Apple, Microsoft square off over Mac document collaboration |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
- Mobile payments: Tech titans move in, but consumers still trust banks
- Seattle ranks No. 1 in tech sector job growth
- Comcast follows Google and Intel, takes a hit on Clearwire deal
- Clearwire's stock tanks as Nokia exec calls WiMax a 'niche play'
- Handbag rental service Avelle cuts staff
- ITC sides with Microsoft in Motorola patent infringement case
Mass High Tech
- Microsoft Build: Windows 8 preview a hit, but are investors unhappy?
- Build an app in a day at Mobile App Hackathon
- Beefed-up Skype for Windows; Indie author joins Amazon's 'Kindle Million Club'
- Only solution to Xbox 360 update error is new console
- Ballmer: Windows Phone update 'Mango' has over 500 new features
Apple, Microsoft square off over Mac document collaboration
Microsoft's upcoming Document Collaboration Companion.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple's new iWork.com service will move the Mac further into the market for Internet-based collaboration, letting users of its word-processing and spreadsheet software share and work together on documents online.
Turns out Microsoft is looking to take the Mac in the same direction.
The Redmond company's Mac Business Unit, plans a new "companion" application for Mac Office 2008 to let people share documents through the company's SharePoint and Office Live Workspace collaboration services. The free "Document Collaboration Companion" is expected to be released as a private beta next month, with a final version later this year.
Apple's Pages and Numbers programs, part of the iWork suite, compete with the Mac versions of Word and Excel from Microsoft. Apple executive Phil Schiller unveiled plans for iWork.com today during what's expected to be Apple's final Macworld Expo keynote.
The free beta of iWork.com launched today, in conjunction with Apple's release of iWork '09. Users will click on the iWork.com icon in the Keynote, Pages or Numbers toolbar and sign in to the browser-based service using their Apple IDs. Features include document uploading, sharing, comments and notes. It will work with iWork, Microsoft Office and PDF formats, Apple said.
The service will ultimately cost money, Schiller said, without naming an expected price or final release date. Apple doesn't commonly run public betas, but Schiller said the company expects feedback from customers to shape the product before its final release.
"We're going to find out together all the great things we can do," he said.
Sharepoint is Microsoft's collaboration offering for businesses. Mac users can access Sharepoint currently through Web browsers on their computers, but that causes problems including multiple versions of the same document, said Mike Tedesco, a Microsoft Mac Business Unit senior product manager.
Microsoft's new Document Collaboration Companion will tap into native Sharepoint capabilities including the ability to lock a document when it's checked out, and track who has made changes.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
TechFlash Team
Recent Sponsor Posts
Follow, like, and connect to a broader audience for your company!
The Puget Sound Business Journal announces Social Madness: A Corporate Social Media Challenge, presented by Capital One Spark Business. This a local and national challenge that will spotlight the best social media programs of companies in 43 cities. The local challenge begins (following the nomination period) on June 1, 2012. The promotion will culminate in a national bracket challenge that will crown Social Madness champions in 3 categories based on company size. To see the official rules, visit http://www.socialmadness.com/rules.
For more information on how your company can participate, visit the nomination page here. Nominations are due May 15th.
BizDev Seminar Series - Leadership: Rallying People to a Brighter Future
Join us for this one-of-a-kind seminar series where you hear directly from the experts about hot topics to grow your business.
The skills to be effective as a leader can be learned. What are the skills and attributes needed to be effective top leaders? How do you tell what level your people are at, and what development skills each person needs? Workshop attendees will learn the answers to these questions and more.
Tuesday, May 17, 2012
8:30am - 10:30am
The Harbor Club, Seattle
Register here.
