Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Google Cloud Connect plug-in connects Microsoft Office to your Google Docs]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/google-cloud-connect-plug-in-connects-microsoft-office-to-your-g/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/google-cloud-connect-plug-in-connects-microsoft-office-to-your-g/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/google-cloud-connect-plug-in-connects-microsoft-office-to-your-g/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As fast as Google Docs has been growing, many people are still unwilling to abandon their desktop office software and take to the cloud. Well, Google just made it easier with Cloud Connect, a new Microsoft Office plug-in that connects Word, PowerPoint and Excel to Google Docs. That means anything you do in Office will be saved in the cloud using your Google Docs account.

Cloud Connect actually works where Microsoft's online collaboration software doesn't (yet). For example, Cloud Connect works across different versions of Office, and includes Excel support. Also, anyone who's shared files using Google Docs knows how easy it is compared to setting up SharePoint.

Instead of forcing the switch to Google's own Web apps, Google is letting businesses have their Office and share it too. Sounds like a solid strategy to convince Office users that Google is the way to go for online collaboration, before Microsoft can even finish getting its cloud services off the ground.

Right now, a preview of Cloud Connect is only available via limited signup to Google Apps for Business customers, but it will be available for everyone -- individual users included -- when it launches.

Download SquadGoogle Cloud Connect plug-in connects Microsoft Office to your Google Docs originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud connectCloudConnectgooglegoogle docsGoogleDocsmicrosoftofficepluginMon, 22 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac is significantly faster than 2008/2004]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/18/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-is-significantly-faster-than-2008-2004/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/18/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-is-significantly-faster-than-2008-2004/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/18/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-is-significantly-faster-than-2008-2004/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Microsoft Office 2011 benchmarking

The bods over at MacTech have been putting the Microsoft Business Unit's latest Mac offering, Office 2011, though its metaphorical paces, and have found that, on the whole, it's significantly faster than its previous siblings Office 2008 and 2004. App launches are around 70% faster from cold and 98% faster on relaunch, a noticeable and welcome improvement for the user. That's not all, common tasks in the big four applications, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, have also been streamlined giving an average speed up of between 36 and 129%.

The usual disclaimer is in force here -- measured by a stop watch, might not be accurate, etc -- but MacTech was adamant that on the face of it, the whole Office suite for Mac has seen real-world speed improvements that directly affect the user, something to which we can personally attest. Impressive stuff indeed, and when combined with ditching Entourage for Outlook, Office 2011 makes a worthy upgrade.

[via 9to5Mac]

Download SquadMicrosoft Office 2011 for Mac is significantly faster than 2008/2004 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macMacTechmicrosoftofficeos xosxThu, 18 Nov 2010 05:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Lync 2010 replaces Microsoft Office Communications Server for workplace collaboration]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-lync-2010-office-communications/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-lync-2010-office-communications/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-lync-2010-office-communications/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

microsoft lync 2010 conferencing screenshot
Microsoft's workplace collaboration tool, Office Communications Server, just got a big upgrade and a new, less stuffy name: Microsoft Lync 2010. Like OCS, Lync connects the various Microsoft services in a workplace, including Office, Exchange email and Sharepoint storage. It's also a hub for instant messenging, voice calls and video calls.

The major new stuff in Lync 2010 includes enterprise voice calling that's compatible with various USB and IP devices, and could theoretically do the job of your office's legacy phone system. Contact lists are now unified across your Microsoft applications, so you can use your contacts in both Lync and your office apps. Lync also includes new conferencing features, like desktop and app sharing (including PowerPoint sharing and whiteboarding).

The last big Microsoft OCS release was back in 2007, although it got a service pack last year. Lync 2010 represents a huge leap forward in functionality that looks like it actually belongs in a 2010 office environment. There's an insane amount of info on new features, including several demo videos, at the Microsoft Lync 2010 launch page.

