Tue 15 Dec 2009
Microsoft Office 2010, which is due to be released in the first half of next year, has some great new features. Here’s a quick look at some of the best ones.
Free online versions
Perhaps the most talked about aspect of Office 2010 is the free online Web Apps versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. While these free versions will have limited functionality you will still be able to create and edit files from any computer connected to the internet, which could make working with these files much more convenient. Although a lot of people will still buy a desktop or paid subscription version for the additional features, having the option to edit files anytime and anywhere is definitely a bonus.
Microsoft Office Backstage
In Office 2010 Microsoft Office Backstage view replaces the file menu and acts as a centralised space for all your file management tasks and commands you commonly use when opening and closing a document. It is from the Backstage view that you do things like saving, printing, sharing, and changing permissions. Microsoft Office Backstage view is designed to make it easier to work on your files by bringing together related tasks, e.g. printing and page layout options, that were previously located in different places.
Collaboration
Office 2010 has a number of features that make working with others easier. One such feature, Co-authoring, allows you to publish a document for collaboration. This means multiple people can work on different sections of the same document at once. Another new feature is the ability to broadcast your PowerPoint presentations without having to set up a web meeting. This can be done through SharePoint or your free Windows Live Account.
What’s new in Word?
The new Paste Preview feature allows you to hover you mouse over different paste options and preview how they will look before making your decision. If you copy and paste a lot this could potentially save you a lot of time.
What’s new in Excel?
The new Sparlines feature in Excel allows you to create small charts in a single cell, which you can use to quickly identify patterns within your data.
What’s new in PowerPoint?
Want to add video to your PowerPoint Presentation? In Office 2010 you can embed and edit videos from within PowerPoint with features such as trimming, fades and reflections.
What’s new in Outlook?
The new Conversation management tools in Outlook 2010 allow you to cut down on the amount of clutter in your inbox. With the new Clean Up feature you can instantly delete all unnecessary emails in long email threads, so that only unduplicated information is left. You can also use the ignore feature to send an entire conversation to the Deleted Items folder.
This post covers just a few of the great new features available in Office 2010. If you would like to learn more about Office 2010 click here.