Microsoft Surface Now Available at Microsoft Retail Stores

Microsoft today announced that its new PC, Microsoft Surface, is now available for purchase at all Microsoft retail, holiday and online stores in the United States and Canada.

With a starting price of US$499, Surface will be available online at Microsoft Store in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. In China and Hong Kong, Surface will be available online at Suning.

A variety of Surface accessories are also available for purchase, including Touch Covers in five vibrant colors - black, white, magenta, cyan and red — priced at US$119.99, so customers can express their personal style. Customers also have the option to purchase a Type Cover in black for US$129.99, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

Microsoft Windows 8 is now available worldwide.

Source:- Microsoft Store, Surface

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Windows 8 Now Available

Microsoft today announced the global availability of its popular Windows operating system, Windows 8. Beginning today (Friday, October 26th), consumers and businesses worldwide will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer, including a beautiful new user interface and a wide range of applications with the grand opening of the Windows Store. As a result of close work with hardware partners, more than 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, will be available for the launch of Windows 8 - making it the best lineup of PCs ever across the Windows 8 and Windows RT ecosystem.

Windows 8 will be available for download to upgrade existing PCs in more than 140 markets and 37 languages at http://www.windows.com/buy beginning at 12:01 a.m. local time and at retail locations around the world. At retail, Windows 8 will be available in two primary versions - Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro - as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organizations. Launching at the same time is a new member of the Windows family - Windows RT - designed for ARM-based tablets and available pre-installed on new devices. In addition to Microsoft Office 2013, Windows RT is designed exclusively for apps in the new Windows Store. Windows 8 features the new fast and fluid Start screen that gives people one-click access to the apps and content they care most about. It also features an entirely new Internet Explorer 10 that is perfect for touch, and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive.

Windows 8 can be purchased in a variety of ways from the world's leading retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy and Staples in the U.S., Casas Bahia in Brazil, Future Shop and Staples in Canada, Suning in China, Media Markt across Europe, FNAC in France, Yamada in Japan, Telmex in Mexico, Dixons in the U.K., and many more, which will feature a variety of offers for customers looking for great deals on Windows 8 PCs, devices and software. Consumers can go to http://www.windows.com/shop to learn about the large array of Windows 8 devices available and find the one that best fits their needs. More information on the great offers around the world is available at http://www.blogs.windows.com.

In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, consumers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Through the end of January, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$39.99. And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and Jan. 31, 2013, in more than 140 markets can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of US$14.99 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com.

 

[Press Release]

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Microsoft launches Xbox Music Service coming to Xbox 360 Tomorrow

Microsoft announced the launch of Xbox Music, a new all-in-one music service that gives you the freedom to stream custom-created playlists for free, subscribe to all the music you want or download-to-own your favorite songs. Xbox Music service will go live tomorrow (October 16th) on the Xbox 360, then to the masses with Windows 8 on October 26th.

Xbox Music launches with a global catalog on par with iTunes, offering 30 million tracks from some of the leading music labels around the world. The all-in-one Xbox Music service includes the following:

• Free streaming music on Windows 8 and Windows RT. Enjoy on-demand access to tens of millions of songs for free on all Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets and PCs. Discovering and enjoying free music on Windows 8 and Windows RT is as easy as typing an artist or song name and hitting “play” — songs are instantly available to stream and for you to create an unlimited amount of playlists.
• Xbox Music Pass. Want unlimited access to the songs and artists you care about, including offline access? Get an Xbox Music Pass for ad-free, unlimited playback of any track in our subscription catalog across your tablet, PC, phone and Xbox 3601 for US$9.99 per month.2 Xbox Music Pass also unlocks unlimited access to tens of thousands of music videos on your Xbox 360.
• Xbox Music Store. Want to own the music you love? The Xbox Music Store is a comprehensive MP3 marketplace giving you the opportunity to purchase a single track or entire album on your Windows 8 or Windows RT tablet or PC and Windows Phone 8.
• Smart DJ. Creating a new form of artist-based radio, the Smart DJ feature is a quick and dynamic way to personalize your collection, discover new favorites and create ultimate playlists by launching instant mixes based on your favorite artists. With unlimited skips and a view of the full recommended music stream, Smart DJ puts you in control of your Internet radio experience.
• Cloud Storage. Available in the coming year, a scan-and-match feature will take you beyond the 30 million tracks globally offered through Xbox Music. It will add all the music you own to your Xbox Music cloud catalog, including music acquired through other services. This means you can add almost any content you have to your personal Xbox Music collection, even if it’s not available in the Xbox Music catalog.
• Social Music. Xbox Music will add unique social features in the coming year that let you share your music experiences with friends and family.
• Platform Expansion. Xbox Music will become available on other platforms in the coming year.