Download SquadMicrosoft Lync 2010 replaces Microsoft Office Communications Server for workplace collaboration originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conferencinglynclync 2010Lync2010microsoftmicrosoft lync 2010MicrosoftLync2010officeWed, 17 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 beta has been made available to testers]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/microsoft-office-2010-service-pack-1-beta-has-been-made-availabl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft Office 2010 SP1 Beta

Microsoft has made the first beta of Office 2010 Service Pack 1 available to testers. This is not a publicly released beta, and probably never will be -- it is ready for download by those who Microsoft has invited to test it and people who have registered to test it via Microsoft's Connect beta testing portal. The version number for this beta is 14.0.6011.1000.

It doesn't boast any new features, for it is merely a collection of bug fixes and various enhancements and improvements -- so you aren't missing anything by not having access to it. You will, of course, be able to install the finalized SP1 when it's ready via Windows Update. The service pack should add stability and performance to what is already Microsoft's fastest-selling consumer version of Office in history.

[via Winrumors]

Download SquadMicrosoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1 beta has been made available to testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaMicrosoftmicrosoft officemicrosoft office 2010Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 1MicrosoftOfficeMicrosoftOffice2010MicrosoftOffice2010ServicePack1officeoffice 2010Office 2010 SP1 betaOffice2010Office2010Sp1BetaWed, 17 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs gets mobile editing support on Android 2.2 and iOS]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-gets-mobile-editing-support-on-android-2-2-and-ios/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-gets-mobile-editing-support-on-android-2-2-and-ios/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-gets-mobile-editing-support-on-android-2-2-and-ios/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Google Docs mobile editorGoogle has just announced that it has started rolling out mobile editing support for Google Docs. The roll-out will take a few days and when it reaches you, you'll be able to edit documents in Google Docs by simply pointing your mobile browser to docs.google.com and clicking on Edit while viewing the document you wish to make changes to.

This feature will only be accessible for owners of devices running Android 2.2 or newer and iOS 3.0 or newer (including the iPad). The only language supported at first will be English, with more options to come in the future. A demo video of how the new feature works is waiting for you after the jump.

Continue reading Google Docs gets mobile editing support on Android 2.2 and iOS

Download SquadGoogle Docs gets mobile editing support on Android 2.2 and iOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddocumentdocumentsediteditingeditoreditorsgoogle docsGoogleDocsipadiphoneofficeproductivityWed, 17 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs adds LaTeX support, customizable autocorrect]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-adds-latex-support-customizable-autocorrect/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-adds-latex-support-customizable-autocorrect/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/17/google-docs-adds-latex-support-customizable-autocorrect/#commentsFiled under: ,

The official Google Docs blog has announced a handful of new features, including LaTeX equation support, the option to place images in spreadsheet cells, and automatic corrections.

LaTeX is a fairly significant addition, since it should greatly improve Google Docs' spreadsheet muscle. While that alone won't pull it even with Excel, it's certainly a step in the right direction. Image insertion is as also a nice addition, and it's as simple as popping image=(URL) into a cell. You can also use Google Image search to insert files which are marked for re-use with modification.

Autocorrect is an extremely handy addition -- especially since you can use it for more than fixing up typographical errors. Google allows you to add your own corrections, so you can also use Docs autocorrect as a text expander -- to turn ffx into Firefox, for example. Pair autocorrect up with Google Scribe, and it won't be long before Google just types your whole doc for you.

Download SquadGoogle Docs adds LaTeX support, customizable autocorrect originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocorrectdocsexpansiongooglegoogle docsGoogleDocsofficetextWed, 17 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Acrobat X Standard and Pro now available for trial and purchase]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/adobe-acrobat-x-standard-and-pro-now-available-for-trial-and-pur/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/adobe-acrobat-x-standard-and-pro-now-available-for-trial-and-pur/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/adobe-acrobat-x-standard-and-pro-now-available-for-trial-and-pur/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Adobe Acrobat X

Adobe's latest update to its professional PDF authoring solution, Acrobat X, is now available to download and purchase. Bringing Acrobat in line with the rest of the updated Adobe PDF universe, this update brings with it a couple of new program features and tighter integration into the Acrobat.com working environment.

