The September 2005 edition of Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference got under way today with a keynote address by Bill Gates and a “live preview” of the next version of Office, according to a CNET report.
“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, PowerPoint, Excel, Access and parts of Outlook,” CNET reports.
“The first test version of Office 12 is due in fall 2005, and the finished product in the second half of 2006,” CNET reports.
More images here.
A Slashdot blurb states, “Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Aqua and brushed metal looks from Mac OS X the menus now appear to operate more like a tab popping-out the right toolbar instead of a sub-menu.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: There’s a reason why the Microsofties up in Redmond call Apple “R&D South.” Microsoft is perpetually behind the curve, as Apple has already moved on from brushed metal with their latest iTunes 5 for Windows interface.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Windows czar Allchin says Apple copying Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn – April 27, 2005
Microsoft employees leaving due to (and blogging about) malaise smothering company – April 25, 2005
eWEEK Editor Coursey: Longhorn so far ‘looks shockingly like a Macintosh’ – April 25, 2005
Due in late 2006, many of Windows Longhorn’s features have been in Mac OS X since 2001 – April 25, 2005
Microsoft’s new mantra: ‘It Just Works’ ripped straight from Apple’s ‘Switch’ campaign – April 22, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Microsoft’s Longhorn: ‘They are shamelessly copying us’ – April 21, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn will bear more than just a passing resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – April 15, 2005
Silicon Valley: Apple CEO Steve Jobs previews ‘Longhorn’ – June 29, 2004
PC Magazine: Microsoft ‘Longhorn’ preview shows ‘an Apple look’ – May 06, 2004
Microsoft concerned that Longhorn’s look and feel will be copied if revealed too soon – August 25, 2003
Windows ‘Longhorn’ to add translucent windows that ripple and shrink by 2005 – May 19, 2003
you got to be kidding . . .
Confirmation that it’s smart of Apple to phase out the brushed metal look. It’s gone from iTunes 5, hopefully more design updates will follow. I was never a big fan. And if MS thinks it’s cool, you know it’s passe by now.
har har har …. eww boy
Oftem imitated and duplicated, Apple is.
M$ is scared of the MacTels, they are desperatly trying to plug the leaks before Apple takes over.
Aside from the standard “What a ripoff!!” there’s a little usability problem. The title bar blends into the menu. That makes the menus even harder to get with the mouse. OS X, of course, puts the menus at the top of the monitor so your mouse only has to worry about one axis of movement to find the right menu.
This version of Office looks like they consulted the Mac BU. There are still a bewildering number of tools thrown on the tool bars. I guess Windows will always be the cluttered OS.
I absolutely LOVE the new visual design in iTunes, you can see the refinement from the Version 4 look, brushed metal is so last year.
From: Winston
Confirmation that it’s smart of Apple to phase out the brushed metal look. It’s gone from iTunes 5, hopefully more design updates will follow. I was never a big fan. And if MS thinks it’s cool, you know it’s passe by now.
From: Jamie Kelly
I absolutely LOVE the new visual design in iTunes, you can see the refinement from the Version 4 look, brushed metal is so last year.
The new look in office is not brushed metal (no brush marks) it is more like the new itunes look.
http://pdc.xbetas.com.nyud.net:8090/?page=o12preview1
I think it was Ruyard Kipling who said: “They copied all they could copy, but they couldn’t copy my mind. So I left ’em sweatin’ and stealin’, a year and a half behind.”
I think it’s great. Office will look sweet on a Mac, and it will make Windows users want to migrate to Mac.
At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
That lot at Redmond have absolutely no shame.
It’s obvious from this and new aqua, er, aero look for Windoze that they are trying to muddy the waters to confuse consumers.
Come up with your own ideas for a change ya wankers! Didn’t your mothers teach you stealing and cheating is naughty?
did you see “vista chess” ?
Redmond start your photocopiers. Indeed.
SJ did put up banners that said, “Redmond Start your Copiers.”
Check out the preview of the file menu:
Of course they may change it, but it amuses me that they are using floppy disks for “Save”. When was the last time you used a floppy disk? I’m sure I haven’t touched one in at least a year.
http://news.com.com/2300-1012_3-5862875-1.html
Look at the “Software Industry Milestones” image on the screen at the bottom of this picture…
Does that say “1995 – GUI”?!?! Didn’t Apple release a GUI 10 years earlier?
oh, and Bill, PINK? c’mon Bill, can’t you afford a better color shirt??!!
Yeah, Chris W. is right. And the 3D look of the buttons in Vista is an even more blatant rip-off, but done with less finesse.
You can put a bow tie on a pig; lipstick, facial cream, perfume. It’s still a pig.
Hey, Redmond has to cut corners somewhere. Just think how much time and resources they would have to spend to develop their own interface. And then they would have to push Long…er Vista’s release back at least another 2 years. I mean really, look how much time they saved by copying OS 6 (1989) for Win95.
Bet those Redmond copiers are getting might hot having to run all the time.
I wonder how many of the iApplications will get a face-lift when 10.4.3 comes out? Certainly Safari and Mail. That leaves iPhoto, iDVD, iMovie, Garageband, and the iWorks bundle.
MW- right, as in M$ has fallen right into the copycat trap.
Yeah Greg, you can also put makeup on a turd (OS X) yet still have a turd.
I think the new UI for Orfice 12 is actually quit innovative. Far be it for any of you to admit that. I’ve seen some cool menu’s come from noth companies, But the one in #2 is quite possibly an ingenious way of sorting menu buttons and getting the cluster fsck out of office..I like it.
The UI for Office12 has tabs. After years of shipping just about the only web browser that does not have tabs, Micro$oftopoly will probably now try to patent the idea. That’s the M$ way…
Aqua-like highlights on selected tabs. Wonder where they saw that?
And it even gets better. MS released their first WinFX Vista app for Windows XP (via some bloatware framework), a photo sharing app called Max. In it, they have a new “Mantle View” that arranges pictures just like iChat’s 3d conferencing views, complete with table top reflections. Looks like a cut and paste out of iChat, except with still pictures.
http://www.microsoft.com/max/
Ironic that just as Apple is abandoning Brushed Metal, Microsoft decides to adopt it. Late as usual.
BTW, everyone has to read John Gruber’s extremely hilarious take on the demise of Brushed Metal:
http://daringfireball.net/2005/09/anthropomorphized
(warning: lots of language, as “Brushed Metal” is cleverly presented as an egotistical young hotshot actor who suddenly finds that he’s not “it” anymore)
Office 12 isnt brushed metal you nitwits, how about looking alittle closer at the “skin” before making a judgement of what it looks like. Its no more than a silver gradient finish on the title bar….
morons.