information that confirms the Redmond company will release Office versions for Android and iOS in early 2013.

According to The Verge report, Microsoft will release the apps for free. They will require a Microsoft account and will provide basic viewing functionality. Customers can unlock editing features by purchasing a subscription to Office 365. The apps will reportedly provide only basic editing features and won't replace the desktop versions of the apps.

A PR spokesperson for Microsoft told The Verge that "Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS and Android," but would not provide additional details on the apps or their launch dates. A previous rumor hinted at a March 2013 release, but Microsoft denied that report.

The Verge shows Microsoft Office on iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Office for iOS reportedly set to launch in March 2013 (Updated)

Updated: Microsoft has denied this.

Good news for those of you who want Microsoft Office on your iOS device. The world's most popular office suite is reportedly set to be released for iOS and Android in March 2013, according to Czech Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek. Bobek broke the news to Czech site IHNED.cz today and confirmed to the site that the apps would be native, not web apps. Shortly after Bobek's announcement, The Verge got a look at a press release Microsoft issued at the press event in the Czech Republic earlier today. The translated release reads:

In addition to Windows, Office will be also available on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian.

This isn't the first leak that Office is coming to iOS. Back in February The Daily reported that Microsoft Office would be coming to iOS this November. If today's statements are anything to go by, the release date has now been pushed back by five months.

There's no other news yet as to which Office apps will be released nor what their price will be.

Microsoft Office for iOS reportedly set to launch in March 2013 (Updated) originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PadGadget Essentials — This Week’s Apps and Accessories for Your iPad at Work


iPad at Work

Everybody loves their iPad for what it can do for them at home –but Apple’s tablet is also a great addition to your work life. This week we introduced you to a few apps and accessories that will also extend the usefulness of the iPad to your office.

Apps

Anybody using Microsoft’s OneNote for collaboration around the office will appreciate the app from Microsoft that will extend the functionality of their successful software to your iPad.

If your career has you participating in regular meetings and conferences, the iPad can be a handy companion. Our weekly series this week introduced you to 6 new apps that will make your meeting time more productive.

flighttrackproWould it support your business to create instructional videos? Tutorials for your latest product or service? One of these iPad video apps may just help you to come off looking like a professional.

Are your clients or colleagues some distance away? Do you find yourself traveling a lot? See why we recommended apps like Flight Track Pro and Kayak in our piece outlining Five Great Apps for the Business Traveler.

Accessories

In a world where appearances can be everything, slick accessories like the Libratone Zipp Wireless Speakers may just help to hit you a home run during your next presentation.

Your home isn’t the only place where space is at a premium. Consider the xWallDock Kickstarter project that integrates a slim and close-to-the-wall stand that you place right near a wall outlet so your iPad can charge.

As you start to think about how you may integrate your iPad into your business life, see our recommendations on making your iPad Work for You in the Corporate World.

» Related posts: PadGadget Essentials – This Week’s Apps and Accessories for Fashion Week PadGadget Essentials — This Week’s Apps and Accessories for Health and Wellness PadGadget Essentials: This Week’s Apps and Accessories for Outdoor Sports

Microsoft Office for Mac now has Retina support

Microsoft has updated the Office for Mac software to have Retina display support for Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. The update is available via Microsoft AutoUpdate.

The update comes as a welcome surprise, as a month ago, the prognosis of Retina display support for Microsoft Office looked to be something that was in the distant future.

Microsoft Office for Mac now has Retina support originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Use Your iPad to Turn the Plane into Your Office


Airplane Office

Are you headed to London to catch some of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games? Even if you aren’t one of the lucky ones with event tickets and you are just a frequent domestic traveler, you may find yourself needing to make the most of your time in the air by turning the airplane into your mobile workspace.

Fortunately with a little planning this isn’t an entirely difficult task; to that end, consider the following:

Make Your iPad Easy to Hold – Whether your flight is 2 hours or 15 hours, balancing your iPad on that goofy little tray table or trying to rest it on your forearm just isn’t going to do the trick. My advice is to go with a case that can rest just about anywhere with some stability and forgiveness (you never know when the plane may be traveling at an angle other than perfectly level). Some of my favorite options include the Speck ComfyShell and Sporty’s iPad Kneeboard (meant for pilots but every bit as useful for passengers). Make Your iPad Battery Last – For short flights, your regular iPad battery should last well enough even if you are watching videos or other power drinking functions. If you are headed for a full day of travel (or longer), consider giving your battery a little extra love with something like the mophie juice pack powerstation. Get Data Prepared – Domestic flights are pretty much all offering Internet service now, but far fewer have International data options. For those times when you either don’t want to spring for the connections costs or there just isn’t anything available yet, remember to get prepared. Apps like Instapaper or the favorites feature of Dropbox should get you ready with all of the reading and documents you need in order to keep yourself busy (or entertained). Accessorize – Because it is hard enough to concentrate on an airplane with all of the flight nose and close neighbors, be sure to grab a fantastic pair of noise cancelling headphones like the Sennheiser Premium mini travel headphones with NoiseGard™ 2.0. A few hours of tapping around on the touchscreen (smudging as you go) may make you wish you had a great iFrogz Stylus –which is also helpful with the strange climates in airplanes making your fingers anywhere from way too dry to entirely too clammy (plus it comes in super fun colors).

