Office 15: What's Microsoft's new mystery application?

[JMH]

There are reports that a new early build of Microsoft’s Office 15 have escaped the Redmond halls. More interesting than the mere existence of these pre-alpha build, however, is another mention of a new application that will become part of Microsoft’s next-generation Office suite.

Despite the fact Microsoft only began shipping Office 14 (a k a, Office 2010) a couple of months ago, an August 20 Softpedia report (via the Russian website Wzor) claims there’s a new Office 15 build floating around.

Softpedia’s report also includes something near and dear to this Microsoft watcher’s heart: a new codename. “Microsoft Limestone Integration Application” (also known as “Microsoft Lime”) is a new application development element that will be part of Office 15, according to information that allegedly is part of the newly leaked build. (Update: One of my contacts says Lime is just a user-interface utility for Office, and probably not considered a new application in and of itself. But it still sounds like there is a new Office 15 app coming. Read on….)

Stephen Chapman noted on his Microsoft Kitchen site, back in early June this year, that there were indications Microsoft was planning to add a new application to its coming Office suite. Chapman connected the dots and discovered a mention of “a major new feature” coming to Office 15 via a LinkedIn profile of a former Microsoft intern. That intern worked on the Excel team.

More -
Office 15: What's Microsoft's new mystery application? | ZDNet

 

[Lordbob75]

You know, a "front" face menu for all the office applications might not be a bad idea or way to do it.

I don't know how needed it is, but they could make it have some nice features.

~Lordbob

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I'm NOT sure what they could do to make office any better -- you can already automatically call any office document by just opening the appropriate document or creating a new one.

Depending on the type of document then the approprate application will be called.

There are probably only two areas that possbly need enhancing -- one is for better embedding of Multimedia within an application - especially for Powerpoint presentations, and another is probably a re-write of Access which for even a simple database system tends to be not very robust.

Maybe also some easy HTML editor two so web sites and pages can be really easily created.

Otherwise Office seems JUST FINE -- I can't imagine what extra functionality it needs.

While we are on this a plea to MS -- PLEASE BRING BACK NETMEETING -- the old XP application was great -- the commercial offerings these days are a) NOT AS GOOD and b) cost money.

I'm still using Netmeeting via a Virtual XP machine --still works a treat and especially the Shared desktops feature when you are collaborating with people at a remote location.

(Unless you have ACTUALLY USED NETMEETING please don't suggest alternatives -- I can assure you NONE OF THESE are remotely equivalent to the functionality of Netmeeting -- those of you that HAVE used Netmeeting will understand what I am on about here).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[fireberd]

The next generation of any software project is always being worked on even as a new version is released for sale, there may even be work on 2 new generations of Office. I don't think an application launch menu is really needed. They had that in Microsoft Works and I never used it there - just went to the Works application I needed. Same way now, if I need Word, I launch Word.

 

[DirtRider]

Well the way things are going with MS programs and the high prices I am getting sick and tired of having to fork out money every few months on new developments. I hung around using Office 2003 as long as I could now I get 2010 and a new one is on the way. No wonder people go the pirate route with these programs

 

[CreepinJesus]

Well the way things are going with MS programs and the high prices I am getting sick and tired of having to fork out money every few months on new developments. I hung around using Office 2003 as long as I could now I get 2010 and a new one is on the way. No wonder people go the pirate route with these programs

Not trying to start anything here, but do you fork out for a new car each time they release a new model?

Although I can see what you're getting at... every time there's something new out I start twitching... I sleep better knowing I'm "up to date"!

 

[chrisjw37]

They don't compete with:

• Photoshop
• Dreamweaver

My guess is they are going to beat up Adobe

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
One Office App that they could add would be a DECENT PDF creator integrated into Word say.

Most people mistakenly think PDF is an ADOBE proprietary format --not true it's actually a now an OPEN Format. It WAS originally designed by ADOBE but is now in the public domain. (Released in July 2008 to the ISO).

Portable Document Format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Being able to create decent Interactive PDF forms without having to use the really EXPENSIVE ADOBE ACROBAT / CS5 SUITE or doing the same stuff as ADOBE Life Cycle designer without needing a big backend system like SAP etc would be really useful to loads of smaller organisations.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[CreepinJesus]

They don't compete with:

• Photoshop
• Dreamweaver

My guess is they are going to beat up Adobe

Expression Web is sort of in that region already, but you could be on to something with Photoshop!

 

[Lordbob75]

Hi there
One Office App that they could add would be a DECENT PDF creator integrated into Word say.

Most people mistakenly think PDF is an ADOBE proprietary format --not true it's actually a now an OPEN Format. It WAS originally designed by ADOBE but is now in the public domain. (Released in July 2008 to the ISO).

Portable Document Format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Being able to create decent Interactive PDF forms without having to use the really EXPENSIVE ADOBE ACROBAT / CS5 SUITE or doing the same stuff as ADOBE Life Cycle designer without needing a big backend system like SAP etc would be really useful to loads of smaller organisations.

Cheers
jimbo

This. +1000000

~Lordbob

 

[DarkDavil]

Just a-little tip to all of you leak junkies. Just head over to wzor's site (won't post links), and to login, click the GIANT KY! thingy in the middle of the page, then type in demo as username, and demo as password. Then you're in. Translate the page using Google Translate or something. There-ya go! Done!

EDIT: Btw, dunno if it's already on the news article, but Lime much?
EDIT: I have screen's!! On Wzor's site, it says:

Company Microsoft has started in August 2010 to actively work to create a new, 15th version of office software packages MICROSOFT OFFICE 1915 (2014), has already collected on the basis of 2,010 office preliminary (pre-Alfa) internal assembly: MSO_v15_1, MSO_v15_2.
For security reasons we will not let you build rooms inside as well as not give the detailed screen shots, and do not plan to publish the internal assembly of the network.
Nevertheless, I note that in this assembly there is a new element of application development "Microsoft Limestone Application Integration" or simply Microsoft Lime.
Activate pre-corporate (Volume) assembly was with KMS activator.
No other significant changes were not found me.
We will continue to inform the public about the Internet works, but I'd like to note that according to our data, only about a year later we will know what new functions and in what direction will develop the work of over 15 office.
Issue 15 versions of office suite is scheduled for early 2014.

Your theirs and Co.​