New guided 'Actions' allow you to automate repetitive tasks, and more importantly, share user created pre-defined routines across several users or computers. The use of Actions could enable an automated document creation system, implemented by experienced users or IT professionals, and made available for everyone else in the company. Adobe's also rolled in a bit of Microsoft SharePoint integration, featuring checking in and out of documents for review or editing, allowing better, more controlled document collaboration. PDF Portfolios also makes an entrance with unified layouts, visual themes and color palettes, helping maintain document uniformity similar to templates and color schemes in other Office suites. Speaking of Office, PDF files can now be saved as Word or Excel files for further editing, a nice feature if you want to send a document to a colleague without access to the Acrobat suite.

There's not a lot in there for your average user, but then again Acrobat X is aimed at institutions, business and education. Two versions of Acrobat X are now available, with Acrobat X Standard setting you back $299 standalone, or $139 upgrade, and Acrobat X Pro taking $449, or $199 for an upgrade, out of your budget. The Acrobat X Suite is expected to arrive by the end of the month for the not inconsiderable sum of $1199, or $799 for an upgrade. Ouch.

Download SquadAdobe Acrobat X Standard and Pro now available for trial and purchase originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcrobatAcrobat XAcrobatXAdobeAdobe AcrobatAdobe Acrobat XAdobeAcrobatAdobeAcrobatXcommercialPDFTue, 16 Nov 2010 05:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Zoho Support adds a Help Desk to its Web-based office suite]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/zoho-support-adds-a-help-desk-to-its-web-based-office-suite/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/zoho-support-adds-a-help-desk-to-its-web-based-office-suite/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/zoho-support-adds-a-help-desk-to-its-web-based-office-suite/#commentsFiled under: ,

Zoho -- the popular Web-based office suite -- has added another component to its customer support offerings. In addition to Zoho Assist, their Java-based remote assistance app, the company is now offering Zoho Support, a full-featured help desk application.

Support packs tons of essential features, from managing customer requests and contracts to maintaining tasks and contacts. There's also a powerful reporting feature so you can analyze your Support data. It's an excellent option for small or medium-sized businesses who need a way to track customer issues and problem resolutions. Access to the core help desk functionality is free for one help desk user and up to 25 incidents per month -- which might not seem like a lot, but should suffice for small-time freelancers. Paid plans start at $12 per month per user.

Want to see Zoho Support in action? Check out the official preview video after the break.

Continue reading Zoho Support adds a Help Desk to its Web-based office suite

Download SquadZoho Support adds a Help Desk to its Web-based office suite originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CRMEhelp deskHelpDeskofficesupport portalSupportPortalwebcomiczohoSat, 13 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Docs.com now supports Facebook Groups, makes office work more social]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/docs-com-now-supports-facebook-groups-makes-office-work-more-so/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/docs-com-now-supports-facebook-groups-makes-office-work-more-so/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/13/docs-com-now-supports-facebook-groups-makes-office-work-more-so/#commentsFiled under: ,

Facebook is making a major announcement on Monday, and while nothing is certain at this point it seems very likely that they could be unveiling Project Titan -- Facebook's take on Web-based email. Also a good bet: this new email platform will tightly integrate with Docs.com, which Microsoft and Facebook opened to beta testers earlier this year.

With all the hubbub about email, an update on the Docs.com blog went largely unnoticed -- and it's potentially huge news. Docs.com now supports Facebook Groups, meaning you can easily share Word, Excel and PowerPoint files with other group members. Collaboration can also be enabled, allowing users to edit each other's documents. The applications are manifold -- from a teacher sharing assignments with students (who probably all have Facebook accounts already) to groups like the Download Squad team sharing spreadsheets and slideshows.

