Word 2013 reading features detailed

With Office 2013, Microsoft wants not only to improve the writing features of Word but also improve the way people read documents. In a new post on the Office Next blog, Microsoft goes over some details about how they have made documents look and read better in the new Word.

Microsoft unveils OneNote for Metro environment

After Microsoft announced Office 2013 and the Preview going live, the company is now also  previewing a Metro style version of OneNote for Windows 8. While Office 2013 will still be based in the traditional desktop environment, albeit with a Metro-style interface, the company showed off a version of OneNote that will make complete use of the new Metro environment in Windows 8 and Windows RT.

OneNote for Windows 8 includes touch-and-hold radial menus, one-tap search and sharing features with finger-friendly zoom options. Inking is also available for tablets that support pen input. Microsoft's demonstration of the OneNote Metro style app focused on the use of digital ink and a new radial menu which includes commands such as bold, italics, font size, and color options. Microsoft didn't mention when the app will be available either in preview or final version, but we're expecting it to be available at the Windows Store soon.

Office 2013 drops support for Windows XP and Windows Vista

Microsoft wants you to upgrade its legacy products and it looks like they will be using Office to push users to make that transition. According to the Office 2013 Preview FAQ, the new version of Office requires Windows 7 or newer. Dropping support for Vista is surprising considering how long XP was supported, but upgrading to the latest platform has several security benefits anyway and don't forget that in April of 2014, Microsoft will kill support Windows XP.