Tuesday June 18, 2013
A few days ago, Microsoft finally released the Microsoft Office suite for iOS...except only for the iPhone version, and only for Office 365 subscribers (the company's subscription service for Office, as opposed to traditional desktop packages). Office on the iPhone has been long overdue, and it's great that it's here, but, more important: Where is the iPad version?
On the iPhone, you can now open and edit Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint slides--with the same functionality that, basically, Windows Phone users have for the mobile Office suite. But with the tiny screen, this is best for last-minute, last-resort work on documents (or simple document viewing), not actual work.
The official Office iPad version is the one we're waiting for. Coupled with a keyboard case (like the Kensington KeyFolio Pro), it'll turn the iPad into a true laptop replacement for many. (It might even make fewer people buy Microsoft's own Surface tablet, though, Tech Crunch muses.)
There's no word yet on when Microsoft Office will land on the iPad, though we've seen signs it's coming. With Office on the iPhone available now (at least, for Office 365 subscribers), it's just a matter of time.
Monday June 17, 2013
You're planning on crossing international borders, but don't want to leave your smartphone behind. After all, it's got your contacts, apps, and other important data on it. The problem is, wireless cellular networks aren't the same for every country.
It's particularly divided in the US, where Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology and T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM--the network technology used internationally in over 220 countries. If you have a CDMA-only phone, you'll have to rent a phone or mobile broadband device when you travel overseas. GSM phone owners can more simply rent a SIM card (see more caveats here, though).
If you're traveling with an iPhone or Android phone from another country to the US, here are your options on T-Mobile and AT&T for getting internet access and calling features on your own phone.
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Monday June 10, 2013
Apple showed off all the things at its WWDC developers conference today. I was surprised by Apple's divergence from its cat-based OS X naming convention to using "Mavericks" for the next version, tickled pink by the MacBook Air Haswell updates, and, plainly, overwhelmed by all the other iCloud and iOS 7 updates. But one point Apple made today caught my eye and is significant for anyone who works on an iPad for, well, work: iWork in the iCloud.
iWork for iCloud, currently in beta, will let you open Apple's versions of Microsoft Office software--Pages (Word), Keynote (PowerPoint), Numbers (Excel)--in any browser, on the Mac or PC (or, I'm guessing, Linux). Apple's office suite is now truly a competitor to Microsoft Office Web Apps and Google Docs. And it will open Microsoft Office files as well.
In short, it's like Google's recent Microsoft Office market-share-grabbing play, Chrome Office Viewer, which opens MS Office files in Chrome and Google Docs.
The point is that everyone wants to be your office-suite-in-the-cloud, but Microsoft Office is still the standard. Between the Microsoft, Google, and Apple solutions, I think Microsoft still has the edge--but perhaps not for long.
In any case, having online, full editing access to your docs and spreadsheets (whichever office suite you choose) is a wonderful thing if you're a web worker--especially if you use a tablet and a regular laptop/desktop for work.
Monday June 10, 2013
At its WWDC developer conference today, Apple announced its new MacBook Air models. Most notably, these laptops are getting the next-generation Intell Haswell processor, which means a huge bump in battery life.
The 11-inch MacBook Air, for example, currently has a 5-hour battery life rating, and the next-generation model will have nearly twice that: 9 hours of battery life. The 13-inch model is going from 7 hours to 12 hours.
Apple is also making 802.11ac the new wireless network standard in these laptops. Though there are few 802.11ac (a.k.a. 5G Wi-Fi) routers currently on the market, not doubt this will definitely pave the way for broader adoption of this faster Wi-Fi standard.
Both of these changes are great for mobile users, but they aren't much of a surprise. Haswell, we've heard from Intel before, could power laptops for even longer periods (up to 24 hours), so the longer battery life isn't specific to MacBooks. All upcoming Haswell laptops should boast that longer battery life or more (and it's one reason I'm waiting for Haswell before buying my next laptop). Wireless-AC or 802.11ac, similarly, is just the next step in faster, better Wi-Fi.
Still, all-day battery life and faster Wi-Fi are definitely welcome laptop improvements. The 11-inch MacBook Air will start at $999 and the 13-inch model will cost $1,299 (down from $1,399).
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