Microsoft's Pat Kinsel calls Facebook Groups integration a "giant step toward our vision for social productivity." It's also a huge step in turning Facebook into something more than a place to play FarmVille, chat, and share party photos. If Docs.com and Facebook continue their current course, the combined platform will become a formidable opponent for services like Zoho and Google Docs.

Facebook in the office? Administrators unblocking Facebook.com from their firewall boxes so staff can do work? The Crazy Train has left the station.

Download SquadDocs.com now supports Facebook Groups, makes office work more social originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collaborationdocs.comfacebookgroupsmicrosoftsocial networkingSocialNetworkingSat, 13 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac gets update two weeks after debut]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-gets-update-two-weeks-after-debut/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-gets-update-two-weeks-after-debut/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/10/microsoft-office-2011-for-mac-gets-update-two-weeks-after-debut/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Office 2011 for Mac

Not more than two weeks out of the gate, Microsoft has already released its first update for Office 2011 for Mac. A bug fix release, the update will take 110.5 MB of your precious hard disk space, but should stop unexpected quits and hangs. Some specific applications get a bit more attention -- Excel gets an update to its handling of revised data for formulae, plus improvements to the FORMAT macro command reliability. Inserting equations into that valuable, time consuming report should be a bit more stable in Word. PowerPoint gets improved compatibility with 2007 and 2010 creations. Last but not least, the fledgling Outlook for Mac also gets some attention, with better Keychain integration for new account imports and reliability fixes to make sure deletions across multiple IMAP accounts stay deleted.

Pretty dry all round, but what do you expect from a point release to Office? It's a free update for all those with Office 2011 for Mac and is available through Microsoft Autoupdate or direct from the Microsoft Download Center.

[Via TUAW]

Download SquadMicrosoft Office 2011 for Mac gets update two weeks after debut originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MacMicrosoftOfficeOffice 2011Office2011updateWed, 10 Nov 2010 05:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs will soon have third party apps, cloud printing and sync]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-cloud-printing-sync/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-cloud-printing-sync/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-cloud-printing-sync/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Google Docs upcoming features

Three upcoming Google Docs features have been uncovered today by way of digging through the site's source code. These are support for third party applications (built on top of Docs), cloud printing, and sync.

Cloud printing is the one that has been known about for quite a while, but in Chrome and Chrome OS context. Limited support for it has been baked into Chromium for the past month, and it makes sense that Google would want to take its Cloud Print initiative to Docs as well.

As for the other two features, not much is known about them at this point, but we can speculate. Third party apps could quickly bring missing features to Google Docs, such as editing PDFs, maybe even images and videos. Sync is a little bit intriguing, but if done right, it could end up being an interesting alternative to Microsoft's Live Mesh 2011. Especially considering the support for uploading more and more file types to Google Docs.

[via Google Operating System]

Download SquadGoogle Docs will soon have third party apps, cloud printing and sync originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud printcloud printingCloudPrintCloudPrintinggooglegoogle cloud printgoogle docsgoogle docs appsgoogle docs syncGoogleCloudPrintGoogleDocsGoogleDocsAppsGoogleDocsSyncTue, 02 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs and Google Sites get version history and better sharing options]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-and-google-sites-get-version-history-and-better-shar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-and-google-sites-get-version-history-and-better-shar/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/02/google-docs-and-google-sites-get-version-history-and-better-shar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Docs and Google Sites have just been updated with a handful of new features. Docs now has a version history option, Sites now lets you add drop-down menu navigation to your pages, and the "sharing settings" screen has been unified across both Docs and Sites.

You can access version history in Google Docs by choosing the "Add or manage versions" option on any file. That will let you upload a new version of the document or recover a previous version from the history. The settings for adding drop-down menus to your horizontal navigation bar in Google Sites can be found in more actions > manage site > site layout.

As far as sharing settings, Google Sites now has the same privacy options that were added to Google Docs over the summer. You can share your sites with everyone, anyone with the link (this option will keep search engines from indexing your sites), or just the people you explicitly approve.