Free streaming on Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets and PCs launches October 26 in 15 markets worldwide. Xbox Music Pass will be available for Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 in 22 markets worldwide; it will begin rolling out tomorrow on Xbox 360 in the same markets. Xbox Music Store will also be accessible on Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 in 22 markets worldwide as devices become available.

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Windows 8 Packaging and Pricing Revealed

Microsoft has revealed the packaging for Windows 8 Pro, which will come in five different versions, each with its own unique and vibrant illustration.

The online retailer Newegg opened up its pre-orders revealing the price for various versions of Windows 8. Take a look:

• Windows 8 Professional Upgrade – $69
• Windows 8 Pro Pack – $69, product key card only
• Windows 8 OEM -$99 (32 or 64 bit)
• Windows 8 Professional – $139 (32 or 64 bit)

However, if you want to wait until October 26th you will be able to upgrade online for just $39.99 USD. Anyone who purchase (or have purchased) a Windows 7 PC anytime in between June 2, 2012 and January 13, 2013 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $14.99 USD.

Source:- Windows Team Blog, Newegg

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HTC Announces Windows Phone 8X

HTC today unveiled the Windows Phone 8X smartphone featuring Windows Phone 8 operating system. Windows Phone 8X packs a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 dual core processor, 1 GB RAM, a 4.3 inch super LCD 2 touch screen with HD 720p resolution Gorilla Glass 2, 16GB of internal storage, WiFi, NFC and an integrated 1,800mAh Li-ion battery.

For the first time, HTC is introducing a 2.1MP, f/2.0 aperture, 88° ultra-wide angle front-facing camera that allows up to four people and more to be captured at once. It also supports 1080p video capture. The rear camera sports an 8MP CMOS sensor with backside-illumination (BSI) for improved low-light performance, along with an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and a dedicated imaging chip. A physical shutter button makes it quick and easy to capture spontaneous action, even if the phone is locked.

The Windows Phone 8X will come in a variety of colors including California Blue, Graphite Black, Flame Red and Limelight Yellow.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC will be available beginning in November. Available through more than 150 carriers in 50+ countries, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC will be available from the world's top carriers including: United States: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Europe: Orange, O2 Telefonica, MTS, Three UK, T-Mobile, and Vodafone Asia-Pacific: Chunghwa Telecom, Optus, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel), Smartone, Telstra and Vodafone Australia.

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Microsoft Licenses exFAT Patents to RIM

Microsoft announced that it has signed a patent licensing agreement with Research In Motion (RIM) which gives RIM broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) for certain BlackBerry devices of RIM. exFAT is a modern file system from Microsoft that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.

Source:- Microsoft

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Nokia Lumia 920, Windows Phone 8 smartphone Announced

Nokia and Microsoft announced Nokia Lumia 920, Windows Phone 8 flagship smartphone, powered by a 1.5GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4 processor features 4.5 inch Nokia PureMotion HD+ WXGA IPS LCD, 1GB of RAM, a 8.7MP rear camera with Nokia PureView advanced optical imaging stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics, Full 1080p HD, a 1.2MP front-facing camera with 720p HD video, 32GB mass memory with 7GB free SkyDrive storage, NFC, and a 2000mAh battery.

Other features includes Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive: route optimization, Nokia City Lens, Nokia Transport, Offline maps, GPS, and Wi-Fi. No words on pricing and availability yet.

Nokia Lumia 920 comes in yellow, red, grey, white and black color options. 

Source:- Nokia

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Kinect for Windows SDK to receive Windows 8 support on October 8

Kinect for Windows team announced that Kinect for Windows is coming to China on October 8th, and Kinect for Windows hardware will be available in six additional markets later this fall: Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, and Poland. In addition, Microsoft will be releasing Kinect for Windows SDK on October 8th which will add features like color camera settings, extended depth data, UI based samples, support for Windows 8 desktop applications, Microsoft .NET 4.5, and Microsoft Visual Studio 2012.

