MS unveils Office 2013, Consumer Preview now out

Microsoft has recently released the consumer preview of their upcoming MS Office 2013 for consumers to take it for a spin.

The first noticeable difference on this new version of the productivity software is its monochrome logo which is undoubtedly inspired by Metro UI of Windows 8.

Just like the upcoming OS, the New Office (which the company would like to call it) is designed with tablets in mind. That being said, some of the features of the new Office are geared towards making more out of your handheld touch devices like using a stylus as an alternative to touch presses.

Moreover, the need to get things done regardless of where you are is key to the success of this software, that’s why the software giant integrated their online services like SkyDrive to further enhance productivity. Other services like Skype and Yammer are also incorporated in this release to make collaboration a lot easier.

Here’s a short demo of the Office 2013.

This full version of the new Office will be available by mid-September to early October and will come in three versions for Windows and Mac. Unfortunately, the new Office can only be installed on Window 7 and Windows 8 PCs. In addition to this Office Suite, users can also subscribe to Office 365 which enables users to download and install the productivity software to five other devices that supports it. The Office 365 subscription is available in four variants that suits the consumer’s needs.

Office 365 Home Premium

• A personalized Office experience on up to 5 PCs or tablets.
• Powerful new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.
• Streaming full versions of Office applications with Office on Demand (PC running Windows 7 or 8 and Internet connection required).
• Talk to anyone using Skype, including 60 minutes of free international calls every month to landlines in over 40 countries and to cell phones in 7 countries. (Skype account required. Excludes special, premium and non-geographic numbers.)
• Get an additional 20 GB of SkyDrive online storage for easy access and sharing of your documents.

Office 365 Small Business Premium

• Revamped Outlook experience
• Web creation/designing tools
• High-Definition video conferencing
• Shared calendar

Office 365 Pro Plus

• Easier software deployment
• Flexible management of cloud-service
• Streaming full versions of Office applications with Office on Demand (PC running Windows 7 or 8 and Internet connection required).
• Monitor performance centrally via Office telemetry tools
• Enhanced Security features
• Easier collaboration via Combined, SharePoint, Lync and Exchange

Office 365 Enterprise

• Streaming full versions of Office applications with Office on Demand (PC running Windows 7 or 8 and Internet connection required).
• Site Mailbox
• DLP (Data Loss Prevention) and Archiving features
• Oversee and management of entire operation more easily through SharePoint, PowerPivot (Excel), Lync, Exchange and web-based portals.

From the looks of things, it seems that Microsoft has got every bases covered with their new Office. The almost same UI makes it easier for people to get used to the new version. The addition of the Office 365 subscription and other MS-owned services will give users more control and flexibility over their work which is the whole point of the Microsoft Office.

If you want to experience this yourself you can download it here.