Satya Nadella is planning to host his first press event as Microsoft CEO next week. The software maker has been inviting members of the media to a special cloud- and mobile-focused event in San Francisco on March 27th. Nadella is expected to discuss Microsoft’s "mobile first, cloud first" strategy, and there will be some major news ahead of the company’s Build conference in early April. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the event will mark the introduction of Office for iPad.
Microsoft has been working on the software for a number of months now, having first introduced an iOS version of Office for the iPhone in June last year. We understand the iPad variant of Office will be similar to the iPhone version, and will require an Office 365 subscription for editing. We’re told that document creation and editing is fully supported for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps. Overall, the interface and features are expected to be similar to the existing iPhone version.
Nadella’s unveiling of Office for iPad will be the first major press event for the new CEO, but it will also underline his strategy for Microsoft. Nadella hinted at "cloud first, mobile first" shortly after he was named CEO last month, and Microsoft launched a Mac version of its OneNote Office app today, along with Office Online recently. The March 27th event will set the stage for further announcements at the Build developer conference on April 2nd. Microsoft will unveil Windows Phone 8.1 at Build, and the company is expected to fully detail its Windows 8.1 Update and hint at some future plans for Windows 9.
Comments
Finally.
And yes, this says a lot about Microsoft’s long term ambitions.
By Champino on 03.17.14 5:24pm
I think its part of the Office 365 suite. A optimized version for bigger screens what they have now for the iPhone.
By CokeZero98 on 03.17.14 5:30pm
Devices and services.
This fits in with number two.
By Chaz_UK on 03.17.14 5:36pm
Speaking of number two I need to take one.
By va jay jay on 03.18.14 1:52am
Yeah, sure.
By StrictlyGeeky on 03.18.14 2:59am
to release content creation software for content consumption devices?
By Denzel Washington on 03.17.14 7:44pm
I don’t even like the iPad and I think that “it’s only a consumption device” is stupid as hell. If there are content creation applications available then it can be a content creation device, it’s just typically not the primary use.
By wixostrix on 03.17.14 8:07pm
Notes <> Word
Just like the difference between iMovie and Final Cut Pro, just because you can technically do something on the iPad doesn’t mean you can do it well.
By 4ndrew on 03.17.14 10:33pm
Of course not, but it also doesn’t mean the iPad can’t do something well if the tools are good and tailored for it.
By wixostrix on 03.18.14 1:33am
Have you even used Office before? It’s redeeming quality is that it does everything, the only way to make it work on the iPad is to completely strip the functionality, and at that point why not just use something else?
By 4ndrew on 03.18.14 4:02am
I like the idea of having a real productivity suite on a PC that I can actually be productive with which syncs my files to the cloud, then being able to access those documents on mobile devices for viewing and last-minute edits when I’m away from my desk.
By Firefly7475 on 03.18.14 4:19am
This is the one counterpoint that I felt like bringing up in my comment but didn’t. It’s not an insignificant use case per se, but it’s hardly an exciting announcement.
By 4ndrew on 03.18.14 11:49pm
Who says you have to strip the functionality?
By Ruslan on 03.18.14 5:07am
Microsoft. If it’s really that similar to what’s on the iPhone then it’ll be only very basic functionality.
By phero on 03.18.14 9:03am
There will obviously missing features, but the ones that make sense will surely be added over time.
By wixostrix on 03.18.14 12:18pm
I repeat, have you used Office before? I triple dog dare you to try stuffing that many options into a tablet without angering users.
By 4ndrew on 03.18.14 11:44pm
Why so antagonistic? Adding features is not the problem. It’s clinging to the OLD on a brand new medium. If they try to transplant office without acclimating or innovating in how you use the program then it will fail. If they try to bring Metro to iOS it Could go either way, but to be honest I probably would not use it. Most of All the bundling with 365 and the desktop version needs to go. Not integration but locking people that want to use office on an iPad into having to sub 365. That needs to go.
By ttringle on 03.19.14 10:15am
Dude, it’s a tablet; no one is suggesting anyone type a novel or handle 30,000 line spreadsheets. Clearly, if you need the full functionality you will use the desktop software that comes with your subscription, which you will need to enable editing functionality in the mobile apps.
By wixostrix on 03.18.14 12:21pm
If the only way to get these apps on an iPad is a 365 sub, then they are sadly overestimating how many people will buy into that. I would easily pay for a Word App etc, but I am not subbing when my Company is already using Google Apps for mail etc.
By ttringle on 03.19.14 10:19am
Implying that Final Cut Pro X isn’t a piece of shit
By sharpenednoodles on 03.18.14 5:05am
It isn’t. Pros are switching back in droves.
By jsbrock on 03.18.14 11:16am
No, we’re not.
By Fighter-of-the-Nightman on 03.18.14 7:15pm
No, I’m* not. FTFY
By 4ndrew on 03.18.14 11:48pm
No one is switching back in droves. This is the enterprise after all. Companies don’t change workflows at every whim. I can’t think of any major professional studio focusing on high-quality content has adopted it (at least on the east coast). You might see the occasional independent freelancer/local news use FCPX for cost purposes, especially when content doesn’t have a lot of production in it.
However, for the large studios that have to structure an entire workflow around a lot of different people, many have gone to Adobe while some are sticking it out with FCP7 like the studio I work at.
By Fighter-of-the-Nightman on 03.19.14 3:40am
Did you mean Pages or are you that daft.
By Ruslan on 03.18.14 5:06am