Office 2010 to enter public beta next month
Microsoft on Monday is announcing that it will release in November a public test version of Office 2010.
The software maker released a limited technology preview of the software in July and plans to release the final version next year. It also started testing of the browser-based "Office Web Apps" in September.
Microsoft, which is making the announcement at its SharePoint conference, is also detailing some of the features of the next version of its portal software, which will also enter beta next month.
The new version, SharePoint 2010, includes Office's Ribbon user interface as well as enhanced support for video, audio and Silverlight. Programmers will also be able develop Sharepointl sites using the next version of the company's Visual Studio, which is going into a second beta this week.
SharePoint is an important product for Microsoft as it is one of the company's fastest growing large businesses. Last year it brought in more than $1.3 billion in revenue, up 20 percent from the prior year.
"SharePoint 2010 is the biggest and most important release of SharePoint to date," CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "When paired with Microsoft Office 2010, SharePoint 2010 will transform efficiency by connecting workers across a single collaboration platform for business."
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
If you are going to quote someone, please quote them correctly. The correct quote in the article is:
"SharePoint 2010 is the biggest and most important release of SharePoint to date," CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "When paired with Microsoft Office 2010, SharePoint 2010 will transform efficiency by connecting workers across a single collaboration platform for business."
Misquoting them intentionally for the purposes of spreading rumor and misinformation is simply irresponsible.
MS included "Microsoft Document Connection" in Office 2008 SP2 which allows Macs to log into SharePoint sites.
Why? Well, that's the question. Seems to be yet another attempt to a proprietary system that has no real obvious benefits over other technologies available.
Other than fanboys who actually haven't developed in Sharepoint all of the "Sharepoint Experts" I have worked with tell me what Sharepoint is not and very little of what it can do easily.
Having been forced to develop an intranet and corporate website around Sharepoint I definitely won't be doing it again. There far cheaper more sophisticated and better performing alternatives on the market that unless you are totally vendor locked into Microsoft you really shouldn't even consider it. (that or your network admins only know how to administer Microsoft networks). Sigh.
As for Office 2010.. sorry but Google Docs and Open Office will work just fine for me thanks.
If you have a vanilla network and workstations, Sharepoint will probably work out of the box. And if it doesn't, there's technical support. That what most small/medium businesses need. It may not be the best, it may not be the cheapest (in the short term), but that's reality. It doesn't make them fanboys.
Is that too much to friggin ask?!?
My biggest problem with the ribbon concept, as it turns out, was me. I was holding myself back, being stubborn and not liking the idea of change. Once I gave it an honest chance, it turned out to be a better setup for my needs.
- by jtjt145 October 19, 2009 2:47 PM PDT
- a new word processor is news?
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- by celticbrewer October 20, 2009 8:53 AM PDT
- is a new iPod or iPhone news? Apparently
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