Microsoft launches the first part of Office for Windows 10 in a preview available for download on the new Windows Store Beta.

Kelly Sheridan, Staff Editor, Dark Reading

February 4, 2015

2 Min Read
<p align="left">(Image source: Microsoft)</p>

Windows 10: 7 Pressing Questions For Microsoft

Windows 10: 7 Pressing Questions For Microsoft


Windows 10: 7 Pressing Questions For Microsoft (Click image for larger view and slideshow.)

Microsoft is rolling out new Universal Office applications as part of the company's technical preview of Windows 10. The latest versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are accessible in the new Windows Store Beta, starting today.

The most recently updated Office apps can be downloaded on PCs, laptops, and tablets running the Windows 10 technical preview, according to a Microsoft blog. The company expects to broaden its preview to include phones and tablets running Windows 10 "in coming weeks."

Microsoft announced its plan to launch Universal Apps as part of its Jan. 21 Windows 10 press event. These apps will run on Windows 10 and maintain consistent performance across a range of devices including phones, PCs, and tablets.

The Office suite is optimized for touchscreen and mobile devices, and will be pre-installed for free on Windows 10 smartphones and small tablets. Universal apps will also be available for download in the Windows Store for other devices.

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The new Office for Windows 10, which is expected to launch in full later this year, will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Microsoft's technical preview for the desktop version of Windows 10 debuted late last month, and the mobile preview is expected to launch later in February.

For Windows Insiders eager to download the preview of Office for Windows 10, here is a sneak peek at what to expect:

Word

Word for Windows 10 will allow users to create, review, edit, and mark up documents, then share work with others for real-time collaboration. A new Insights for Office feature (powered by Bing) in Read mode enhances the reading experience with online resources, including Web references, images, and definitions.

PowerPoint

Win10Office_PPT.jpg

The PowerPoint app enables creating and editing presentations via touch screen. In Presenter view, users can prepare, present, and annotate slides in real-time.

Excel

Win10Office_Excel.jpg

The touch-optimized version of Excel allows users to create and edit spreadsheets then analyze and visualize the data using charts. New touch-first controls enable easy selection, formatting, and management of cells, charts, and workbooks.

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About the Author(s)

Kelly Sheridan

Staff Editor, Dark Reading

Kelly Sheridan is the Staff Editor at Dark Reading, where she focuses on cybersecurity news and analysis. She is a business technology journalist who previously reported for InformationWeek, where she covered Microsoft, and Insurance & Technology, where she covered financial services. Sheridan earned her BA in English at Villanova University. You can follow her on Twitter @kellymsheridan.

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