Download SquadGoogle Docs and Google Sites get version history and better sharing options originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle docsgoogle sitesGoogleDocsGoogleSitesversion historyVersionHistoryTue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Microsoft Office alternative Lotus Symphony hits version 3]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/free-microsoft-office-alternative-lotus-symphony-hits-version-3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/free-microsoft-office-alternative-lotus-symphony-hits-version-3/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/free-microsoft-office-alternative-lotus-symphony-hits-version-3/#commentsFiled under: ,



You may not have heard of Lotus Symphony before -- IBM's OpenOffice remix doesn't grab too many headlines. It is, however, a very capable alternative to Oracle's free offering and Microsoft Office.

Recently, IBM announced the release of Symphony version 3, and the new release is packed with useful updates. One of the most noticeable changes is the new menu sidebars, which are an excellent fit for widescreen monitors. The new menus are customizable, and provide quick access to text formatting, clip art, and a document navigator. Sections can be collapsed, and the whole sidebar can be hidden with a single click.

Symphony 3 sports numerous other enhancements as well -- from enhanced PDF support and a new clip art gallery, to multi-monitor support in Lotus Presentations. Symphony's tabbed interface is still present, and remains one of its best features.

Lotus Symphony 3 is a free download from IBM, and is definitely worth a test drive if you're searching for a free replacement for Microsoft Office.

[via The H]

Download SquadFree Microsoft Office alternative Lotus Symphony hits version 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freelotus symphony 3LotusSymphony3microsoft officeMicrosoftOfficeopenofficeThu, 28 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs gets new chart editor and some new chart types]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/google-docs-gets-new-chart-editor-and-some-new-chart-types/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/google-docs-gets-new-chart-editor-and-some-new-chart-types/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/google-docs-gets-new-chart-editor-and-some-new-chart-types/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Google Docs new chart editor

A new chart editor is now available for the spreadsheet tool inside Google Docs, along with some new chart types to choose from.

The most noteworthy feature additions to the chart editor are that it now automatically recommends chart types based on the data, matches data labels and headers, automatically selects colors, gives you more control over imagery, has advanced visualizations and a full size preview pane -- and gives you the ability to embed dynamically updating charts across the Web.

New chart types include annotated timelines, organizational charts, gauges, and a motion chart. Existing charts have received a makeover, and they should now have a more professional look and feel, complete with new colors, an improved layout and more customization options.

The new chart editor can be taken for a spin by going to goo.gl/newcharts. You can learn more about it by going through these help articles. A demo video is available after the break.

Continue reading Google Docs gets new chart editor and some new chart types

Download SquadGoogle Docs gets new chart editor and some new chart types originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartsgooglegoogle docsgoogle spreadsheetgoogle spreadsheetsGoogleDocsGoogleSpreadsheetGoogleSpreadsheetsTue, 26 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac now available]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/microsoft-office-2011-mac-released/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/microsoft-office-2011-mac-released/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/microsoft-office-2011-mac-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Microsoft has officially released the retail version of Office 2011 for Mac. This update to the popular software suite includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Messenger, and adds Outlook to the Mac version of Office for the first time. Microsoft's cloud focus is evident in Office 2011, with Office Web app integration, cloud storage via Skydrive and networked file sharing with SharePoint. Design nerds will appreciate that it also comes with brand-new icons, created by product design firm Frog.

Prices for Office Mac 2011 are $119 for a single-license Home and Student edition, $149 for a Home and Student Edition Family Pack (3 licenses), $199 for a single-license Home and Business Edition, or $279 for 2 licenses, and a mere $99 for the Academic Edition. If you can't find Office Mac 2011 near you, you can still buy Office Mac 2008 before November 30 and get a free upgrade to Office for Mac 2011.

According to the official Office for Mac Blog, retailers that should have Office for Mac 2011 today include Apple, Amazon.com, Best Buy, MacMall.com and, of course, Microsoft's site.


