Office Newswire: Microsoft Office for iPad sounds a lot like Office for WOA tablets – 2.22.2012

I don't want to say it. I really don't. But something is coming over me and… well… here it is…

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

I know. Nobody likes a braggart.
Please understand that I'm not bragging.
I'm only pointing out the fact that I was correct, that is all.

Yesterday, TheDaily.com ran a story stating Microsoft will soon send Office for iPad to the Apple App Store. Microsoft quickly released a statement that they claim is a denial. But Mary Jo Foley speaks Redmondian and parses the Microsoft denial.

Of course, I stated way back in December that Microsoft would release a version for the iPad. I don't think I was going out on a limb. There are loads of smart people at Microsoft and they know that having their software run on devices of all shapes and sizes is a good thing.

And now that Windows is no longer THE cash cow at Microsoft, I believe that what's good for Microsoft Office is good for Microsoft. Windows will need to sit on the passenger side and help navigate from here but Office is the driver now.

Office news and editorials

• Suite Anticipation! :: I love a witty and/or pun-filled head line. The Daily broke the story and even includes a screen shot. Somehow, the writer was able to test it out. This exists. Whoever leaked it potentially did MSFT a favor by signaling to the market it's coming. I know I'm waiting. I want the real deal.
• Microsoft Office for iPad sounds a lot like Office for WOA tablets :: MJF makes a connection between the screenshot found in TheDaily.com's article and the Office for Windows On ARM. Four apps. Metro-like look and feel. Touch enabled, etc.
• Do enterprises want Microsoft Office on tablet computers? :: I suppose this is THE question. I think the answer is “yes, but… “. Yes we business people working for enterprises large and small want a Microsoft Office app on our tablets. And by tablet I mean iPad. But… the iPad and other tablet devices are not creative devices. They are not meant for production or “real work”. Tablets as we know them today are consuming devices. They are great for consuming information… reading articles & books, watching videos, etc. They also work well for reviewing documents and this is where I think Office for iPad will fit. But these are my thoughts. The author has other points.
• Why MSFT should put Office on every platform :: Uh… because there are something like 6 billion devices in the world and Microsoft is a software company? Just a hunch. But I didn't write the article and the author makes his own point.
• Microsoft's biggest miss :: This article is one of the best I have read in recent memory. Great insight. If true, it's gonna hurt… especially given the next item. Ouch.
• Microsoft’s business division overtakes Windows as company’s primary cash cow; why no Office Metro App? :: Pretty amazing. The division that is Office's home within MSFT is not THE cash cow at Microsoft. What does it mean? It means the times, they-are-a-changin at MSFT. A deeper dive into the the numbers are available here
• The day of the tablet and the beginning of the end for Microsoft :: Nothing like another article foretelling the end of Microsoft. Whatever.

Office tips, tricks & tools

There are lots of T&T&T today. The difference between this section and the Office developer items is that these items do not require code. That's not entirely true. They might include light code that a power user could do. Typically, though, these items are configuration-only. Just follow the directions and improve your life.

• How to share your Outlook calendar, email it and publish to Office Online :: From Ablebits.com, a nice tip from Lauren Scott showing you how to publish your calendar and share with others.
• Sync your Outlook data among multiple PCs :: Do you use Outlook on multiple PCs? Not using Exchange? This tool might help but I offer no guarantees. Buyer beware.
• The SharePoint 2010 checklist for everything you need :: I include this item because it made the sarcastic side of me chuckle. Everything? Does it include a checklist for everything I need? What about this ashtray? or the paddle game? And the remote control? What about the remote control?
• Getting started: SEO for SharePoint :: Are you using SharePoint to run your public-facing website? Improve your search engine results but using the tools and ideas in this article.
• SharePoint search scopes for end users :: Search scopes are nothing more than advanced configuration options for SharePoint search. Make SharePoint search more effective by learning and implementing these concepts.

Office developer items

• Using LinkedIn as an identity provider for SharePoint 2010 :: I've been having some fun on LinkedIn lately. I think it's an interesting social network. I like that is focused on business. I say this headline, read the article, and thought it was a clever concept.
• CKS tools to package columns\content types\lists templates and list instances
• How to update multiple documents in a SharePoint document library with PowerShell

Cutting room floor

I don't know. Just some random items I thought interesting, informative, and/or ingenious.

• What problem does Windows 8 solve?
• The riddle of Microsoft's Ribbon
• Software Pirate :: a great t-shirt with a visual pun fit for us software types
• Geeks vs. Hipsters :: Let's end with an Infographic