So they want me to pay $70 per year, to use a feature reduced version of Word/Excel/Powerpoint: "Within each app, we’ve prioritized the most important features for mobile scenarios." Am I right? So this is NOT comparable to the desktop Office, again?
Btw., as far as I understood, there's no free version at all either: "When you use the apps for personal use, core editing is free and premium features require a qualifying Office 365 subscription" So even on a small Android device, you only have access to 'core editing' features, whatever this means. On large Android devices, you can't do anything at all without a subscription.
A comparison with Softmakers Office HD: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=soft... would be really interesting, especially because Office HD has all Office features for a fraction of the price MS wants for a stripped down version.
Have you used Office on iPad and Android? It seems like you're pooping on it for no reason. I use Word and Excel on my iPad all the time and it is great. It integrates well with OneDrive and meets all my needs for basic document creation.
I'm very happy to have an officially supported Office and Outlook client available on mobile. I'm mostly a Mac, iOS, and Android guy - and it is nice to have a suite to do work that isn't butt ugly or has random incompatibilities with Office documents.
No, I haven't used Office on iPad or Android, because I don't own a 365 subscription. I also don't use Softmaker Office HD, because I own a Nexus 5 only and no Android tablet yet, thus I use WPS Office so far. However I own Office 2010 and use it on a tablet PC regularly.
I don't think I'm pooping on it for no reason. I think my questions are reasonable and worth some further investigation.
There was a bunch of Softmaker Office HD spam on Ars Technica's corresponding Office for Android article. Kind of interesting to see something similar as the top comment here.
Anyway having an active sub to Office 365 gets you Office on your PC or Mac and your tablet, anywhere you go you take Office with you. So it's silly to say you're paying for it for just your tablet. If you need it for the family there's Office Home... up to 5 users, 5 PCs/Macs AND 5 tablets. There's also the massive amount of cloud storage thrown in.
In my case I own the full Office 2010 suite for Windows and there's no reason for me to 'upgrade'. Because I want to have my documents private, I also don't care about cloud storage. So yes, for me it would be just paying for the tablet. That's why I ask for a comparison and for a list of missing features compared to the desktop version.
You're also entitled to a copy for PC or Mac, plus Windows or iPhone apps, plus 1TB of OneDrive, and updates to all those apps.
I signed up for the free Office on iPad apps and there were about 5 features unavailable of which I could live without. In all honesty, the majority of people don't need to pay unless you want Office on a computer or looking for cloud file sharing like OneDrive.
Imagine a world where you use the best tool for the job. Piddling around, iPad. Messing around thinking that you're a techie, Android. Getting work done, Surface Pro 3.
I won't ditch my Surface Pro 2 (or future tablet PCs) for this on Android.
And one thing many overlook, is with desktop versions of OneNote, any Office content is copy-pastable into the pages. I can edit an Excel spreadsheet I copied from Excel into a page in OneNote. I can play a video in OneNote. I can snap a camera shot from say my phone, and instantly place it as content in a OneNote page - and annotate it with my handwriting.
I rather not funnel myself into "mobile" Office, save for a phone (which for very light work is fine to a point).
Just Chromecast your entire display. Then you don't need Chromecast support on individual programs. As far as I know, that wasn't possible until Lollipop, but it works quite well now on my Nexus 7.
It is free with a Microsoft account on Windows phone, iOS devices, and Andriod tablets. It is missing just a couple of features nearly all could live without for the free version. It took MS a little longer to finally roll out the full Android version.
I think the licensing is actually the same for Android (7 to 10") and iOS -- users get free, functional but somewhat limited, versions. With the Office 365 subscription, more features are added.
What do you mean? They're free on iOS. There's no difference in the licensing. All the features that are free in the Android version, at least, possibly more from what I've read.
It's nice to see Microsoft finally rubber stamp Office on Android and it's really good for people left out in the cold without a work-friendly suite because they purchased an Android device, but for people shopping for a new tablet that aren't already in an existing ecosystem (Apple/Android) or who are okay with switching, I'm not sure it's beneficial to go with anything but an x86-based Windows tablet. There are a few that are RAM limited like the Stream 7, but $100 and some wise shopping can get someone a quad core Bay Trail Atom with 2GB of RAM and the ability to run full desktop applications (given some limits on performance expectations and local storage of course) so entering into a pact with Google on Android to deal with all the data that invariably gets mined from the usage of the device is no longer offset by a lower cost of entry. I guess if you already have an Android phone in your pocket, you're already being heavily monitored and monetized so there's that part too.
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UpSpin - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
So they want me to pay $70 per year, to use a feature reduced version of Word/Excel/Powerpoint: "Within each app, we’ve prioritized the most important features for mobile scenarios." Am I right? So this is NOT comparable to the desktop Office, again?Btw., as far as I understood, there's no free version at all either: "When you use the apps for personal use, core editing is free and premium features require a qualifying Office 365 subscription" So even on a small Android device, you only have access to 'core editing' features, whatever this means. On large Android devices, you can't do anything at all without a subscription.
A comparison with Softmakers Office HD: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=soft... would be really interesting, especially because Office HD has all Office features for a fraction of the price MS wants for a stripped down version.
sherifone - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Have you used Office on iPad and Android? It seems like you're pooping on it for no reason. I use Word and Excel on my iPad all the time and it is great. It integrates well with OneDrive and meets all my needs for basic document creation.I'm very happy to have an officially supported Office and Outlook client available on mobile. I'm mostly a Mac, iOS, and Android guy - and it is nice to have a suite to do work that isn't butt ugly or has random incompatibilities with Office documents.
