Microsoft’s Office productivity suite is finally heading to
the iPad to give Apple fan boys a trusted tool to be more productive.
Microsoft Office for the iPad will include only three apps:
Word, Excel and PowerPoint. However, unlike the productivity suite for PCs and
Macs, the one built for the iPad will allow users to download each app
independently.
The apps are now available for free on the Apple App store
and should allow users to view and present their documents, spreadsheets and
presentations with ease. However, those
who want to create or edit files will need an Office 365 subscription.
The apps sport the similar ribboned interface just like its
PC and Mac versions. The ribbon holds tabs that contain the different commands
and options available for each app.
Microsoft has also made the iPad version of office very
finger-friendly. Users are able to insert and move images in a document using
simple touch and drag gestures. Images also come with large touch handles that
can easily be dragged to resize an image. Data can also be entered in excel
with ease thanks to a large numeric pad that pops up when a user tries to enter
data into a cell.
However, Office for the iPad is not the same as the one on
Windows 8, and as such won’t be able to give the same level of productivity. For
starters, adding a video to PowerPoint presentation will require a user to use
a Windows client. And since the app mirrors the entire screen during a
presentation, users won’t have any access to his notes during a presentation.
Lastly, the apps will be powered by Microsoft’s cloud
services and supports collaborative work using Microsoft OneDrive allowing
multiple users to edit files simultaneously. Also, Office 365 subscribers will
be able to upload Office for iPad up to five tables and install five copies
across PC or Mac.
On a different note, Office for the iPhone and Android
devices are now available for free on the Apple App store and Google Play store
respectively.
