Browser-Based Office Shows Its Face

Microsoft plans on Thursday for public review for the first browser-based version of version of Office, but an overview of the technology at least as notable for what did not that she is doing contains time.

The limited trial of the so-called Office Web Apps includes versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, but not the OneNote note-application. And while Excel and PowerPoint, the ability to edit and create documents that can provide current Web online version of Word can be used to display documents, is essentially the same capacity, it offers under its current Office Live Workspace product.

Microsoft said the Web versions of OneNote and Word share "the same editing surface," and that the technology is still being worked on.

"We must clear the difficult decision to edit in Word in Web App Tech Preview is for those who have the best experience possible at this early stage," said Microsoft.

Microsoft plans web apps first preview for users of Windows Live SkyDrive, providing a value of 25 GB of storage space.

Office Web applications are expected to be introduced with Office 2010 - the next version of Microsoft Office with both browsers and desktop applications in the first half of next year. Office Web applications will be available to consumers as a free game, ad-supported Windows Live, while companies will be able to offer them to workers on their own server or on Microsoft SharePoint Online Service subscription.

Microsoft said it will start processing capabilities for Word and a version of OneNote when the Office Web Apps in its final form have. The latest technology preview will be available to tens of thousands of users with a wider beta planned for later this fall. However, Microsoft would not commit, with capacity of handling Word of the beta.

Once the process completes, the browser versions offer all the editing, but not all the capabilities of their desktop counterparts. Excel and OneNote have live co-authoring capabilities, while all the Office Web applications will only work if a user is connected to the Internet.

Microsoft has a different approach when it comes to sharing documents than those of its competitors. While Google Apps users to share a document directly, Office Web Apps, the details in a folder level - which means that a document shares, a user must store them in a folder on the Windows Live SkyDrive and share this folder.

Forrester analyst Sheri McLeish said Office Web applications do not seem to be more complicated than rivals such as Google Docs or Zoho Office.

"Google and Zoho are very easy to get started today, only need one step to register before you can work on a document or spreadsheet," said McLeish. "Microsoft Office Web applications do not seem at ease to start the game."

On the positive side, noted that the Office McLeish does not provide a depth of its online competitors.

"If you're in the Web apps experience very similar to the suite are," said McLeish. "And for the company to use the web apps themselves chosen as the host-site is a big difference from Google and Zoho .

As indicated in the current version of Microsoft if it is always in the form of pre-beta and involves a number of known issues.

"There is still strong on the banks," said Ural Cebeci, product manager in Microsoft Office unit.

Office Web applications are certified for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and work, and can also work on Google Chrome - even if Microsoft does not guarantee compatibility with Chrome.

Microsoft has repeatedly stressed that Safari compatibility means that users are able to edit documents on the iPhone would, however, Cebeci said that iPhone users will be able to view documents - like the ability to other smart phones offered.