Download SquadMicrosoft Office 2011 for Mac now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialmacmicrosoftofficeoffice for mac 2011OfficeForMac2011outlookTue, 26 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Docs finally gets drag-and-drop image support]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/google-docs-finally-gets-drag-and-drop-image-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/google-docs-finally-gets-drag-and-drop-image-support/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/google-docs-finally-gets-drag-and-drop-image-support/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Adding images to your Google Docs documents just got easier, thanks to some long-awaited drag-and-drop support. Docs users with current versions of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari can now drag images from your desktop right into a document. Google Docs already offered a few ways to get an image into a document -- browse your hard drive, enter a URL, or use Google Image search -- but none of them had the simplicity of drag-and-drop.

Google says that other browsers will get the feature as soon as they support it. I'm not sure why it wouldn't work on IE9 -- unless it's part of the ongoing battle between Docs and Microsoft Office -- but I'm betting drag-and-drop will hit Microsoft's browser sooner rather than later.

Download SquadGoogle Docs finally gets drag-and-drop image support originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drag and dropDragAndDropgooglegoogle docsGoogleDocshtml5imagesWed, 20 Oct 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces next stage of cloud strategy: Office 365]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/19/microsoft-announces-office-365-beta-sign-ups-begin-today/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/19/microsoft-announces-office-365-beta-sign-ups-begin-today/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/19/microsoft-announces-office-365-beta-sign-ups-begin-today/#commentsFiled under: , ,

office365

If the screenshot above seems a bit grainy, it's because I snapped it off of a live video that Microsoft has just finished streaming. It was a 30-minute event announcing Office 365, which is a very bold foray into the cloud for Microsoft. Some of the highlights of the announcement:

  • Full access to Microsoft Word and Excel -- plus video conferencing, quick-setup website, intranet, extranet, and more
  • Subscription-based -- from $2-$27 per month per user, with the average small-business user coming in at $6/month
  • Single-sign on - log on to your PC (or phone), and you're logged onto the entire system
  • IT administrators have almost full control -- just like local installations, the administrator will be able to configure how a user can interact with the system

Microsoft's idea for enterprises is that the whole place would run on a single platform; so the CTO will use the exact same system and infrastructure as the guys down at the mail room, but each user will only get "what they need" (which explains the wide price range).

It sure sounds interesting, but I'm afraid I can't show you any in-product screenshots yet because this is an announcement rather than a launch. The product will be generally available sometime in 2011, but beta signups do begin today over at office365.com. Just to show you how fresh off the press this is (or how unprepared Microsoft is), the Office365.com website isn't even ready yet - as of this writing, it still hosts the website for an IT company from Melbourne, which was apparently the domain's previous owner.

At any rate, Microsoft says that both large organizations and tiny businesses can benefit from Office365, so if any of this sounds interesting, go sign up for the beta! (It should be up from 3PM EST, but we'll see!)

Download SquadMicrosoft announces next stage of cloud strategy: Office 365 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacloudmicrosoftofficeoffice365Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe unveils Acrobat X plus Adobe Reader for Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry Tablet OS]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/adobe-unveils-acrobat-x-plus-adobe-reader-for-windows-phone-7-and-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/adobe-unveils-acrobat-x-plus-adobe-reader-for-windows-phone-7-and-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/adobe-unveils-acrobat-x-plus-adobe-reader-for-windows-phone-7-and-blackberry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This morning, Adobe announced the latest iteration to their Acrobat platform, Acrobat X. Products getting the bump to Acrobat 10 include, Adobe Reader, Acrobat Suite, and Acrobat Pro and Standard. Most of these will probably ship around the beginning of December given that their free shipping promotion for pre-orders ends on the 30th of November. Adobe Reader X will be available for free download next month, bringing with it support for even more complex PDF files.

