10 Features Microsoft Bets on with Office 2013

Office 2013, the next major flavor of Microsoft’s productivity suite, was made available for download in a preview flavor back in July, while expected to reach general availability in early 2013.

The new application flavor promises a completely updated experience when compared to what previously available versions of the software had to offer.

The Office Customer Preview, says Microsoft, will determine users to update their vocabulary so as to match the new capabilities.

Moreover, using the application will make users forget some of the phrases they were accustomed with before. In a post on the Office blog, the company published a slideshow of 10 important features in Office 2013.

“Since downloading the new Office Customer Preview, you've likely updated your vocabulary to match the new things you're doing-sharing links instead of attachments, moving documents from USB drives into the cloud, and using a stylus that never runs out of ink,” Microsoft notes.

Not only is the new Office capable of saving files into the cloud for fast access from various devices, but it also enables them to have presentations at hand at all times.

Other features will also appeal to a lot to users, such as the possibility to open PDF files in the application, or to save documents as PDF files directly. Not to mention that new Word and PowerPoint documents will open directly where you left them.

In Outlook, smart tips will let you know if you forgot to add an attachment, while sharing links to documents that have been saved on SkyDrive will work like a charm, the Redmond-based software giant notes.

There are also Office Web Apps to take advantage of, along with Flash Fill to extract data in Excel. The new Office suite will also keep users socially connected, while enabling them to stay organized with OneNote, which can also save photos of receipts.

“There are dozens more solutions to discover, so dive into the Preview and tell @Office what features have changed your tune (hashtag #OfficePreview),” Microsoft concludes.

The Customer Preview flavor of Office 2013 is available for download from Softpedia as well, via this link.