Microsoft Debuts Office 2010 and Free Web Apps

With all the chatter surrounding Windows 7, Chrome OS, and the recent release of Firefox 3.5, it’s easy to forget that there is another major software release approaching: Office 2010. Sure, Office may not be loaded with the flash of Windows 7 and it lacks the mystery of Chrome OS, but it is still one of the world’s most popular suites of publishing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

Yesterday, Microsoft showed off the latest version of the standard bearer of cubicle software at its Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans. Powerpoint gets nifty new image and video editing features for crafting multimedia, and Outlook will include conversation style views (similar to Gmail). The e-mail app joins the rest of the Office family by getting a “ribbon” interface of its own (ribbon being the new menu system introduced with Office 2007 that changed based on the task you were performing). Office will also come in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, a first that will lead to speed improvements on 64-bit operating systems, like MacBook Pro or PS3.

Read more: switched.com