 "Five reasons we think Microsoft's Office 2013 is cool")
Microsoft Corp unveiled a new version of its Office suite tailored for tablets and other touch screen devices, in the company’s largest-ever overhaul of the workplace software it relies on for much of its profit.
A preview version of the new Office suite is being made available online here. Microsoft Corp. isn’t saying when it will go on sale or what the price will be. Those details will come in the fall.
Microsoft will continue selling the package as standalone software that can be installed on computers, but the company expects the bulk of users will opt for an Internet-based version, which comes with automatic updates for a recurring subscription fee.
These are some of the coolest features of the new software:
* Touch integration
The new Office 2013 package has a Windows ‘metro’ element to it. (The tile interface used on its touch screen phones and tablets). Tech critics using trial versions of the software say it is extremely user friendly and intuitive.
* Social integration
The new Office also includes integration with Yammer, a social network for businesses, and with Skype, a video chat service. Microsoft agreed last month to buy Yammer for $1.2 billion, while it spent $8.5 billion to buy Skype last year.
[caption id=“attachment_379696” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kirk Koenigbauer, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Office Division at the launch of Office 2013[/caption]
* Write on your screen!
Another cool feature of the software is Inkling, which lets you use a stylus to write on a device’s screen. Handwritten notes are converted automatically to text.
* Bing Maps
Hot on the heels of Apple, and a revamped Google maps, Microsoft looks like its getting on the maps game as well! Bing Maps will be part of the new Outlook email program. If there’s an address in an email, just tap on it to get directions.
* A ‘reading’ mode
A “reading” mode on Word will make it easier to read word-processing documents on a tablet or e-reader. That mode will make the document look more like a book page. You can also embed video into Word documents, or share a document directly on Facebook.
With inputs from AP
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