Microsoft SkyDrive delivered more than a name change to OneDrive today. It also added the ability for iPad and Android users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents using their web browsers. Selecting a file using the SkyDrive (for iOS or Android) app launches the web browser. From there, it is the same as using any of the Office for Web components on a desktop browser – It did seem a bit slower on Safari on my iPad mini than when using a web browser on my Windows notebook PC.
In this podcast Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall discuss the conflicting reports of whether Microsoft Office will be ported to Apple’s iOS (Office is NOT coming. Office is coming). They also discuss office suite alternatives for iOS and Android including: QuickOffice for iOS & Android, iWorks for iOS, Polaris Office, Smart Office 2, and Documents to Go.
Todd’s Anti-app pick of the week (something that used to be good but is now broken) is Google’s Waze. His Most Improved App of the week is Blastr for Android which finally actually works on that platform.
Jon’s app pick of the week is TapForms. This is a multi-platform database that syncs using iCloud.
Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall discuss:
Microsoft’s new CEO: Satya Nadella
App Picks
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Android (free)
Apple Keynote for iOS – Jon’s cool two device presentation scenario
Site: NBCNews.com website
Price: Free
What I say:
– NBC decided to launch its redesigned NBC News site a day before the first 2014 Winter Olympics competition starts
– It was, apparently, redesigned by Pinterest
– It now takes much longer to scroll through just a few news articles
– Unless you have a large display (large > 21″), you will probably have to expand your web browser to fill the screen to read this redesigned website
– Rating? 1 cent on a 5 cent scale
Trying something new: A simpler, faster to write & post review format (read: the lazy man’s review format).
App Name: Paper – stories from Facebook (longish hard to remember app name)
Platform: iOS
Price: Free
What other reviews say: Best thing since sliced bread
What I say:
– Pretty but vapid
– Hey, someone tell Flipboard that Facebook copied its user interface!
– Difficult to read tiny type in preview thumbnails on an iPhone 5
– Difficult to look at pixelated/aliased UI on an iPad mini
– Would prefer Facebook throw a few engineers at its other apps and web interface to fix the severely broken status feed. When was the last time it sorted correctly for you?
– If Facebook dumps the current Facebook in favor of this new one, Google+ might start looking better to me
– Don’t forget the other and first app named Paper – Paper by Fifty Three
Addenda
– Facebook Paper’s Gestural Hell
In MobileViews Podcast 73, Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall talk about: