Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference started with Bill Gates showcasing the complete UI overhaul that Microsoft is giving to Office 12. Microsoft plans Office to be released in conjunction with Windows Vista in the second half of 2006. Gates also showed off some of the new Vista features from the latest build.
The September 2005 edition of Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference gets under way with a keynote address by Bill Gates and a “live preview” of the next version of Office. Credit: Microsoft
With the next version of Office–currently dubbed Office 12–Microsoft plans to change the user interface to better fit the task a person is performing. The new look will apply to Word (shown here), PowerPoint, Excel, Access and parts of Outlook. Credit: Microsoft
In the Office 12 version of PowerPoint, Microsoft is promising that users will see contextual tabs that present specialized features as needed. Credit: Microsoft
Excel screen shot. The first test version of Office 12 is due in fall 2005, and the finished product in the second half of 2006. Credit: Ina Fried
Screen shot of the Access program in Office 12. Credit: Microsoft
At its Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft demonstrated an updated test version of Windows Vista, including its “sidebar” feature. Credit: Ina Fried
Sync Center APIs (application programming interfaces) are intended to make synchronization work more consistent and more centralized. Microsoft notes that the icons are not yet finalized. Credit: Microsoft
The Vista release of Windows isn’t all about work. Credit: Microsoft
