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        Office software for Windows CE enters beta

        Doug | Date: Dec 11, 2006 | Comments: 1


        SoftMaker Software GmbH has released the first public beta of an office application for Windows CE. SoftMaker Office 2006, which includes a word processor and a spreadsheet, already runs on Pocket PCs and desktop Windows systems, according to the company.



        SoftMaker contends that a "full-featured" office suite for handheld devices running Windows CE has been "sorely lacking." The preinstalled Pocket Word and Pocket Excel applications that come with most Pocket PCs are little more than a "toy office" that provide only "rudimentary functionality" and remove most formatting from existing Word and Excel files, according to the company.



        Windows CE versions of TextMaker (top) and PlanMaker (bottom)

        SoftMaker's Office 2006 suite includes two applications:
        • TextMaker 2006 -- is a word processor compatible with most word processing formats, including "all versions" of Microsoft Word.
        • PlanMaker 2006 -- a spreadsheet application "completely compatible" with Microsoft Excel
        The public beta version of SoftMaker Office 2006 for Windows CE is currently available as a free download, here; it will be functional until Jan. 31, 2007, according to the company. Following the beta phase, the final version will be priced at around $70. There is also a beta version available for Linux and FreeBSD, here.


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