Remember that Office for iPad product shot that was floating around earlier today? Well, Microsoft won’t actually come out and call it bogus, but they do say any report of Office for iPad is based on “inaccurate rumors and speculation.” So is that a denial or what?
The New York Times reached out to Microsoft, who said:
The Daily Story [about Microsoft Office for iPad] is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation. We have no further comment.”
That seems like a pretty strongly worded non-denial that they are working on Microsoft Office for iPad. Rather, it seems likely that Microsoft is working on Office for iOS devices, but they aren’t ready to announce it… and it’s hardly imminent.
Ars Technica agrees that the Daily’s report is likely bogus:
Ars was unable to obtain independent confirmation of the app’s existence from our own sources, and as such, we’re left feeling skeptical of The Daily’s claims. For one, it’s likely that the Mac BU would be involved in the development of an iPad app, and the photo appears to show no Mac BU branding. Additionally, three-apps-in-one is atypical for the App Store and may not pass Apple’s review. And finally, the claim that Microsoft could take an app from design-to-finished product within weeks seems especially aggressive, and it’s highly unlikely that the app would be coded before the design is finalized.
In his original report, The Daily’s Matt Hickey has gone as far as to say that he played with a working prototype. Was he just lying, or was he scammed? Plus, the leaked shot seems to indicate that the app is being prepared for Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week, which would make sense as a venue for Microsoft to debut it.
So what’s really going on, here? We don’t know, but we’re skeptical it really matters anyway.
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
18 responses to “Microsoft Is In Denial About Office For iPad”
It’s a non-denial. Read it carefully. They said the article was based on rumor and speculation. That’s all. It could be a way to quiet things down prior to an official reveal (iPad event?).
Not a chance that a Microsoft product would be announce at an iPad event, if the event is hosted by Apple.
Who the hell cares?
What John Brownlee says Microsoft stated: …any report of Office for iPad is based on “inaccurate rumors and speculation.”…
What Microsoft actually stated: …The Daily Story is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation…
These two statements are so far apart I can’t fathom how any logic or reason was used to come up with such an inaccurate conclusion.
Maybe I’m having one of those days, but I can’t find the difference in your statement…
Best Windows machine is a Mac.
Best Windows Office Tablet is an iPad.
yep, I agree, who cares?
Why not? The message would be clear for those holding out for a “real” productivity suite for the iPad: “What’s your excuse now?”
“any report of Office for iPad” is clearly a more expansive scope than “The Daily Story.”
One outright rejects any notion of the product while one rejects only the Daily’s story for any number (1 to n) of reasons.
No different when Apple denies something that hasn’t been released yet. Quit stirring the pot…
I agree. MS cannto change. They will slowly hobble the iPad version and only new fetures will go into their own tablet version. Its the same old game they have been playing for 30 years. Don’t produce the best softwrae….just make sure the worst versions are on other OSes.
MS Office on the iPad is a poisoned chalice worth steering clear of.
Yo dog I hurd u lik toolbars
Why would you WANT MS porkulous on a iPad? Its too cumbersome, difficult and unnecessary on a sleek device like iPad. Pages is more than enough.
That could have been the screenshot of the Interface ( Home screen ) of the so-future planned Microsoft office….
That could have been the screenshot of the Interface ( Home screen ) of the so-future planned Microsoft office….
But the rumors are two of the same. Who cares whether one source claims it or all sources? Microsoft would reject all rumors and speculation.
Can’t agree with you more. I’ve said for years now that the best machine to run Windows is my iMac.
their language was specific