14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is already working on the next version of the Office productivity suite, as the company is planning to launch the stable build sometime next year, but according to a new report, a public beta could come earlier than most people think.
Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet writes, citing people close to the matter, that Redmond could unveil a public preview version of Office 16 before the end of the year, but October 2014 seems very likely to witness this unveiling.
The stable product could then see daylight in the spring of 2015, possibly around the launch of Windows 9, reportedly scheduled for April 2015.
A touch-optimized version of Office for Windows 8 devices is also in the works and could also be unveiled in early 2015 if development goes according to the plan. There’s no information right now whether a preview version of this build could also be introduced or not.
Clippy and improved Outlook
As we reported to you yesterday, Microsoft could bring back animated character Clippy in an attempt to make it easier for users to make the most of specific Office features. In the end, Clippy could become Cortana if Redmond is working to make the currently Windows Phone-exclusive personal assistant available on the desktop and in other apps.
At the same time, Office 16 could debut with a new dark theme that was already on the table for Office 2013, but delayed due to unknown reasons. Screenshots with this new theme have already leaked, but Microsoft could make slight changes before the public launch.
Outlook is also getting its own share of improvements, with today’s report indicating that the software giant is looking into ways to provide users with more control over their emails.
At this point, Outlook can download at least one month's worth of emails, but the new version would also come with options to get emails received in the last three, seven, or 14 days.
Focus on Office 365
Even though Microsoft is readying a new version of Office for desktop, the company’s focus is now on Office 365, the cloud-based productivity solution that’s available with a subscription.
The Office division, which is currently Microsoft’s number one cash cow, is becoming more concentrated on its cloud capabilities, and Office 365 plays a key role in this strategy.
CEO Satya Nadella himself, who was head of Microsoft’s cloud business before replacing Steve Ballmer in the top role within the company, wants the software giant to invest more in cloud services, so Office 16 could also come with new features developed as a result of this new approach.
More to come, however, in the coming months, as Microsoft still keeps everything secret, as is the case with Windows 9.