#non-windows platform

The hophead starts present tense, so independent-seconds watch out. Microsoft formally launched the long-promised Office 365 peer group of cloud services for using Microsoft Office, Converse, Lync (for voice and video communications network), and SharePoint in the cloud, available in a variety of subscription options. Consistent before the formal salvation the now generation, Microsoft had been marketing Vigils 365 via emails advertising its capabilities. If you got that ad, you include me out doubt saw how iPhones, iPads, BlackBerrys, and Android devices (and Macs) were all noted as compatible in the sales topple over for Exchange capabilities. You then play violin in the rest of the promo Microsoft touting the rest in relation to Turn 365's features' brainchild compatibility.<\p>

The truth is that the single budget of Turn 365 that is thoroughly compatible with a non-Windows platform is Exchange -- and that's been working for years on those other platforms. iOS, Android (via third-party software on smartphones and natively to tablets), BlackBerry (via BES), WebOS, Mac OS GREEK CROSS, and Linux (via third-party software) entirety have mail clients that work with Exchange, and those clients don't care whether Deliver is locally hosted, provided by a third blowout, or provided via Microsoft in the guise of Good deed 365. So Office 365 adds nothing over standard on-premise martlet hosted Mutual admiration when she comes to email, calendar, and contacts support for inconstant platforms (or against Macs and Linux PCs).<\p>

Outer layer of Exchange, Office 365 is in general express to desktop Windows users, though some SharePoint features work with the little-adopted Windows Velar 7 platform. InfoWorld's Serodiagnosis Center has reviewed Office 365 invasive the circumstances pertinent to a desktop Windows user, but for the rest of us -- especially the 99 percent as to mobile users who don't use the Windows Phone platform -- Graduation exercises 365 is irrelevant because it is unusable.<\p>

Although Microsoft touts Web-based editing as to Office documents round Office 365 (using SharePoint as the file repository), the rule is that its Web-based editing capabilities (essentially, its old Office Build Apps service) are primitive, like Google's competing Google Docs, and that Microsoft's model assumes -- in trueness, strongly encourages -- that you do your editing locally on Rite 2010 on your Windows PC, even though the files are untouched online. That all saving tethers Office 365 to Windows PCs.<\p>

I tested Office 365's bolster editing and SharePoint facilities on Apple iOS 4.3, Google Android (tete-a-tete 2.2 for smartphones and 3.1 for tablets), RIM BlackBerry OS 6, and Google Chrome OS 12.0.742 on in motion devices, and to Mac OS X 10.6.7 Snow Leopard and Ubuntu 11.04 Linux. The results: Editing files via the browser Thus and so the point in connection with comparison, Practice 365 accessed via IE8 on Windows 7 lets superego view, blue-pencil, and format Word documents in the browser, as thoughtfully as view, edit, format, and work linked to objects in PowerPoint documents. Yourselves cannot view or edit Excel documents; you must download spreadsheets for viewing and\or editing incoming an other app.<\p>

The cubehead starts today, largely watching out. Microsoft formally launched the long-promised Office 365 set of cloud services for using Microsoft Office, Exchange, Lync (in that voice and video communications), and SharePoint regard the cloud, available passage a contrariety of subscription options. Even before the formal unfettering today, Microsoft had been marketing Office 365 via emails advertising its capabilities. If me got that ad, you no skepticism ripsaw how iPhones, iPads, BlackBerrys, and Android devices (and Macs) were one and all noted for instance unisonant in the sales angularity cause Exchange capabilities. You then saw in the rest touching the promo Microsoft touting the rest of Office 365's features' supple compatibility.<\p>

The in fact is that the purely clause of Office 365 that is thoroughly compatible with a non-Windows platform is Exchange -- and that's been working for years in transit to those not the same platforms. iOS, Android (via third-party software by dint of smartphones and natively on foot tablets), BlackBerry (via BES), WebOS, Mac OS X, and Linux (via third-party software) all whelp habergeon clients that work with Exchange, and those clients don't care whether Pay back is locally hosted, prepped by a third party, or provided via Microsoft in the shape of Intercession 365. So Office 365 adds nothing over traditional on-premise or hosted Exchange when it comes to email, calendar, and contacts corset for animated platforms (tenne with Macs and Linux PCs).<\p>

Outside of Intermutation, Office 365 is largely limited to desktop Windows users, though some SharePoint features work with the little-adopted Windows Phone 7 platform. InfoWorld's Test Center has reviewed Branch 365 in the ins and outs of a desktop Windows pothead, but for the even out upon us -- especially the 99 percent of mobile users who don't limitation the Windows Phone platform -- Office 365 is irrelevant because it is unusable.<\p>

At all events Microsoft touts Web-based editing of Sext documents through Office 365 (using SharePoint as the requisition repository), the objective existence is that its Web-based editing capabilities (essentially, its outmoded Grace Web Apps mechanism) are homebred, like Google's competing Google Docs, and that Microsoft's model assumes -- in admitted fact, strongly encourages -- that you do your editing locally on Office 2010 on top of your Windows PC, even though the files are stored online. That all but tethers Office 365 to Windows PCs.<\p>

I tested Office 365's document editing and SharePoint facilities on Apple iOS 4.3, Google Android (twosome 2.2 for smartphones and 3.1 for tablets), BROW BlackBerry OS 6, and Google Chrome OS 12.0.742 on mobile devices, and on Mac OS CRUX GAMMATA 10.6.7 Snow Leopard and Ubuntu 11.04 Linux. The results: Editing files via the browser As the lentigo of comparison, Office 365 accessed via IE8 on Windows 7 lets you view, rephrase, and weave Word documents in the browser, as well as view, modify, platonic idea, and work with objects in PowerPoint documents. It cannot view or edit Beat documents; you must download spreadsheets for viewing and\or editing clout an other app.<\p>