Microsoft just unveiled the next installment of their ubiquitous Office products, and you can download the customer preview here.
Microsoft says that Office 2013 (or Office 15) is going to work perfectly across multiple devices – “touch, stylus, mouse, or keyboard.”
“We are taking bold steps at Microsoft,” said Steve Ballmer at the press announcement. “The new, modern Office will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers. It is a cloud service and will fully light-up when paired with Windows 8.”
Microsoft is putting the new Office firmly in the cloud:
- SkyDrive. Office saves documents to SkyDrive by default, so your content is always available across your tablet, PC and phone. Your documents are also available offline and sync when you reconnect.
- Roaming. Once signed in to Office, your personalized settings, including your most recently used files, templates and even your custom dictionary, roam with you across virtually all of your devices. Office even remembers where you last left off and brings you right back to that spot in a single click.
- Office on Demand. With a subscription, you can access Office even when you are away from your PC by streaming full-featured applications to an Internet-connected Windows-based PC.
- New subscription services. The new Office is available as a cloud-based subscription service. As subscribers, consumers automatically get future upgrades in addition to exciting cloud services including Skype world minutes and extra SkyDrive storage. Subscribers receive multiple installs for everyone in the family and across their devices.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but Microsoft says that subscriptions will come in three new formats – Home Premium, Small Business Premium, and ProPlus.