Office Web Apps: New screenshots

Microsoft is releasing to a private group of testers a Community Technology Preview (CTP) test build of its Office Web Apps on September 17. Here are some screen shots of what testers will see now and later this fall when a public beta hits of Microsoft's Web-ified versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

By Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor Sept. 17, 2009 at 5:17 a.m. PT

1 of 5 Mary Jo Foley/ZDNET

Microsoft released the first official test build of its Office Web Apps today. To access the build (this is the free, consumer-focused one, not the corporate-focused Microsoft Online or on-premise ones), testers must be among a pre-approved, select group. They also must have a free Windows Live account, so they can get to the Web-ified Office apps via Microsoft's free SkyDrive storage service.?

Screenshots: Microsoft

2 of 5 Mary Jo Foley/ZDNET

The Excel Web App version that is part of the CTP released today is not feature-complete. But it will look familiar to client-based Excel users. The ability to embed an Excel Web App spreadsheet in a Web site isn't yet enabled, for example, but will be enabled at launch next year.

3 of 5 Mary Jo Foley/ZDNET

The Word Web App -- like the rest of the Web App suite -- is going to include a Ribbon UI (but it's not there yet in the CTP). It also will be the only one of the pack to support printing. No word on when/if Microsoft plans to add a print capability to the other Web Apps. One other cautionary note: In this CTP, the Word Web App won't allow users to create or edit documents. All you can use it for is to view and share. By the time the beta launches this fall, the Word create/edit functionality should be turned on, however.

4 of 5 Mary Jo Foley/ZDNET

The PowerPoint Web App is designed primarily to let users view and collaborate on PowerPoint decks they've created locally. Testers running the CTP also will be able to create and edit PowerPoint presentations via the Web App version.

5 of 5 Mary Jo Foley/ZDNET

The OneNote note-taking Web App is not part of the September 17 CTP. Testers won't get to try out this piece of the suite until later this fall, when Microsoft is planning to release a public beta of Web Apps.

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