Tech

Apple Tablets Get Real for Business — Microsoft Office for iPad Highlights

Written by Tara Thomas
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There have been lots of “nearly” there substitutes, but the day has come for iPad users to have access to the genuine article most-used business applications.  The new Microsoft Office suite of apps is jam-packed with great features and useful tools. Although the apps can’t do everything their desktop programs can, they’re pretty darn cool. How cool? Since their release, they’ve been downloaded an incredible 587,000 times every day!

See why in this short video.  Office for the iPad

This quick visual overview gives you a few highlights of what’s in the apps so you can decide for yourself if Office for iPad is a must-have for you.

Why We Love Them:

Similar Look & Feel – The apps are strikingly similar to their desktop counterparts.

Easy-to-navigate Office for iPad interface

Easy-to-navigate Office for iPad interface

Traditional Tabs & Tools – Isn’t it the worst when you instinctively click on a tab only to find that the action isn’t in its usual place? The Office apps offer a subset of features so you can find what you’re looking for.

iPad for Office functionality

Full Functionality – While there are a few limitations, most features are accessible. In fact, you can even track changes using your iPad!

iPadOffice3

Tons of Templates – Need to customize your workbook, document, or presentation? Not a problem. The Microsoft apps let you choose from a wide variety of templates.

iPadOffice4
Direct Dictation – No need for a keyboard; you can use your iPad’s voice-to-text to create a Microsoft Word doc.

iPadOffice5

Recovery – No more lost files. The Office apps save copies of your files directly onto your iPad – even if you lose your Internet connection.

Print – Just a few short weeks after introducing the apps Microsoft went ahead and added a print feature, too.

So, is it really free? The answer is yes…and no. You can create and edit docs, spreadsheets, and presentations as long as you have an Office 365 account. If you don’t have one, you can still download and use the apps – but only in preview mode, unless you pay.

 Here’s what others have to say:

“…Microsoft has done a more than admirable job of finding the middle ground between Office Suite familiarity and the iPad’s native, touch-and-gesture responsiveness.” – Mashable

“Microsoft has simplified the interface of the Office apps and enlarged the buttons and menu options, making them easier to tap with a finger.” – The Columbus Dispatch

Learn More:

Check it out for yourself: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/mobile/.

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Tara Thomas

CMO & Co-Founder at The Meeting Pool
Tara is CMO and Co-Founder of The Meeting Pool, and a round-the-clock marketeer who works with tech companies on marketing activities including branding, events, social media, public relations, communications, strategy, and operations. Her background in the marketing of technology applications and online services spans a broad set of technologies including software-as-a-service, B2B, enterprise, financial services, publishing, real estate, and automotive markets. She has over 15 years of expertise managing strategic event marketing programs for companies including The Television Bureau of Advertising, Oracle, IPIX and The Cobalt Group, a leader in the automotive marketing space. Most recently at Certain, Inc., Thomas oversaw a myriad of strategic marketing initiatives that were essential to Certain’s growth.
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