If you are an Excel or a PowerPoint enthusiast, it is time you geared up for some great user experience. Earlier this month, Microsoft brought about a couple of enhancements in its Office Web Apps to make Excel and PowerPoint more user friendly. This means you will be seeing a whole lot of added features. Let’s see what they are.

For Excel users, the application has been revamped to support workbooks.  Now you will have the ability to use Excel workbooks just like you would use it on a desktop. You can now insert, delete, and rename individual worksheets in a workbook. All you need to do is open your Excel file in the online editor and right-click on a tab for a worksheet that already exists. You’ll be given the familiar options to Insert, Delete, or Rename. Clicking on the Insert button adds a new worksheet in front of your current selection while deleting asks for your confirmation to permanently delete the sheet. Click on Rename and a pop up a dialog box will appear in which you can enter the new name.

And then, there is the popular AutoSum feature which you can use for formula assistance to perform calculations and tap into popular formulas. Located on the toolbar, the AutoSum button has a down arrow so that if you click on it, it presents you with a list of formulas, such as Sum, Average, Max, and Min. The full array of functions can then be tapped into and you can even view them by different categories, such as Commonly Used, Financial, Date & Time, and Statistical.

There is something in store for PowerPoint users too. A new feature has been added to PowerPoint which lets you switch between visual themes used in your presentations at any time. All you need to do is click on the Change Theme button on the toolbar and select one of the 50 amazing themes.

Wait! There is more. The free Office Web Apps can be accessed at its own dedicated Web site which you can use to create and edit your own Office documents stored online through Microsoft’s cloud-based SkyDrive service. You can also get online tips, tricks, and tutorials to use all the programs in Office Web Apps, which include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Interested in learning more about how Office Web Apps can benefit your local business? Give us a call today.

If you are thinking of purchasing or renewing software, why not do it via eligible Open License programs, especially at a time when Big Easy 6.0 is providing an incredible offer with the latest Microsoft products? As your local Toronto Microsoft Partner, there are many programs your business can leverage to help ensure the right solutions are in place for your business and also that you are getting them for the right price plus maybe taking advantage of many Microsoft incentives.

The Big Easy 6.0 offer provides you up to 30% in partner subsidy dollars on qualifying Microsoft purchases, and the offer applies to new and renewal software purchases. You will also be able to apply these partner subsidy dollars towards future purchases of Microsoft solutions or services. With the offer, you will be able to receive a reimbursement on the purchase of a Windows Phone device through Open Business or Open Value, as well.

While making new purchases, you will be able to get 5% in partner subsidy dollars under the Open License plus Software Assurance, and the percentage is 15 for Open Value. Those who opt for an Open Value Subscription will be provided 30% partner subsidy dollars. Confused about Microsoft’s licensing programs; don’t be.  We are here to make sure your business gets the right licenses.

Likewise, if you are looking for renewing an existing license agreement, you will be able to get 30% partner subsidy dollars under the Open Value agreement where renewals are given when additional new products are purchased.

You must have already taken your pick by now. If not, we recommend you make new software purchases through the Open Value Subscription (OVS) agreement and renew existing license agreements through the Open Value (OV) agreement (because they are the most beneficial agreements!). The offer lets you choose from the latest softwares like Lync, Office 2010, Windows Server, and Exchange 2010 to name a few; but the offer lasts only until June 30, 2011.

So what are you waiting for? Grab the offer today!