Microsoft 365 vs Zoho

2022. Microsoft Office is getting a new name - Microsoft 365



Microsoft 365 is the new name chosen by Microsoft to rebrand its 32-year-old software package. Over the next few months, Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office app for Windows will undergo a transformation and become the Microsoft 365 app, featuring a fresh icon, an updated appearance, and an expanded set of features. However, the names of the individual apps within the Microsoft Offi... I mean, the Microsoft 365 software suite, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and others, will remain unchanged. Rest assured, Office itself will not disappear immediately. Microsoft has confirmed that it will continue to offer one-time purchases of individual Office apps through Office 2021 and Office LTSC plans, and there will be no alterations to Office 365 subscription plans.


2022. Microsoft may discontinue selling software and services to Russia



The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently implemented new export control regulations concerning Russia, imposing limitations on the export of hardware and software to the country. There have been calls for Microsoft to refrain from exporting software to Russia, although the company has yet to provide any official response. Uncertainty remains regarding the differentiation between software usage for consumer and industrial purposes, as well as how U.S. companies will navigate these sanctions. The potential consequences of this ban are significant, as it could impede Russia's long-term economic growth by preventing companies from upgrading their Windows and Office software. In recent years, the Russian government has attempted to reduce reliance on Microsoft within the country, but achieved limited success.


2020. New and improved Zoho Workplace adds Dashboard view


Zoho has introduced an enhanced version of Workplace, a comprehensive set of productivity, communication, and collaboration tools. Workplace goes beyond being a mere collection of applications; it serves as a fully integrated and unified workspace that seamlessly integrates with other business applications. This integration ensures that the context is preserved and a continuous workflow is maintained. The latest addition to the integrated Zoho Workplace is the Dashboard view, which organizes and presents recent and crucial work items such as emails, calendar schedules, important documents, reminders, and more. Workplace not only simplifies the process of switching between apps but also ensures that the context is maintained, enabling a seamless transition from one app to another. For instance, an email attachment received in Mail can be edited using Writer and then uploaded to WorkDrive, while the email thread can be continued in Cliq as a group conversation. Additionally, an event can be created from this conversation, and a meeting can be launched directly from the event's calendar entry.


2020. Microsoft brings transcriptions to Word



Microsoft launched Transcribe in Word, its new transcription service for Microsoft 365 subscribers. The service is currently available in the online version of Word, with plans to expand to other platforms in the future. Additionally, Word is introducing new dictation features that allow users to format and edit their text using their voice. This feature enables users to transcribe both live and pre-recorded speech and make edits directly within Word. By offering these capabilities, Microsoft enters the competition against startups like Otter and Google's Recorder app, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Currently, Transcribe in Word is limited to English and only accessible to paid Microsoft 365 accounts.


2020. All new Zoho Writer adds collaboration analytics and templates flow


Zoho has unveiled the latest version of its online text processor, Zoho Writer 6, which introduces a new collaboration analytics tool called Engagement Insights. This powerful tool provides users with comprehensive and valuable information about how their collaborators interact with their documents. Particularly in the context of legal documents such as proposals, Engagement Insights offers insights into which sections are deemed crucial or confusing by clients. Additionally, Zoho Writer 6 aims to streamline the document creation process, reducing the need for manual editing, copy/pasting, and content duplication when generating contracts, proposals, letters, and customized marketing materials. This enhancement is facilitated through the new Prepare Template flow, enabling users to configure document templates for workflow automation. These templates can then be connected to data sources, such as Zoho CRM or third-party applications, using native Zoho integrations, Deluge Custom Functions, or REST APIs.


2020. Microsoft rebrands Office 365 to Microsoft 365


Microsoft marketers seemingly found themselves with spare time during the quarantine and decided to rebrand Office 365 as Microsoft 365. Effective from April 21, all Office subscriptions will be transitioned to Microsoft 365 subscriptions. However, the pricing and functionality will remain unchanged. The alterations to functionality will only impact personal plans, where the personal version of Microsoft Teams will be introduced. This presents a valuable opportunity for individual entrepreneurs utilizing the personal version to collaborate with employees or other entrepreneurs. In the future, Microsoft intends to justify the rebranding by incorporating non-Office services, including security systems, and potentially even integrating the Windows operating system.


2020. Microsoft launches unified Office app for iOS and Android


Microsoft has made a significant announcement regarding its Dynamics 365 product line, in response to the growing volume of enterprise data and the need to collect and analyze it effectively to enhance customer experiences. The company is introducing new features to its customer data platform (CDP), a concept that has gained traction among major vendors and a growing number of startups. The CDP consolidates customer data from various systems into a single location, simplifying the understanding of customer interactions. The ultimate objective is to leverage this knowledge to deliver enhanced customer experiences. Microsoft's CDP is known as Customer Insights. It is important to note that Microsoft is not the only player in this domain. Other prominent companies like Adobe, Salesforce, and SAP offer similar products for similar reasons, as part of their marketing toolsets.


2019. Microsoft merges mobile Word, Excel and PowerPoint into single Office app


Microsoft has unveiled the Office app, a revolutionary solution that delivers a streamlined and integrated experience by merging the existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint mobile applications. This groundbreaking development consolidates all your Office documents into a unified platform, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps and significantly reducing the storage footprint on your phone compared to individual installations. With the new app, you gain convenient access to recent and recommended documents stored in the cloud or on your device. If you have a work account, you can even search for documents across your organization. Additionally, the app empowers you to capture a photo of a document and effortlessly convert it into an editable Word file with a single tap. It also enables you to transform images of tables into functional Excel spreadsheets, allowing seamless data manipulation. Moreover, integrated Office Lens features within the app enable you to create enhanced digital copies of whiteboards and documents, making collaboration and archiving more efficient.


2019. Microsoft added table OCR to mobile Excel



Microsoft has introduced a new functionality to the mobile Excel application, enabling users to capture an image of a printed table and convert it into an editable Excel spreadsheet. Currently, this feature is exclusively available for Android users, but it will soon be extended to iOS as well. It is important to note that this feature is limited to Office 365 users. However, it is primarily designed for simple tables, as more complex tables with merged cells may result in recognition errors.


2018. Microsoft launches Office 2019 for Windows, macOS



Office 2019 represents the latest version of Microsoft's suite of productivity tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visio, Access, and Publisher, available for on-premises use. With PowerPoint 2019, users can create captivating presentations using new features such as Morph and Zoom, enabling cinematic effects. Across Windows applications, including the roaming pencil case, pressure sensitivity, and tilt effects, enhanced inking features provide a natural way to create documents. Excel 2019 introduces powerful data analysis capabilities, encompassing new formulas, charts, and enhancements to PowerPivot. Word 2019 and Outlook 2019 are designed to enhance productivity and focus. Learning Tools, such as Read Aloud and Text Spacing, facilitate content engagement, while Focus Mode eliminates distractions and prioritizes content visibility. Additionally, Focused Inbox streamlines email management by filtering less important messages.