DailyTech - Microsoft Office 15 Touch Mode Revealed

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Software Microsoft Office 15 Touch Mode Revealed
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 24, 2012 10:22 AM

9 comment(s) - last by Aloonatic.. on Feb 26 at 4:23 AM

Touch Mode is perfect for the hoards of expected Windows 8 tablets

Microsoft is betting that Windows 8 will make for a great operating system for tablet users. There are more than a few analysts that feel the same way and think the coming Microsoft tablets will prove to be quite popular.

But Windows 8 isn’t the only big software coming out of Redmond this year. Microsoft is at work on a new version of Office and ZDNet reports that Office 15 will have a new Touch Mode the specifically sets things up inside the application to make it easier to use on touchscreen devices such as tablets. Touch Mode will also be easier to use on an all-in-one computers that have touch screens.

^{[Source: ZDNet]}

The image associated with this story comes from the Office 15 technical preview and clearly see Touch Mode at the top of the page near the document title. The cool part is that the mode can be toggled on and off so you can buy one version of the software you will work on your device whether it has a touch or not.

Full details on Office 15 aren't available yet, but ZDNet cites sources that claim the goal is to launch the Office 15 client, server, and Office 365 by late 2012. At this point, it's not even clear what the name of the suite will be. Considering a late 2012 launch, it could be called Office 2012 or perhaps Office 2013.

A public beta is expected to launch this summer.

Source: ZDNet

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Ribbon

By chris2618 on 2/24/2012 3:08:18 PM , Rating: 2

I had always thought that was the point of the ribbon interface, bigger icons...etc for use with a touch screen.

RE: Ribbon

By Labotomizer on 2/24/2012 4:13:29 PM , Rating: 2

Microsoft did studies and found that the ideal touch target is 7mm x 7mm at the smallest. So the majority of the ribbon would be good in either mode but some of the smaller options probably change size and orientation in touch mode. I've also heard rumors that instead of the ribbon in touch mode you'll hit the main ribbon heading and a radial of options will pop out from your finger. Then you'd select your option from there.

I personally think the Ribbon interface is great on a desktop and certainly superior than the former for touch but still wasn't perfect. I really think it will rock. There isn't a mobile/touch based office suite that can do anything close to the full suite. This will be the first.

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