Free Microsoft Office App for iPad

■ You can alter the file layout view via the app’s top menu

It’s a deal that sounds too good to be true, but CloudOn does indeed give you the three core programs of Microsoft Office – Word, PowerPoint and Excel – optimised for your iPad. It doesn’t just let you open les created in these programs, but you can create original ones in-app and then save them to CloudOn alongside the other les in your Dropbox account. CloudOn will not work without a Dropbox account, but you can set one up for free on the website.

CloudOn is straightforward, with a tidy interface that allows you to rearrange the layout of your les by tapping an icon. There are also shortcuts for creating a new document and for accessing the settings and other menu options. Cleverly, the app has directly ported the interface of Microsoft O ffice, so when you open Word or PowerPoint, you see it how you would on a desktop. CloudOn also has a useful autosave feature.

■ Change the layout of your file menu to suit your working

One other notable aspect of the functionality is the ability to pinch zoom while working on a document. Working in the same format as on a desktop is true to every extent in CloudOn, even when the time comes to make a presentation. Rather than using a PDF viewing setup as other apps like this do, CloudOn presents in full PowerPoint mode, which is de nitely impressive. It also means you don’t have to worry about formatting les in speci fic ways.

The issue that users will pick up on when using CloudOn is the keyboard lag. There is a slight delay between touching the keys and the letters appearing on screen, also, CloudOn also does not support images, so when it comes to using PowerPoint this works more e ffectively as an editing or checking tool, rather than a fullblown creator of presentations. But with a few updates, CloudOn has the potential to become the go-to app for anyone looking to transport their home PC to their iPad.

■ Using this does come with some typing drawbacks

CloudOn
Microsoft Office on your iPad, for free
Price: Free, Developer: CloudOn Inc
Rating ★★★★★

taken from :
iPad App Directory Volume 5
Imagine Publishing Ltd