» Related posts: MS Office for iPad to Hit Store Shelves Soon There’s Still Hope we Will See Office Ported to the iPad Get Microsoft Office on Your iPad via CloudOn

There’s Still Hope we Will See Office Ported to the iPad


Microsoft Job Posting

Anybody want to work for Microsoft these days? Was that a pin I just heard drop? Okay, maybe it isn’t quite that bad. My poor attempt at humor aside, a recent job posting from Microsoft seems to hint toward Office for iOS becoming a reality.

We have gone back and forth on whether we expect to see Microsoft Office on the iPad anytime soon, with the latest blow to our hopes for that happening earlier this month when Office 15 was launched without support for the iPad.

The posting indicates that: “You will work very closely with the Development team on the design, implementation, & testing of new feature work to be part of Microsoft’s new move on the Mac and on iOS.”

That last part “and on iOS” leads us to believe that they haven’t written the platform off just yet; though it shouldn’t be discounted that the wording of the job posting could also be related to their other iOS offerings such as SkyDrive or OneNote. It also doesn’t speak to time frame.

We’ve been supposing that Office is headed for the iPad for quite some time, with a number of rumors suggesting we will see it come November of this year. Other reports state that Microsoft is nervous providing their signature suite of software to Apple to be run on their mobile hardware, but that seems ridiculous when you consider that it means increased purchases (and therefore revenue) and a larger user base (or at least maintaining the shockingly loyal community they already have).

The longer Microsoft holds out, the more likely it will be that users will switch away from Microsoft software entirely and adopt programs like Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote which are in direct competition with Word, Excel and PowerPoint (and doing a mighty fine job of it if you ask me).

[via 9to5Mac]

» Related posts: Microsoft Denies Upcoming Release of Office for iPad, The Daily Disagrees MS Office for iPad to Hit Store Shelves Soon Get Microsoft Office on Your iPad via CloudOn

Will Microsoft Finally Take a Crack at Apple’s iPad on Monday?


Microsoft is planning a secret event. This Monday at 3:30PM Pacific Time, the software giant is supposedly set to launch their own brand of tablet. According to The Wrap, Microsoft’s hush-hush event is so secretive that the venue hasn’t even been announced.

If the rumors are true, and they probably are, then Microsoft will undoubtedly be showing off the first tablet to have the long-awaited Windows 8 mobile operating system, called “Windows RT.” For months now, the tech industry has been speculating, estimating and practically frothing at the mouth about Windows RT, which uses an ARM microprocessor.

All of this fervor over the next big tablet release reminds me of six months ago when Amazon released its low-cost touch screen Kindle Fire. The country went nuts. Everyone was saying it was sure to be an iPad killer. After a decidedly strong Christmas launch, the Kindle Fire started to peter out. By the end of the first quarter, market analysis was showing that Amazon’s tablet fell from second to third in top tablet sales, dropping to only four percent of the market share.

Will Microsoft fall to the same fate? Will the world get Windows Fever for three months and then just go back to the iPad? Maybe, but Microsoft has something going for it that the other tablet makers do not.

Software. Microsoft has the most popular software in the world. If there is anything that tablet makers have learned over the past two-and-a-half years, it’s that technical specs don’t matter as much as a well-made operating system. Tablet makers have thrown everything but the digital kitchen sink at consumers when it comes to what their device can do, but the iPad’s sleek operating system and enormous app store is what the buying public wants.

In this way, Microsoft’s new tablet may be what consumers want. The Windows operating system is the most popular, widely used operating system in the world. Everyone, even Mac users are familiar with a Windows layout. Microsoft even has its own app marketplace. Currently they only offer phone apps, but that will probably change when the new operating system is released. The Windows app store can’t compete with Apple’s infrastructure, but if the operating system is easy enough to navigate, it won’t be long before developers are scrambling to make Windows-compatible games and productivity apps.

Another important card that Microsoft has up its sleeve is a mobile version of Office. So far, the iPad has not had the convenience of a full-featured version of Word, Excel or PowerPoint. But, if Microsoft releases the popular productivity apps exclusively on their own branded tablet, they would capture a large portion of the business market that has been waiting to buy a tablet until Office is compatible with it.

