Doc

Microsoft's Web-based Office goes live

Officially joining the browser-based productivity game, Microsoft late Monday released the browser-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

The Office Web Apps, as the programs are dubbed, are slimmed down versions of the desktop counterparts, allowing for document viewing, sharing, and lightweight editing. Consumers get free access to the tools, along with 25GB of storage as part of Windows Live, while businesses can also host their own version of the Web Apps using the latest version of Sharepoint. The main catch is that using the browser-based versions require an active Internet connection.

"We'll have more to share … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1226: BP summons the old ones (podcast)

In the Soviet Union oil leaks get nuked. That's not a Yakov Smirnoff joke, it's apparently history. So we discuss whether we should do that in the Gulf of Mexico. But Steve in the chat room points out it might summon Cthullu. We also discuss the impending release of Office 2010, and the appearance of a second lost Apple iPhone 4G prototype. Those people can't keep anything in the lab anymore can they?

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1226

Microsoft Office 2010 takes aim at … Read more

EtherPad dies this week: Here are six great clones

At the end of this week, EtherPad shuts down for good, taking user creations with it. The online word processor, whose parent company was acquired by Google last year, has not accepted user sign-ups for months now. But just in case you're one of those users who has not moved on, or is just now discovering EtherPad's strengths, there's good news: the service has been open source for the past five months. As a result, there are a handful of open-sourced clones that provide the same EtherPad experience with a few extra bells and whistles.

One thing … Read more

Google: Don't upgrade Office, add Docs

On the eve of the business launch of Office 2010, Google is arguing that there is a better way for businesses to upgrade their productivity suite.

Instead of paying Redmond for the new version, Google argues businesses would be better off using the version of Office they have and mixing in Google Docs to get their dose of collaboration and Web-based tools.

"Most people find, and they maybe perhaps don't expect it at first, that Google Docs works quite well with Office and in fact it makes Office better," Google Enterprise President Dave Girouard said in an … Read more

Microsoft's Lili Cheng on FUSE, Spindex, and more

SAN FRANCISCO--It's always fun to catch up with Microsoft's Lili Cheng. In addition to being a bundle of energy, she's always working on some interesting project.

In her years, she has worked in Microsoft's research labs and on the Windows team. Since last year, she has been heading a social software project known as Future Social Experiences, or FUSE Labs. The effort, under Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie, looks at how to merge the social computing world with traditional software.

At Web 2.0 on Tuesday, Cheng showed off Spindex, the group's latest project. Like … Read more

The 404 565: Where we get drunk off Ben & Jerry's (podcast)

We've arrived at another Del Conte Thursday and we're all getting Buzzed to celebrate, which could mean one of three possible scenarios:

1. We use Google Buzz to see what our West Coast friends are up to at 8 a.m. on a Thursday morning.

2. We log on to AT&T's new Buzz.com to find the closest bodega that carries Yerba Mate, aka "weed tea."

3. We plan to get sloshed on Bonnaroo Buzz, a new coffee-flavored ice cream with English toffee pieces and whiskey caramel swirls.

Which one is it? I'm not just going to tell you; you have to listen to find out, dummy.

Speaking of food, there's plenty to complain about as we run down the 10 most irritating types of restaurant patrons, even though I've been known to pilfer a few free saltine crackers in my time. Natali also confesses that she's constantly asking waiters to help her make a decision only to go with the dish that they don't recommend, and Jeff can't seem to understand the difference between fake Mexican and authentic Puerto Rican food.

Hulu just announced plans to roll out its new subscription-based service starting as soon as May 24. For $9.95 a month, you'll gain access to premium content called Hulu Plus that could include the entire back catalog of popular shows like "Lost," "Glee," and "Saturday Night Live," to name a few.

The room agrees that we'd all happily pay $10 for the extra episodes, especially considering it costs that much for a monthly unlimited text messaging plan. The only visible downside to consider is the gross amount of time I already spend in Hulu's capable hands, so I'll take this opportunity to say a fond farewell to my co-workers, friends, and family. If you need me, I'll be in my room.

We're getting a lot of quality Calls From the Public, but we still need more callbacks! That's when you give us a ring at 1-866-404-CNET and say, "This is (your location) from (your name) and you're listening to The 404, the show where (insert random comment here)." It's quick, easy to do, and if it's good we'll definitely play it on the air!

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Microsoft, Facebook launch Docs.com

Facebook and Microsoft have teamed up on an online document-sharing service that looks more than a little like Google Docs.

Docs.com went live on Wednesday at Facebook's F8 conference. The site allows Facebook users to log in using Facebook Connect and create, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents with their Facebook friends. New documents will show up in a user's news feed, just like status updates or pictures.

It's in beta testing for now, and service was spotty in the minutes following its introduction at the conference. Microsoft is planning to launch its own online document-sharing service … Read more

5 time-saving Outlook add-ons

Your Microsoft Outlook 2007 in-box is one of those apps that's underappreciated and easily overlooked, yet for business professionals and home users alike, it often bears the brunt of most e-mail exchange.

It's time to give Outlook--and yourself--a hand with some free, and free-to-try, add-ons that could very well smooth out your workflow. We've rounded up five time-saving Outlook add-ons for you to take on a spin. Just don't get too add-on-happy, since, as with browser extensions, a surplus of running Outlook extras can drag down the pace.

Google Docs for the lazy: Harmony Outlook add-on

The Google Docs Web-based productivity suite blossomed thanks to its virtue of efficiency. We recently got to know a tool that layers on the convenience by giving you ways to manage Google Docs from a desktop app you already use--your Outlook in-box.  By installing the free Harmony for Google Docs beta Outlook add-on, your Google Docs show up in a sidebar, from which they can be opened and edited right in Outlook's reading pane. Clicking the Harmony button in the navigation ribbon surfaces your Google Docs in new messages as well.

Harmony is essentially inserting a browser into … Read more