Microsoft 365 vs Zoho WorkDrive

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. 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. 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. Zoho rebrands its cloud storage Zoho Docs as WorkDrive


Zoho's Docs gracefully transitions to Zoho WorkDrive as the new flagship solution. Zoho WorkDrive has been meticulously crafted to cater to the collaborative needs of teams, functioning as a unified workspace. It seamlessly facilitates team-wide collaboration, content sharing, and distribution, encompassing the entire content lifecycle from initial drafts to final copies. The product incorporates a comprehensive array of collaboration tools, including drafting capabilities, notifications, commenting features, and activity tracking, fostering effective teamwork. Beyond serving as a mere file storage platform, WorkDrive offers a robust cloud Office Suite encompassing Zoho Sheet for spreadsheets, Zoho Writer for document editing, and Zoho Show for presentation creation. WorkDrive further provides a desktop application that enables file synchronization across multiple computers, offline editing, and seamless sync options to the cloud. Additionally, native mobile apps for iOS and Android empower users to engage in work and collaboration from any device or location.


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.


2019. Zoho’s office suite got virtual assistant



Zoho is set to release a significant update for its primary office suite products, including Zoho Writer, Sheet, Show, and Notebooks. These tools will be enriched with the integration of Zoho's AI assistant, Zia. With this enhancement, users will be able to ask questions related to data in their spreadsheets, and Zia will generate charts and pivot tables as per their queries. Moreover, Zoho has implemented Zia in its document editor and presentation tools, enhancing the grammar and spellchecking capabilities. Additionally, users will now receive a readability score and receive tips for improving their text. In Zoho Notebook, the company's latest note-taking application, Zia will assist users in creating various formats for their note cards based on the content, such as text, photo, audio, checklist, and sketch. This integration of Zia across Zoho's office suite aims to provide users with intelligent assistance and improved productivity in their day-to-day tasks.


2018. Zoho Writer gets 7 new features



Zoho Writer is receiving an array of fresh features. You now have the capability to link headings with the subsequent text by utilizing the "Keep with next" command in Writer. This ensures that there are no interruptions or breaks inserted between the selected paragraphs. Additionally, the table controls have undergone improvements, offering more precise granularity and better organization. The new distribution options allow you to effortlessly achieve even spacing for all rows and cells with just a single click. Moreover, the introduction of the "Continue With Previous List" option is ideal for merging two distinct numbered lists, separated by a paragraph, into a cohesive series. Furthermore, the application introduces a brand-new appearance for your published pages, the ability to customize date formats, and responsive embeds.