Office Newswire: Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012 are out!

Microsoft released Windows 8 and Visual Studio 2012 yesterday. I downloaded them and will install them this afternoon. I plan to attempt to go “all in” again with Windows 8. I have an Asus slate sitting around and I’m hoping Windows 8 is just the thing to make it useful. I’ll find out soon enough. I’m going to tote this thing from place to place (with a Bluetooth keyboard) and see what happens.

I predict weeping and gnashing of teeth. I also predict I will receive much ridicule from Apple fan boys. But, their (the fan boys) time is coming. I think Surface will be all that AND a bag of chips.

I apologize for the lack of an Office Newswire last week. I took a quick trip with my son to watch the Red Sox play baseball in their home park. Fenway is 100 years old and is the jewel of MLB. My son is pretty fun too.

Office news & editorials!

• Microsoft goes all out to encourage developers to build apps for Office :: I think these web apps are going to capture a new wave of developer’s attention. It’s going to be interesting to see what the younger guys and gals create. It will be fun to see what us old guys (and gals) do as well. It’s a whole new world.
• Welcome to SharePoint Designer 2013 Customer Preview :: SharePoint Designer was not originally included in the Office 2013 consumer preview. But, it’s ready for our consumer previewing pleasure now. Read the details and download the bits. Now, where is SharePoint Workspace? Or am I one of the 5-10 people that use SPW?
• A new modern SkyDrive.com, updated apps, and Outlook.com at 10 million users :: You’ve no doubt heard of a”twofer”. Well, this is a”threefer”.
• The new Office and SharePoint Apps for IT Administrators :: Office 2013 has some great new stuff for IT Admins. There’s a lot to think about given the new app model. Developers everywhere will be building apps…this means you IT Admins will be trying to shut us down! Don’t do it… resist this urge and work with us. We are just friendly developers.
• With the Surface Tablet, fist-swinging Microsoft jumps back into the ring :: Can’t wait. When I venture out of my office to meet with clients, I want to take this device with me. I’m hoping there is good logic to prevent apps from recognizing my hand when I attempt to doodle. That’s my biggest complaint with Windows on a tablet. I want to doodle!
• SharePoint ‘Apps’ – a missed opportunity? :: There is excitement surrounding the SharePoint app store. There is also valid concern and cynicism. There is more cynicism to be found below in the Developer section of the newswire.
• Office 2013 to eat own file-format dog food :: Also here :: A bunch of details regarding the Office XML file formats.

Red alert!

• Microsoft Security Bulletin MS12-060 – Critical :: Vulnerability in Windows Common Controls Could Allow Remote Code Execution:: I recommend updating if you haven’t already.

Office tips & tricks & tools

• Microsoft Office 2013: Ten apps from the Store :: Let the lists begin! I don’t feel strongly about a single one in this list. If this is the Top 10, there is tons of room for improvement in the app store.
• Living with Office 2013 :: This is a memoir… one man’s tale of going “all in” with Windows 8 and Office 2013.
• Modern shapes in the new Visio: org chart, network, timeline, and more :: I use Visio a lot to create illustrations. I write proposals, design documents, and lots of email. I find that if I create an effective illustration, people actually go back and read what I wrote. Visio 2013 is going to be a nice.
• Access Blog – Data entry made easy :: Access is back. You don’t get videos like the one in this link unless you have budget. The Access team has some budget. They also have an interesting feature for building SharePoint apps. Access 2013 is worth following. Don’t underestimate it.
• SharePoint ToolBox 54 Project Management Template :: I’m going to give this template a try on a project.

Office developer items of note

• Microsoft Office 2013: Bye-bye add-ins, hello apps :: Mary Jo Foley tells us that the ways of old (VBA, COM, VSTO) are dead. That web apps are the only part of our Office development future. Okay, she isn’t saying it… she’s reporting what MSFT says it is.
• Office 2013 Apps Development – pros and cons :: Our own Pieter van der Westhuizen says not so fast MJF!!! Actually he says it to MSFT because MJF is only reporting the facts. This is a good article and counterpoint to all the apps hype.
• Building apps with Visual Studio and Windows Azure :: This article answered some questions regarding how Azure ties into Office & SharePoint apps.
• My SharePoint 2010 development environment setup :: I collect articles like these in an attempt to harness all the power I can when running SharePoint VM.
• SharePoint Apps a word of caution :: Some valid points. I think Azure is the answer… for good and for bad. The new apps model will have us all scratching our heads as we learn it and learn to build solid solutions with it.

Cutting Room Floor

• Start: The Windows 8 era begins :: Funny. The title says”Start” and Windows 8 lacks a Start button. Witty.
• NASA publishes ridiculously HQ panorama of Mars [12 Photos] :: So cool.
• Can employees be trusted to work from home? [INFOGRAPHIC]