Source:- Kinect for Windows Blog

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Windows 8 Upgrade registration now open

Registration for $14.99 Windows Upgrade Offer is now open. If you purchase or have purchased an eligible Windows 7 PC anytime between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 you will be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $14.99 (U.S.) which will be redeemable when Windows 8 is generally available on October 26th.

If you wish to take part, keep your 25-digits Windows 7 key handy as a part of online registration and starting October 26th you’ll receive promo code via email with purchase instructions, which can then be applied upon checkout within the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

Source:- The Windows Blog, Windows Upgrade Offer

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Microsoft licenses exFAT file technology to Sharp

Microsoft announced that it has reached a patent-licensing agreement with Sharp to use the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT). The agreement covers the use of exFAT in smartphones distributed by Sharp based on the Android platform, other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

exFAT is a modern file system that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability for an easy interchange of files between desktop PCs and other electronic devices. exFAT improves on its predecessor, the FAT file system, and greatly expands the size of files that flash memory devices can handle — by more than five times over the previous technology. It also greatly increases the speed with which those files can be accessed.

Source:- Microsoft

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Windows 8 has been Released to Manufacturing (RTM)

Microsoft today has confirmed that Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing (RTM) which means company completed the product development and testing of the product and have started handing off the final code to OEM partners.

Here are the details:

• August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subscriptions.
• August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subscriptions.
• August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
• August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
• August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.
• September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.

Source- Windows Team Blog

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Microsoft Announces New Mice and Keyboards Designed for Windows 8

Microsoft announced the new lineup of Mice and Keyboards optimized for Windows 8 and loaded with features including Bluetooth connectivity, BlueTrack Technology for tracking on virtually any surface.

Wedge Touch Mouse

Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse packs full functionality into an ultracompact frame that’s great for a mobile lifestyle. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the Wedge Touch Mouse is designed to complement your Windows experience in all its forms, providing four-way touch scrolling and navigation at your fingertips.

• Its artful and minimalist design also comes free of cables or USB transceivers — you simply turn it on and connect it to your Bluetooth-enabled laptop or tablet for a clutter-free experience.
• It features BlueTrack Technology so you can use it on virtually any surface, whether you’re in a conference room, a coffee shop or at home on your couch.*
• It includes Backpack Mode to power down and sleep along with the computer it’s paired to, extending battery life.
• Pricing: estimated retail price of US$69.95.

Wedge Mobile Keyboard

The new ultraslim Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard brings full-size keyboard comfort, efficiency and speed to a tablet. Designed specifically for tablet users, Wedge Mobile Keyboard includes some of the most commonly used features, such as Windows Hot Keys and built-in media keys.

• The lightweight design makes it easy to carry, and its full-sized keyset provides a comfortable experience that makes typing a breeze.
• Its durable cover not only helps protect your keyboard from scratches but also quickly converts into a tablet stand. When you’re done using it, simply snap the cover back on the keyboard to power it down before you stash it in your bag.
• Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly connect to your tablet without a cable or transceiver.
• Pricing: estimated retail price of US$79.95.

Sculpt Touch Mouse

Designed to provide comfort matched with portability, the Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse is a great solution for smooth and easy navigation with a Windows 8-based PC.

• With a four-way touch scroll strip, you can breeze up and down, left and right, and through applications and documents with a simple finger swipe, making it great for navigating the Windows 8 Start screen.
• Sculpt Touch Mouse uses Bluetooth technology, so you can wirelessly connect to your tablet without a cable or transceiver.
• Pricing: estimated retail price of US$49.95.

Sculpt Mobile Keyboard

The Microsoft Sculpt Mobile Keyboard provides an ideal balance of mobility, comfort and productivity. A full-size keyboard with Microsoft’s Comfort Curve design and Bluetooth connectivity, the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard is built to be the ideal travel companion.

• At just more than one pound, the keyboard is perfect for on-the-go computing with high-quality construction built for travel.
• Its Comfort Curve design helps position the hands and wrists in a natural and comfortable resting position.
• Battery-saving technology powers the keyboard down into sleep mode after a period of inactivity. The keyboard wakes up and reconnects with the simple tap of a key.
• Pricing: estimated retail price of US$49.95.

Touch Mouse - Updated Gesture Settings for Windows 8

As promised, the Microsoft Touch Mouse will obtain updated functionality specifically designed for Windows 8 with new gesture settings to easily navigate the new UI.

• One-finger swipes allow customers to move naturally and intuitively side to side or up and down, shifting content on screen.
• Two-finger movements manage apps, switch through open apps and show app commands.
• Three fingers allow customers to zoom in and out.
• Thumb gestures navigate backward and forward within apps.
• Pricing: estimated retail price of US$79.95.

All products will be available soon at the online Microsoft Store and through other retailers.

Source:- Windows Team Blog

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2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta Now Available

Microsoft today announced that the 2012 Xbox LIVE update public beta now available which includes select dashboard features including: Internet Explorer for Xbox; Personalized dashboard recommendations and Enhanced category search and discovery features. Xbox LIVE subscribers who want the latest updates on their consoles can sign-up for public beta update (you can find the link at the end of this post) by agreeing to a non-disclosure agreement for confidentiality reasons.

If you’re selected as a tester, an update will be pushed to your console once the public beta kicks off. The update will contain select dashboard features, including:

• Internet Explorer for Xbox
• Personalized dashboard recommendations
• Enhanced category search and discovery features

Note: A console in the program is expected to remain fully compatible with standard retail consoles not in the program.

Signup for 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Beta

Source:- Major Nelson

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Office for Mac 2011 ready for Mountain Lion

Microsoft announced that the Office for Mac 2011 (and Office 2008 for Mac) is ready for Apple's latest OS X Mountain Lion. But the only problem remaining is the inability to manually download and install future updates because of Mountain Lion's new feature called Gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper protect users by allowing you to choose to only download and install software from known developers but due to its architecture, updates will not run when you download and initiate them on your desktop.

To keep your Office for Mac updated, Microsoft recommends that you use Microsoft AutoUpdate.

Source:- Office for Mac

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Microsoft Developer Conference BUILD 2012 Registration starts on August 8th

Microsoft today announced that their next Developer conference called BUILD will be held on Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, from October 30th to November 2nd and registration for the same will open on August 8th at 8AM PDT. The timing of BUILD 2012 is just a week after the general availability of Windows 8.

And in addition to Windows 8, Microsoft will have lots of other stuff to talk about too: Windows Azure, Windows Phone 8, Windows Server 2012, Visual Studio 2012 and much more.

Source:- BUILD 2012, Microsoft official blog

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Microsoft Acquired Yammer

Microsoft today announced that the deal is completed, Yammer is now part of the Microsoft Office Division where team already working on the adoption of Yammer standalone service.

The CEO of Yammer, David Sack in a blog post said "Under Microsoft, Yammer will remain a stand-alone product with a freemium business model.  We will maintain our focus on simplicity, innovation and cross-platform experiences and, over time, you will see more connections to SharePoint, Office 365, Dynamics and Skype."

Source:- Yammer, Microsoft

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No Office 2013 for Mac

Microsoft has confirmed to The Verge that it does not plan to release Office 2013 for OS X but instead will release an update to Office for Mac 2011 that will bring support for SkyDrive storage and Office 365, allowing Mac users to save and retrieve documents.

Source:- The Verge

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Windows 8 will go on sale from October 26th

Earlier this month Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would be available in October but didn’t mentioned any specific date and today Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will be available for new and upgrade customers starting October 26th.

Source:- Windows Team Blog

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OneNote MX Metro-styled app for Windows 8 now available for download

Yesterday, Microsoft released the Office 13 (codenamed Office 15) consumer preview, with that company also announced the OneNote "Windows 8 Style app", the first metro styled app for Office is now available to download from the Windows Store in Windows 8 Release Preview as OneNote MX.

OneNote MX Description:-

Take notes that save to the cloud so you have them when you need them. Fast and immersive, this OneNote Preview is reimagined for Windows 8. Whether you draw, type, click, or swipe, this app will shine on your Windows 8 device. On the go? Use a browser or one of the many OneNote mobile apps to get to your notes when you need them.

Features

• Make lists --- Quickly write up to-do lists with check boxes.
• Draw and write --- Use your device’s pen to draw in your notes as you would on paper.
• Take pictures --- Take photos with your device's camera to put in your notes.
• Customize formatting --- Organize your notes with tables, bullets, colors, and more.
• Integrated search --- OneNote works with the Windows 8 search charm, so you can always find the notes you’re looking for.
• Snap view --- Need to reference another app or website while taking notes? OneNote can snap to the side of your screen so you can use both apps at the same time.