UpSpin - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
No, I haven't used Office on iPad or Android, because I don't own a 365 subscription. I also don't use Softmaker Office HD, because I own a Nexus 5 only and no Android tablet yet, thus I use WPS Office so far. However I own Office 2010 and use it on a tablet PC regularly.I don't think I'm pooping on it for no reason. I think my questions are reasonable and worth some further investigation.
trekinator - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
There was a bunch of Softmaker Office HD spam on Ars Technica's corresponding Office for Android article. Kind of interesting to see something similar as the top comment here.Alexvrb - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Paid adver-posting.Anyway having an active sub to Office 365 gets you Office on your PC or Mac and your tablet, anywhere you go you take Office with you. So it's silly to say you're paying for it for just your tablet. If you need it for the family there's Office Home... up to 5 users, 5 PCs/Macs AND 5 tablets. There's also the massive amount of cloud storage thrown in.
UpSpin - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
In my case I own the full Office 2010 suite for Windows and there's no reason for me to 'upgrade'. Because I want to have my documents private, I also don't care about cloud storage. So yes, for me it would be just paying for the tablet. That's why I ask for a comparison and for a list of missing features compared to the desktop version.Flunk - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Actually, they're free. I don't know where you got $70 from.Flunk - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
"Premium Features" are cloud-based services.UpSpin - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
Thanks, on the MS blog post they haven't clarified what 'premium features' meant.eanazag - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
You're also entitled to a copy for PC or Mac, plus Windows or iPhone apps, plus 1TB of OneDrive, and updates to all those apps.I signed up for the free Office on iPad apps and there were about 5 features unavailable of which I could live without. In all honesty, the majority of people don't need to pay unless you want Office on a computer or looking for cloud file sharing like OneDrive.
damianrobertjones - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
Imagine a world where you use the best tool for the job. Piddling around, iPad. Messing around thinking that you're a techie, Android. Getting work done, Surface Pro 3.melgross - Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - link
Softmakers gets terrible reviews. I wouldn't consider it if I were you.Imaginer - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Good and all.I won't ditch my Surface Pro 2 (or future tablet PCs) for this on Android.
And one thing many overlook, is with desktop versions of OneNote, any Office content is copy-pastable into the pages. I can edit an Excel spreadsheet I copied from Excel into a page in OneNote. I can play a video in OneNote. I can snap a camera shot from say my phone, and instantly place it as content in a OneNote page - and annotate it with my handwriting.
I rather not funnel myself into "mobile" Office, save for a phone (which for very light work is fine to a point).
Granseth - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
I wonder if they have cromecast support, or will have in near future. Would like very much to have wireless powerpoint presentation.dullard - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Just Chromecast your entire display. Then you don't need Chromecast support on individual programs. As far as I know, that wasn't possible until Lollipop, but it works quite well now on my Nexus 7.Granseth - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
thx, good plan :) Have to try it outOldeb0y - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
So it's free to use for 7-10" tablets on android, but for IOS you have to pay for a subscription even with the ipad mini? Why??Flunk - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Apple Tax.But seriously, that sucks.
melgross - Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - link
He's either truly ignorant, or deliberately spreading fud.eanazag - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
It is free with a Microsoft account on Windows phone, iOS devices, and Andriod tablets. It is missing just a couple of features nearly all could live without for the free version. It took MS a little longer to finally roll out the full Android version.GrayTwig - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
I think the licensing is actually the same for Android (7 to 10") and iOS -- users get free, functional but somewhat limited, versions. With the Office 365 subscription, more features are added.melgross - Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - link
What do you mean? They're free on iOS. There's no difference in the licensing. All the features that are free in the Android version, at least, possibly more from what I've read.HisDivineOrder - Thursday, January 29, 2015 - link
Moments like this are why people who question whether one should ever own an Intel-based Android tablet are justified.Michael Bay - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
Make that just android and I agree.iPad experience is much smoother overall, and for work there are win machines.
defter - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
Is this a real Office that can be used offline? Or just some 365 crap.damianrobertjones - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
I was under the impression that you can also use 365 online. Have you used 365?melgross - Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - link
Offline.hrrmph - Friday, January 30, 2015 - link
Looks like it is being blocked on devices that were purchased outside of the US.melgross - Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - link
Of course, if you guys find Google's offerings less than useful, and Office to be distasteful, you can look into what's being done with Libreoffice:http://www.infoworld.com/article/2878654/open-sour...
BrokenCrayons - Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - link
It's nice to see Microsoft finally rubber stamp Office on Android and it's really good for people left out in the cold without a work-friendly suite because they purchased an Android device, but for people shopping for a new tablet that aren't already in an existing ecosystem (Apple/Android) or who are okay with switching, I'm not sure it's beneficial to go with anything but an x86-based Windows tablet. There are a few that are RAM limited like the Stream 7, but $100 and some wise shopping can get someone a quad core Bay Trail Atom with 2GB of RAM and the ability to run full desktop applications (given some limits on performance expectations and local storage of course) so entering into a pact with Google on Android to deal with all the data that invariably gets mined from the usage of the device is no longer offset by a lower cost of entry. I guess if you already have an Android phone in your pocket, you're already being heavily monitored and monetized so there's that part too.