At this late in the game, I don’t think Microsoft will be able to overtake Apple in the tablet arena. The iPad’s popularity has grown to mammoth proportions and that train is not slowing down. However, unlike the fizzle of Amazon’s Kindle Fire, I think that Microsoft will be able to maintain a steady stream of consumers that will eventually be strong enough to at least compete in the same arena as Apple’s iPad.

» Related posts: Microsoft Finally Scratches the Tablet “Surface” Microsoft Increases Tablet Virtualization Fees to Stall iPad Microsoft to Unveil Windows 8 Powered Samsung Tablet at BUILD

Microsoft Office for iPad reportedly on track for November release

A recent report from BGR reiterates the earlier claim from The Daily that Microsoft is working on a version of Office for the iPad. According to BGR, Microsoft is bringing the complete Office suite to both the iPad and Android tablets by November of this year. BGR's source claims the version he saw was almost identical to the one leaked earlier this year by The Daily.

The Daily got wind of the BGR report and responded with a post directed at Microsoft that was sharp and forthright. The authors called Microsoft "filthy, lying liars" for allegedly showing The Daily a version of the Office software for the iPad and then saying publicly it was "not a real picture of a real Microsoft software product." You can read The Daily's response on its website.

Microsoft Office for iPad reportedly on track for November release originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft wants Mac SkyDrive users

The competition between Microsoft and Apple is moving gradually from the desktop to the cloud. As noted by The Next Web, a recent marketing push by Microsoft tries to woo Mac users away from iCloud and into Microsoft's cloud-based SkyDrive service. The webpage and video highlights the advantages of SkyDrive by pointing out that Microsoft's service gives you access to every file, everywhere, even across platforms and, unlike iCloud, it integrates well with Microsoft Office.

These features of SkyDrive may not entice Mac users to abandon iCloud, but it could get those Office users to consider using the service along with iCloud. You potentially could use iCloud for your music and photos and push your productivity stuff into Office and SkyDrive. I personally wouldn't do it because iCloud and DropBox works just fine for my needs, but heavy Office users might want to take a closer look at Microsoft's service. SkyDrive includes 7 GB of free storage and has an app for the iPhone and iPad.

[Via The Next Web]

Microsoft wants Mac SkyDrive users originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Organize Your Notes with Remarks from Readdle – iPad Review


As the certified Queen of the Post-Its, my life seems to be overrun by tiny, sticky notes written to remind about a seemingly endless series of tasks, projects and errands. These notes cover my desk, my calendar, my checkbook, my fridge–heck, sometimes they even cover my iPhone and iPad.

Now, with this updated version of the Remarks app, perhaps I can at least clear a few of those notes off my iPad screen–if not from my desk, calendar and fridge, too.

Remarks focuses on one thing: Taking notes and making them useful. It’s pretty simple, really. Use this app to take down notes anywhere–you can use the standard text keyboard or use your finger or a stylus to write out notes in your own handwriting.  You can also add images, organize your notes into folders. If you want to get extra fancy, it’s also relatively easy to add shapes (graphs, pie charts, etc).

Best of all, you can easily edit as well as share and save these notes via e-mail, Dropbox or Google Docs. They can also be backed up via iCloud or iTunes file sharing.

I found the sharing option to be particularly useful. Lately, I’d been trying to manage my myriad of to-do notes using either the iPhones native Notes app or the more functional Evernote app. The former is pretty limited in its capabilities (type, save and email–that’s about it) and while Evernote is extremely useful with its multi-format capability, sometimes you just don’t need all of its tricks. I like having the option to share my notes via Google Docs, in particular as that’s a resource I use for work, school and personal life.

What I liked: Clean, intuitive interface with several templates to choose from. Making folders is a snap, using the same folder-creation drag-and-drop method used on the iPhone and iPad and the easy PDF annotation and editing is also a plus. Also, uploading/sharing is very easy.

What I didn’t like: The app features a few bells and whistles that seem unnecessary. The “joystick” option, for example, is just a superfluous way to use zoom mode–your fingers can do the trick just as well–and probably faster without extra steps. Also, for an app that’s otherwise easy to learn, it took me awhile to figure out how to name a note. That should be the simplest of functions but it took several minutes hunting around for a clue before I finally resorted back to the “Getting started” guide. I also wish the handwriting tool was a little kinder to people with fat, clumsy fingers such as myself–there’s not a lot of precision there unless you use a stylus. Finally, while the PDF function is extremely useful, it’d also be nice to have the option to save notes as simple text or a Microsoft Word document–not to mention the ability to import notes from other sources. As it is, you can only open external PDF docs via Google Docs or Dropbox. I’d like to see the option to receive documents (in a range of formats) via e-mail or other sources.

To buy or not to buy: At $4.99 it just depends on your needs. For someone like me–looking for a way to clear at least a few of the Post-It notes off my desk, calendar, etc–it’s extremely helpful. If you’re not a rabid note-taker, however, this app might not be worth the money for you.

App Name: Remarks Version Reviewed: 1.0 Category: Productivity Developer: Readdle Price: $4.99 Score:

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iPad workspace app CloudOn goes 2.0, adds Adobe Reader, Box storage support

There are several perspectives on the iPad as a productivity tool. Some knowledge workers thrive on a suite of native apps; others can't really get comfortable within a text or code-based workflow without a legitimate keyboard and mouse. The "third way" of iPad productivity provides a hybrid environment: familiar Office apps or remote access to existing computers, with varying degrees of customization to incorporate the touch UI atop the traditional desktop.

We've previously talked about Onlive Desktop, one of the major players in the remote gaming and desktop SaaS space (which seems to have struck a conciliatory tone on Windows licensing by moving from Win7 to Windows Server for the underlying tech). Today, the first major version update of CloudOn, one of the primary alternatives to Onlive and other "full Windows" tools, is hitting the App Store.

The original free iPad app from CloudOn provided users in the US, UK and Canada with a straightforward way to create and edit Microsoft Office documents without Office, and without their own PC. The back end CloudOn servers plug into your Dropbox account to give you near-immediate access to your files for touchups or extended editing sessions. What you see on the screen is a remote session, optimized for quick transmission across the Internet to you. It works great on WiFi, acceptably on 3G and shows snappy response on a new 4G iPad as well.

In the new 2.0 version of the app, the cloud storage options have been extended to include Box.com for personal or enterprise users. CloudOn 2.0 also adds Adobe Reader to the app suite, permitting iPad users to view 3D content or fill-in PDF forms on the fly. A universal image viewer and full outbound email support round out the new feature list.

Instead of making the iPad into a virtual Windows desktop, CloudOn masks the filesystem and other apps to deliver an Office-only experience. You want Word, you get Word -- and nothing else. This no-distractions, one app at a time model can track closer to the native iPad experience of "app immersion." While the lack of native copy/paste and autocorrect does slow things down a bit, I found that I could be pretty effective while typing into CloudOn's apps, especially with a Bluetooth external keyboard.

Since you're using "real" Office, albeit remotely, some of the key features normally absent from iPad productivity apps are there for you. Ryan Faas keyed in on one of those features: Track Changes and comment support in Word, which has made CloudOn very popular with members of the legal profession.

Last week I met with Milind Gadekar, the CEO and founder of CloudOn, and got to hear a bit of his company's vision for the future of distributed work. He told me that his team forsees a continuing fragmentation of the computing landscape, with multiple OS platforms and devices talking to multiple storage providers. The way to enable productivity, he suggested, is to provide a functional nexus of three key components: your files, your apps and your collaborators.

While some successful companies are building the infrastructure for files and collaborators and then laying the applications over that with third party integrations (like Box.com), Gadekar and his team decided to go at the problem from the applications vertex first. Given that there are a lot of very capable and popular storage solutions in the market, this seems like a good play.

In developing CloudOn, Gadekar and his programmers are keenly aware that the iPad is being positioned as a productivity tool even though it doesn't have the major productivity app suite that most people use everyday: Microsoft Office. While native app vendors have the freedom to create novel interfaces that leverage iOS's touchscreen UI directly, CloudOn's emphasis is on making the subtle adjustments and accommodations that let Office apps (and eventually more mouse-based apps) work smoothly without a mouse and keyboard. Hiding the Windows desktop from the user was the first step in drastically simplifying that legacy UI.

As CloudOn expands its suite of available applications (and perhaps makes a move to other access approaches from its current iPad-only incarnation), we can expect to see some revenue models evolve. For now, though, it's a free service and a great way to get your feet wet with remote productivity apps on the iPad.

iPad workspace app CloudOn goes 2.0, adds Adobe Reader, Box storage support originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive Desktop changes from Windows 7 to Windows Server 2008

When OnLive launched its virtual desktop service for the iPad, it was rapidly rebuked by Microsoft over licensing issues with the Windows 7-based service. The company has switched from Windows 7 to Windows Server 2008 R2 and is now in compliance, says a report in Ars Technica and a post from Brian Madden.

Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 are based on the same codebase and can be configured to look the same, so users shouldn't notice any change in the service.

OnLive Desktop changes from Windows 7 to Windows Server 2008 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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