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Here comes Office 2013
RICHARD WEINER
Technology for Lawyers
Published: February 1, 2013
Office 2013 has just been released.
There are numerous changes and updates in the new format and early (admittedly sketchy) reviews are generally positive.
Some new features include:
Multi-platform capabilities. Besides running on Windows, the new Office will eventually be able to run on/have versions for web-based apps, iPads and Android. Microsoft has always had a pretty weak Office version available for the Mac, possibly just to keep the antitrust wolves at justice at bay. The promise from MS is apparently to update the Mac Office suite to make it as robust as it can be. I am not holding my breath.
Subscription and Licensing. Microsoft has changed Office’s licensing language to have the license attached to the user, rather than to one computer. This will be done through Office 365. Your Office subscription will then follow wherever you are, just like the licensing of mobile apps. Another real bonus will be opening up a license to multiple users. The program, called Office on Demand, will follow the user. Microsoft is even encouraging family sharing of the programs on multiple devices in a home.
The license also comes with updating.
Cloud. Office will also exist as a cloud service. The new technology will allow use on any computer. Office has had cloud functions for a while, but the real change here is that the default save point for documents will be in the cloud services of SharePoint Online (and on-premise) for businesses and SkyDrive for consumers. It seems to kind of force everyone onto the cloud, but the alternative, of course, is to not upgrade if you don’t want your docs saved on someone else’s server.
Integration with the sleek “Metro” design of Windows 8. Office 2013 will look like a Windows 8 program. For one thing, it will integrate touch screen functionality. It will have fewer buttons, etc. visible on the primary work page and have a full-screen display mode. Microsoft has already released two Metro style programs-- One Note and Lync.
Microsoft, with this development, may have hurtled itself back to the top of the heap in programming.