It’s raining betas in Redmond. Microsoft just released the public betas for Office 2010, Web Apps and Office Mobile 2010. Visio 2010 and Project 2010 have also gotten public beta releases. The improvements to both of these very useful apps are really welcome, as they’ve both finally acquired the ribbon interface along with updates features and productivity boosts thanks to various visual changes as well as some behind the scenes work.
Visio 2010
Some of the best improvements in Visio 2010 are the updates to the UI, updated shapes if you’re creating diagrams for Windows apps ( in 2007 they resembled the XP UI instead of Vista’s UI ) and it also lets you create and share data linked diagrams via web browsers which will come in handy to many!
The advanced diagramming tools of Visio 2010 help you simplify complexity with dynamic, data-driven visuals and new ways to share on the Web in real-time.
Start by building your diagram with professional-looking templates and modern, pre-drawn shapes. Then, easily link your diagram to popular data sources (such as Excel). You’ll see data automatically refresh right within your diagram, reflected in vibrant visuals such as icons, symbols, colors, and bar graphs. Finally, with just a few clicks, publish your data-linked diagram to SharePoint, and provide access to others on the Web, even if they don’t have Visio.
Together, simplicity, data-driven shapes, and Web sharing make Visio 2010 one of the most powerful ways to see and understand important information.
Project 2010
Project 2010 has improved navigation, thanks to the inclusion of ribbon UI as well as a streamlined and visually pleasing timeline which makes it easier to work with and provides a clearer view of things. Collaboration has been made easier than before allowing you to exchange ideas and work with team mates on project planning and scheduling.
Poised for the ascent, Microsoft Project 2010 offers flexibility and choice for individuals, teams and the enterprise to effectively manage all types of work — from simple tasks to complex projects and programs. Project 2010 delivers innovative new capabilities:
- From a simple and intuitive user experience — plan, schedule and successfully complete important work
- Enhance productivity using a sophisticated yet easy-to-use tool with built in reporting and powerful collaboration capabilities
- Select the right projects, optimize scarce resources and manage costs with unified product and portfolio management
- Built on Microsoft SharePoint 2010, choose a flexible and powerful work management solution that integrates, extends, and scales for the enterprise
