Microsoft Reportedly Working on iPad Apps

[MacRumors]

As noted yesterday by TiPb, plugged-in Microsoft follower Paul Thurrott tweeted a claim that the company is working on applications for Apple's iPad.

Shhh.... It's true: Microsoft is working on iPad apps.

While Microsoft has released several applications for the smaller screen of the iPhone and iPod touch (Bing, Windows Live Messenger, Seadragon Mobile, Tag Reader), it has yet to offer any applications specifically formatted for the iPad.

Thurrott's claim is obviously extremely vague, and could simply be referring to iPad versions of some of its existing iOS apps, such as Bing. Many iPad users have been hoping, however, for iPad versions of some of Microsoft's more high-profile desktop apps such as its Office suite. Microsoft had indicated early on that it was "looking at" the idea of bringing Office to the iPad, but noted at the time of the device's initial launch that it had "no current plans" to tackle the project.

Article Link: Microsoft Reportedly Working on iPad Apps

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Microsoft is a software company; of course they are going to write iPad Apps. They already have an iPhone apps; let alone tons of Mac applications.

Hell the practically saved Apple.

I can't wait for the idiotic Apple fanboys to post here saying one of the 3:

1. eww Microsoft gross!
2. Avoid their software like a plague
3. hahhahah MS admits defeat


Get over it. Microsoft is a software corporation. They develop software for tons of industries; including cars.

 

[e-coli]

GREAT! I'm sure they'll be lightweight and only use 255MB of RAM.

 

[Wayfarer]

Microsoft is a software company; of course they are going to write iPad Apps. They already have an iPhone apps; let alone tons of Mac applications.

Hell the practically saved Apple.

I can't wait for the idiotic Apple fanboys to post here saying one of the 3:

1. eww Microsoft gross!
2. Avoid their software like a plague
3. hahhahah MS admits defeat


Get over it. Microsoft is a software corporation. They develop software for tons of industries; including cars.

Mornin' sunshine! Have you had your coffee this morning?

 

[Becordial]

I hope this is true. A lot of businesses are giving iPad a try and if Microsoft can get Office on there quickly I think they'll be hooked to having a lot of these devices around the office.

I know its not a strong rumor but I think an Office productivity app from Microsoft should be front page news.

 

[elppa]

I imagine there is something is this, because Paul Thurrott tends not to engage in rumour and hearsay and is extremely well connected with certain departments at Microsoft.

That said I've never got the impression that one of those departments is the Mac Office team.

 

[reckless2k2]

Unfortunately, I can't possibly see MS Office coming to the iPad before 2012 if at all in the next few years. It would require quite a bit of work to refit and or design for the touch screen in general. I just don't think their programmers are that innovative. It's not a knock on the company at all but I think they would truly struggle to get it to work especially within Apple's guidelines with memory requirements sticking out in my mind. There is obviously a market for the iPad beyond just consumption but MS will be very late to get in that game regardless of how popular the device becomes.

 

[nagromme]

Imagine if building for iPad forced Microsoft to rethink the complexity of Word and make a really great, streamlined app... which then migrated up to a great new Word for Mac and PC users! (Though I’m sure “Word Pro” would remain, in all it’s bloated complexity. Or “Microsoft Word 2012 Professional and Commercial Edition, Ultimate Feature Pack 2 Office Bundle Version 1.4 Enhanced”.)

 

[Liquorpuki]

If they put Office on there that would be great

Pages sucks

 

[SockRolid]

But Microsoft isn't in the software business

(blah blah)... Microsoft is a software corporation. (blah blah)...

But Microsoft isn't in the software business. They're in the Windows + Office for Windows business. So it's weird that Ballmer would divert any attention away from that one core competency.

Then again, Microsoft has lost billions on XBox, lost billions on Online Services (including Bing), and did an epic face-plant fail with KIN. So it isn't weird that Microsoft would try something, anything, to appear relevant in the 21st century.

 

[Queso]

I don't blame them. There's a lot of profit to be made by supporting the iOS platform. Maybe MS is finally coming out of its infighting phase and understanding that the shareholders' return is what's important.

 

[Dr McKay]

But Microsoft isn't in the software business. They're in the Windows + Office for Windows business. So it's weird that Ballmer would divert any attention away from that one core competency.

Then again, Microsoft has lost billions on XBox, lost billions on Online Services (including Bing), and did an epic face-plant fail with KIN. So it isn't weird that Microsoft would try something, anything, to appear relevant in the 21st century.

