Microsoft Unveils Browser-Based Office Apps

snydeq writes "Microsoft followed up its Windows Azure unveiling by announcing that it will deliver lightweight versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote through the browser, a la Google Apps. Surprisingly, Office Web applications will run in Firefox and Safari, not just Internet Explorer. Far less shocking: You won't get Office Web apps free and clear as you do Google apps. The apps are meant to be an extension to locally installed instances of the next version of Microsoft Office, the same way Outlook Web Access provides access to mail without the fat Outlook client."

Comments

locally installed?

[Anonymous Coward]

The apps are meant to be an extension to locally installed instances of the next version of Microsoft Office, the same way Outlook Web Access provides access to mail without the fat Outlook client.

Except in order to use Outlook Web Access, I don't need to have a "locally installed instance" of Outlook. I understand where they're going with this, but the example that the author used doesn't seem very apt.

Re:locally installed?

[guruevi]

You need to have a seat (license or CAL as Microsoft calls them) for Exchange for every client that would connect through OWA.

In most situations, clients need three different licenses:

A license for the desktop operating system (i.e., Windows XP).
A client access license (CAL) for the Windows server. This license allows the client to legally connect to the server over the network. If you are using per server licensing, then you need a separate CAL for every Windows server on your network. If you are using per seat licensing, then you only need one CAL.
An Exchange CAL. This is the license that permits the clients to access the Exchange server. At one time, Exchange clients also required a license to use Microsoft Outlook, but today an Outlook license is included with each Exchange CAL.

The rule is that an Exchange CAL is required for any person or device that is accessing Exchange. This includes access through Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Web Access, Outlook Mobile Access, Exchange ActiveSync, or any other messaging interface.

Re:Runs on FF/Safair?

[D4MO]

It's silverlight based, so no. Also, it'll also run in Firefox on Linux via moonlight.

Re:MS Gets it right?

[marcosdumay]

It's an extension of Office in licensing. That means, it is a completely unrelated app, that is browser based (that means, it will also be broadband-dependent) that will only be licenced for your use if you brought a licence of Office.

OWA is an Exchange feature

[Calinous]

it is part of the Exchange email server, it's not part of the Outlook/Office.

Re:MS Gets it right?

[Firehed]

a) Google Gears. Get it. Now.
b) It'd also take down your email and numerous other systems, and as a Slashdotter I assume you have a tech-oriented business that rather relies on internet connectivity so you'd be largely screwed regardless of how you manage your documents.

Re:MS Gets it right?

[zlogic]

Google Gears doesn't allow creating new documents in Google Docs in offline mode. No printing or saving either.

Re:MS Gets it right?

[iamhigh]

They aren't real sure about cloud computer, but they are pretty sure integrating web functionality into their desktop software is a good idea. IMHO I think this is a stepping stone to when you will HAVE to use OfficeLive (or whatever it's called). You will have a bare bones set of functionality on your PC, and NEED the web service to supply most of your features. This will greatly reduce the ability to pirate their best (and most pirated?) software, MS Office. I don't know if it will work, but I firmly believe this is what MS is shooting for.

Re:Runs on FF/Safair?

[D4MO]

Yeah, extended out to the web using a hosted service, run by you or someone else. No they are not providing linux app, they are providing Silverlight/Ajax apps, which will work on Linux with Moonlight. There seems to some confusion regarding the word "extension" and it's scope. You need to be thinking cloud man ;)

Re:Runs on FF/Safair?

[dhavleak]

Its untested, Flash has 12 years behind it.

In those 12 years Flash has proven to be buggy and insecure. Developing for Flash (ActionScript) has been a joke so far.

Its not cross platform. Mention Moonlight and I'll hit you. I cannot type 'emerge moonlight' yet ergo its not anywhere near ready.

1. Violence is never the answer.

2. Typing 'emerge moonlight' is your own arbitrary test for being cross-platform -- it doesn't really mean anything.

3. With the recent exception of Flash 9, Flash has a long history of leaving Linux users in the lurch.

And I'd trust Microsoft for security if my IQ was 50 and I didnt care that much.

That's just typical groupthink regarding MS. Read this. I've seen in the past that people aren't very objective when discussing MS's security track record, so let me just try and summarize by saying that you were correct about 4 years ago -- now, you're just behind the times.

Re:Runs on FF/Safair?

[cheater512]

So your telling me that Moonlight is ready for action, completely stable and on par with Silverlight?

Oh and whats that I see on Slashdot's front page?
*Another* security flaw allowing remote code execution requiring a out of schedule patch release?
With example code floating around?
Groupthink indeed.