According to the announcement, highlights for the Acrobat X family include support for PDF files with greater content types, such as videos, drawings, spreadsheets, email messages, and many other multimedia elements, which will all be interactive. You'll also be able to make and share notes on a PDF, use a "Protected Mode" within Reader (which should help protect you against malicious PDF files), and directly access Acrobat.com services from within the application. There's no mention of speed improvements, but with all that added content support, I doubt Adobe Reader X will be any less of a behemoth than Reader 9.

Adobe also touts "Expanded PDF access via mobile devices with free Adobe Reader for Android, Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry Tablet OS" in its announcement, indicating that Adobe has mobile versions of Reader in the works for the brand new WP7 and RIM's yet to be released BlackBerry Tablet OS, which will join the already available Adobe Reader for Android.

Download SquadAdobe unveils Acrobat X plus Adobe Reader for Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry Tablet OS originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrobatacrobat Xacrobat.comAcrobatXadobeadobe acrobatAdobe Acrobat XAdobe Readeradobe reader XAdobeAcrobatAdobeAcrobatXAdobeReaderAdobeReaderXpdfreaderMon, 18 Oct 2010 04:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Docs for Facebook adds full text document search, PDF support, user templates, and bulk uploads]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/14/docs-for-facebook-adds-full-text-document-search-pdf-support-u/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/14/docs-for-facebook-adds-full-text-document-search-pdf-support-u/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/14/docs-for-facebook-adds-full-text-document-search-pdf-support-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Docs for Facebook

Docs for Facebook is the Microsoft-made online document sharing and editing suite that launched as a lead partner of Facebook's Instant Personalization feature. (And it has a killer domain name: Docs.com.)

Today, it's gotten a nice round of updates. First off, full text document search is now available. To address the possibility of having a bazillion results show up for more generic terms, they're using a bit of Facebook-powered social mojo. As well as sorting results by relevance, Docs will also sort by other criteria such as your (Facebook) relationship to the author and the number of "likes" that each document has received. The search results page has also been redesigned, and the performance of search suggestions has improved.

Next up is PDF support. You can now upload PDFs to Docs.com, which are then viewable online via an integrated Silverlight-based viewer. And just like all other file types on Facebook Docs, these are shareable with your Facebook friends.

Also new is the fact that any document can now become a user-generated template. There's just an option that you need to turn on, and viewers of a specific document can make it into a template for themselves.

Last, but definitely not least, Docs finally has a drag-and-drop bulk upload tool. For it to work, though, you're going to need Silverlight 4 or newer installed.

Download SquadDocs for Facebook adds full text document search, PDF support, user templates, and bulk uploads originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>docsdocs.comfacebookfacebook docsFacebookDocsinstant personalizationInstantPersonalizationMicrosoftofficeThu, 14 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 to get SkyDrive integration?]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/windows-phone-7-to-get-skydrive-integration/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/windows-phone-7-to-get-skydrive-integration/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/13/windows-phone-7-to-get-skydrive-integration/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fancy a bit of cloud storage on your future Windows Phone 7 device? Not a corporate drone? Well you might be in luck if the rumors reported by LiveSide hold any truth to them. Apparently the Office Hub, which at the moment just supports corporate based SharePoint Workspace document sync, will get sync support for Windows Live SkyDrive in a January update.

This would allow you to sync any Office supported document from the cloud and back for editing on your WP7 device. Lots of other devices, including WP7's closest competitors, support similar cloud sync services like Dropbox or even Google Docs -- although you have to resort to third-party apps to get something akin to SkyDrive sync support. It would certainly make sense for Microsoft to build native support for SkyDrive into WP7, given that WP7 isn't solely aimed at the corporate market, and its Office Web Apps are already available for use on the cloud storage service. Still, treat this as a rumor until otherwise proven correct.

Download SquadWindows Phone 7 to get SkyDrive integration? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Office HubOfficeHubSharePointskydrivewindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7WP7 Office HubWp7OfficeHubWed, 13 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST