Tag Archives: productivity

Microsoft’s next Office update is codenamed ‘Gemini,’ could ship this fall

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Blue is to Windows as Gemini is to Office. Any questions? Well, that's unfortunate -- we don't have a ton of answers. What we do know, courtesy of some top-notch ZDNet reporting, is that Microsoft's next Office release is codenamed "Gemini," and that it could be making its way to your desktop by the end of this year. The site quotes a potential fall ship date, at least for the first release, which is set to include new versions of Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint and Word. Rumor has it that the next version will be somewhat platform-independent, and will rely heavily on the Office 365 subscription concept. Beyond that, there isn't really much to share, but you're welcome to hit up our source link for a few more (minor) details.

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Source: ZDNet

CloudOn releases version 4.0, brings its productivity features to a number of Android handsets

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CloudOn releases version 40, brings its productivity features to a number of Android handsets

A mere couple of months have passed since CloudOn outed its third major revision on Android and iOS, and today the productivity-focused application is making yet another numerical jump. With today's announcement of version 4.0, the app's set to expand on the previous iteration by bringing its Office functionality outside of Apple's famed smartphone and onto some that are powered by Google's mobile OS. This means Android users with a compatible smartphone can now view, edit, create, and share documents with CloudOn, which should be a rather familiar experience for those who've been utilizing the tablet app since its humble beginnings on Google Play. CloudOn 4.0 (along with its newly added support for landscape mode) is now available worldwide, although you'll have to check out the presser past the jump in order to find out if your beloved handset is included in the list of fitting devices.

Gallery: CloudOn 4.0

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Source: Google Play

Office 2013, 365 listed as arriving January 29th at Canadian retailers

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Office 2013, 365 listed as arriving January 29th at Canadian retailers

What is it with Canadian stores potentially spoiling launch plans? Fresh from revealing a white PS3 bundle on late notice, Best Buy Canada and its Future Shop sibling are both listing multiple entries for Microsoft's Office 2013 and Office 365 in downloadable and retail forms. We'll refrain from comments on pricing given possible cross-border markups, but all of the entries are shown arriving January 29th. Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything beyond its established first-quarter target, so take the date with the requisite grains of salt; any truth to the schedule, though, will leave just a short wait for productivity mavens.

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Via: Neowin

Source: Best Buy Canada, Future Shop

Evernote’s Windows Phone app gets PIN lock, Business support in update

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Evernote's Windows Phone app gets PIN lock, Business support in updateEvernote has been one busy bee, er, pachyderm lately -- extending its proverbial trunk to a more professional crowd with the launch of Evernote Business and even cozying up to Samsung's Terminator-sounding T9000 smart-fridge. For its next trick, the popular productivity app is giving some extra love to Windows Phone users by way of a feature-laden update. One of the shiny new bells and whistles is support for the aforementioned Evernote Business, including note creation and searching via Business Notebooks. There's also a new PIN lock feature to ensure that your notes can't be viewed when sharing your Windows phone with members of the unwashed masses. Other key features include joined notebooks and new style options for text as well. For info about the update straight from the elephant's mouth, just head on to the Evernote Blog by clicking on the source link.

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Via: TNW

Source: Evernote Blog

Wunderlist 2 debuts, ditches HTML5 for native apps on Android, Windows, iOS and Mac

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Wunderlist 2 debuts, ditches HTML5 for native apps on Android, Windows, iOS and Mac

Wunderlist is one of those apps that's beloved by productivity nerds, but not very well known outside of those circles. Part of the appeal came from its availability on almost every platform out there. To reach true OS agnosticism 6Wunderkinder, however, relied on HTML5 -- which makes porting an app easy, but comes with its own drawbacks, including lackluster performance. (Just ask Mark Zuckerberg.) With the revamp, Wunderlist 2, the task management platform now has truly native apps for Android, iOS, OS X and Windows to compliment its web site. There are a few new features, including push notifications, reminders and reoccurring tasks, but it's the dramatically smoother and speedier operation that's the real story here. And, while the design is familiar, there are some tweaks to the UI that make it much more user friendly, especially on mobile. Unfortunately, the move away from the beleaguered HTML5 base isn't without its casualties. The company no longer offers a Linux client, though the available Chrome extension should help sooth the pain. To download it for yourself check out the source link.

Continue reading Wunderlist 2 debuts, ditches HTML5 for native apps on Android, Windows, iOS and Mac

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: 6Wunderkinder

Office for Android and iOS purportedly caught in screenshots, won’t lure away Surface loyalists

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Office for Android, iOS purportedly caught in screenshots, won't lure away Surface loyalists

We're wondering if Microsoft is a master of the non-denial. While it has twice downplayed rumors of an upcoming Office for competing mobile platforms, supposed new screenshots and details from The Verge hint that the Redmond team's use of the word "inaccurate" wasn't a flat-out rejection. The Android and iOS versions (iOS seen here) are believed to be real, but to serve mostly as hooks for those who crave Microsoft-sanctioned portals rather than full-fledged productivity suites. Excel, PowerPoint and Word apps would start off as free viewers and only unlock editing for those who dutifully subscribe to Office 365; to no one's shock, even the paid versions would be simple enough to leave Surface owners free from buyer's remorse. Anyone who hasn't already been lured away by Google Drive or iWork offerings may have some time to wait if the claims hold true, however. A mobile Office bundle may meet the rumored launch targets for iOS users with a launch sometime in late February or early March, but the Android fans among us might have to wait until May. It's safe to say that Microsoft won't clear the air anytime soon.

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Office for Android and iOS purportedly caught in screenshots, won't lure away Surface loyalists originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Verge  | Email this | Comments

Spacepod-like Capsules Are Just For Naps

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It’s no secret that taking a nap can increase productivity. And although a nice 2 hour nap is often best (seeing as you can go through all stages of sleep), taking two hours off work to nap isn’t usually encouraged. But power naps are different, and even at 20 or 30 minutes, you can still feel refreshed. So a company decided to create a special pod made specifically to facilitate nap taking. Called CalmSpace and designed by one Marie-Virginie Berbet as a prototype for France Telecom, it is now a real product that forward thinking companies worldwide are free to purchase. It contains a bed and a set of orange lights that dim as you enter, and blue ones that slowly wake you up after a specified period of 10, 15 or 20 minutes. There are speakers to provide soothing sounds as well, which we assume coordinate with the lighting sequence.

No word on price.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ Gizmag ]


Livescribe outs Sky WiFi Smartpen for $170, lets you record written notes and audio straight to Evernote

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Livescribe outs Sky WiFi Smartpen for 160, lets you record written notes and audio right to Evernote

The Pulse pen couldn't do it. The more recent Echo couldn't manage it either. But sending notes and linked audio wirelessly is what Livescribe's latest digital pen is all about. Branded the Sky WiFi Smartpen, it works with proprietary physical notebooks to preserve your handwritten notes and linked audio files on a minimum of 2GB of onboard storage, and then it sends them directly to your Evernote account via WiFi -- from where you can access them on pretty much any PC, tablet or smartphone. If you're wondering a how the pen selects the right network and enters a password, then it's actually pretty straightforward: Livescribe's new stationery is printed with connection buttons that, in conjunction with the OLED display on the pen itself, guide you through the procedure in a few seconds. The latest notebooks also have buttons for sending your captured thoughts to Google Drive, Dropbox and Facebook, although those services won't be activated until early next year.

The basic 2GB Sky pen will arrive in stores on November 1st, priced substantially higher than its predecessor, the Echo (which will be phased out at the end of next year). The new base model will cost $170, with 4GB and 8GB varieties priced at $200 and $250. Arguably, the reliance on wireless cloud storage means that the amount of onboard memory isn't so important any more, but if you do decide to opt for the most expensive model then you'll also get a year's subscription to Evernote Premium, which is worth $45. There's a short explanatory video after the break, and as you'll see from the gallery below we've already got the Sky pen in our clutches, so expect a full review in short order.

Gallery: Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen hands-on

Continue reading Livescribe outs Sky WiFi Smartpen for $170, lets you record written notes and audio straight to Evernote

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Livescribe outs Sky WiFi Smartpen for $170, lets you record written notes and audio straight to Evernote originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Drive apps reach the Chrome Web Store and Chrome OS for quicker web work

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Google Drive apps reach the Chrome Web Store and Chrome OS for quicker web work

It's a long overdue match, really -- if the Google Drive productivity suite is considered the centerpiece of Google's web app catalog, and the Chrome Web Store is the catalog, why weren't the two combined? Google has seen the light by turning Docs (text), Sheets (spreadsheets) and Slides (presentations) into neatly packaged web apps that can be installed through the Chrome browser. New Chromebook owners won't even have to go that far, as the trio will surface automatically in the Chrome OS app list over the next few weeks. The web app bundles might be simple, but they could be tremendous helps for anyone who wants to punch out a few quick edits while on the road.

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Google Drive apps reach the Chrome Web Store and Chrome OS for quicker web work originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Drive Blog  | Email this | Comments

Evernote 2.5 for Windows Phone brings new layout with improved performance

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DNP Evernote 25 for Windows Phone brings new layout with improved performance

While some app developers seem to forget about Windows Phone, Evernote definitely has not. The tiled version of the cloud-based note taking app received an update on Thursday that brings an arsenal of new features, including an updated tile layout for note lists, a redesigned login / registration screen and user help tips. Perhaps the most anticipated new additions here are an improved note editing settings that adds more space to jot things down and a much welcomed performance boost. If your memory isn't quite what it used to be and you're looking for a helpful tool to take notes while on the go, you can snag the latest version of Evernote from the Windows Phone Store now. That is, if you can remember which tile to tap when trying to get there.

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Evernote 2.5 for Windows Phone brings new layout with improved performance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  sourceWindows Phone Store  | Email this | Comments