Xbox 360 began to turn a profit, 1 year after release. They only lost money on the old Xbox.

 

[SeattleMoose]

MS Bread And Butter is SW, Not HW

If they are to survive they should focus on SW as their HW lately just is a huge waste of $$$$

 

[alent1234]

Unfortunately, I can't possibly see MS Office coming to the iPad before 2012 if at all in the next few years. It would require quite a bit of work to refit and or design for the touch screen in general. I just don't think their programmers are that innovative. It's not a knock on the company at all but I think they would truly struggle to get it to work especially within Apple's guidelines with memory requirements sticking out in my mind. There is obviously a market for the iPad beyond just consumption but MS will be very late to get in that game regardless of how popular the device becomes.

the Bing app is pretty good and better than google in a lot of ways

Bing Maps smokes google maps. i wish they had it on the iphone with all the website features

 

[alent1234]

But Microsoft isn't in the software business. They're in the Windows + Office for Windows business. So it's weird that Ballmer would divert any attention away from that one core competency.

Then again, Microsoft has lost billions on XBox, lost billions on Online Services (including Bing), and did an epic face-plant fail with KIN. So it isn't weird that Microsoft would try something, anything, to appear relevant in the 21st century.

SQL Server and MS exchange along with Sharepoint

apple and google both use activesync. have you noticed that to set up push gmail you have to add it as a MS Exchange account?

 

[ZGXtreme]

While I have found Pages to work okay thus far, I would like to see what Word could offer on the iPad, and more so Excel!

 

[walnuts]

While echoing the not knocking Microsoft sentiment, I also don't see office coming to the iPad. Its fantastic that there is an office version for Mac at all, but the MacBU takes a while to work on office, whether it be due to lack of staffing or the complexity of the software. They are still working on the intel transition (VBA was dropped when making the rest of Office 2008 a universal app). I'm not saying anything about VBA/macros, but considering the difficulty they've had in general, I don't see them doing an iPad app.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Microsoft games would be welcome on the iPad. Halo anyone?

 

[Porco]

Who wouldn't want iPaperclip, your friendly cartoon helper?

sorry.

Seriously, this isn't surprising when they already make some iOS apps, it'd be silly not to really.

 

[chrono1081]

Microsoft is a software company; of course they are going to write iPad Apps. They already have an iPhone apps; let alone tons of Mac applications.

Hell the practically saved Apple.

I can't wait for the idiotic Apple fanboys to post here saying one of the 3:

1. eww Microsoft gross!
2. Avoid their software like a plague
3. hahhahah MS admits defeat


Get over it. Microsoft is a software corporation. They develop software for tons of industries; including cars.

As always someone yelling "FANBOY!" even though they are the first out of the gates with insults

FYI I have yet to see one of these mythical "apple fanboys", but I see plenty of people screaming fanboy and speculating what these mythical fanboys would say and getting all angry over it.

 

[chrono1081]

I hope this is true. A lot of businesses are giving iPad a try and if Microsoft can get Office on there quickly I think they'll be hooked to having a lot of these devices around the office.

I know its not a strong rumor but I think an Office productivity app from Microsoft should be front page news.

This would be nice. Hopefully it is streamlined for the iPad though.

MS has a lot of brilliant people working for them, but sometimes I think either their designers are clueless, OR (another very real possibility) the marketing department gets too much say in what goes into the software and it gets bloated.

 

[Kristenn]

Microsoft didn't "Save Apple" especially if you are referring to the buying of stocks.

Microsoft was settling a lawsuit over stolen QuickTime code. Apple had just bought next for a large sum so they weren't "Broke" by any means. Microsoft investing in Apple was more like a publicity stunt or them saying "We believe you guys will turn in profit again and we are going to back it up and develop IE and Office for your platform"

I cannot picture Word on iPad. It would be nice but Word is already so slow at just scrolling through large documents on Mac OS X that I continue to use Pages. Thus I have no problem with using Pages on the iPad whenever I happen to get one.

For the other people who like Word better than Pages or need it, Microsoft would be stupid not to give it a go. I can't picture it for a while though.

 

[Kadman]

Seems to me that Microsoft's more recent online variant of Office might be a good fit for the iPad and other mobile platforms. Lightweight, online storage, compatible document format, and familiarization might appeal to a great deal of people.

 

[NAG]

Would be nice to see Microsoft's attempt at an office suite for the iPad since Apple set the bar so low with iWork for iPad.

 

[Redaddiction]

All I would like is Microsoft One Note for iPad.