Download OneNote MX

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Microsoft unveils the new Office 2013

Microsoft unveiled the customer preview of the new Microsoft Office 2013 (aka Office 2015), features an intuitive design that works with touch, stylus, mouse or keyboard across new Windows devices, including tablets. Company has also announced that Office Home and Student 2013 will be bundled for free with all Windows RT computers. Check out more features and details after the break.

Office at Its Best on Windows 8

• Touch everywhere. Office responds to touch as naturally as it does to keyboard and mouse. Swipe your finger across the screen or pinch and zoom to read your documents and presentations. Author new content and access features with the touch of a finger.
• Inking. Use a stylus to create content, take notes and access features. Handwrite email responses and convert them automatically to text. Use your stylus as a laser pointer when presenting. Color your content and erase your mistakes with ease.
• New Windows 8 applications. OneNote and Lync represent the first new Windows 8 style applications for Office. These applications are designed to deliver touch-first experiences on a tablet. A new radial menu in OneNote makes it easy to access features with your finger.
• Included in Windows RT. Office Home and Student 2013 RT, which contains new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote applications, will be included on ARM-based Windows 8 devices, including Microsoft Surface.

See how the new Office gives you the flexibility to focus on what is important.

Office Is in the Cloud

• SkyDrive. Office saves documents to SkyDrive by default, so your content is always available across your tablet, PC and phone. Your documents are also available offline and sync when you reconnect.
• Roaming. Once signed in to Office, your personalized settings, including your most recently used files, templates and even your custom dictionary, roam with you across virtually all of your devices. Office even remembers where you last left off and brings you right back to that spot in a single click.
• Office on Demand. With a subscription, you can access Office even when you are away from your PC by streaming full-featured applications to an Internet-connected Windows-based PC.
• New subscription services. The new Office is available as a cloud-based subscription service. As subscribers, consumers automatically get future upgrades in addition to exciting cloud services including Skype world minutes and extra SkyDrive storage. Subscribers receive multiple installs for everyone in the family and across their devices.

Office Is Social

• Yammer. Yammer delivers a secure, private social network for businesses. You can sign up for free and begin using social networking instantly. Yammer offers integration with SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics.
• Stay connected. Follow people, teams, documents and sites in SharePoint. View and embed pictures, videos and Office content in your activity feeds to stay current and update your colleagues.
• People Card. Have an integrated view of your contacts everywhere in Office. The People Card includes presence information complete with pictures, status updates, contact information and activity feeds from Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.
• Skype. The new Office comes with Skype. When you subscribe, you get 60 minutes of Skype world minutes every month. Integrate Skype contacts into Lync and call or instant message anyone on Skype.

Office Unlocks New Scenarios

• Digital note-taking. Keep your notes handy in the cloud and across multiple devices with OneNote. Use what feels most natural to you — take notes with touch, pen or keyboard, or use them together and switch easily back and forth.
• Reading and markup. The Read Mode in Word provides a modern and easy-to-navigate reading experience that automatically adjusts for large and small screens. Zoom in and out of content, stream videos within documents, view revision marks and use touch to turn pages.
• Meetings. PowerPoint features a new Presenter View that privately shows your current and upcoming slides, presentation time, and speaker notes in a single glance. While presenting, you can zoom, mark up and navigate your slides with touch and stylus. Lync includes multiparty HD video with presentations, shared OneNote notebooks and a virtual whiteboard for collaborative brainstorming.
• Eighty-two-inch touch-enabled displays. Conduct more engaging meetings, presentations and lessons, whether in person or virtually, with these multitouch and stylus-enabled displays from Perceptive Pixel.

While the full lineup of offerings and pricing plans will be announced in the fall, Ballmer discussed three new Office 365 subscription services. When available, each new subscription offer will include the new 2013 editions of the Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. In addition, subscribers will receive future rights to version upgrades as well as per-use rights across up to five PCs or Macs and mobile devices. The three new editions will be the following:

• Office 365 Home Premium — designed for families and consumers. This service also includes an additional 20 GB of SkyDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype world minutes per month.
• Office 365 Small Business Premium — designed for small businesses. This service also includes business-grade email, shared calendars, website tools and HD webconferencing.
• Office 365 ProPlus — designed for enterprise customers who want advanced business capabilities and the flexibility to deploy and manage in the cloud.

Download Microsoft Office 2013 Customer preview

Source:- Microsoft

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