CloudOn promises MS Office suite on iPad
updated 05:10 pm EST, Tue January 3, 2012
Tools require Internet access to function
A new app, CloudOn, is offering use of Microsoft Office on the iPad without having to connect to a remote desktop PC. This includes access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint via a Windows-style interface, and support for many major tasks and features. Among these are things like commenting, spellchecking, and running PowerPoint presentations.
Documents can be pulled from either iPad email or a Dropbox account. Dropbox is in fact required to use the app, but this allows file management, and documents are saved automatically. A more critical limit is the need for an Internet connection, since in reality the app is accessing a cloud-based interface. One missing function moreover is the ability to paste in images from outside the app.
The CloudOn app is a free download from the App Store. Users must be running iOS 4.2 or later.
