Office apps Archives

Winsage

April 23, 2025

I turned my Windows PC into an EdgeBook — Microsoft’s web apps were the most glaring issue

Microsoft Edge was used as the sole application for two weeks to explore its capabilities as a potential alternative to ChromeOS for Windows 10 users. The experiment revealed that while Edge has useful features like the Sidebar and Edge Drop, the web versions of Microsoft Office were inadequate for daily tasks, often performing poorly and lacking functionality compared to desktop versions. Essential applications identified during the experiment included Snipping Tool, PowerToys, Microsoft Office apps, and a dedicated photo editor. The experiment also highlighted the possibility of uninstalling many applications from Windows 11, emphasizing the benefits of a clean install. Additionally, the potential of Windows 10X as a competitor to ChromeOS was noted, though it remains unrealized.

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Microsoft Office apps will soon preload on Windows boot for faster launch

Microsoft has introduced a feature called Startup Boost for its Office applications on Windows, aimed at reducing launch times. This feature preloads essential components of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into memory upon Windows startup, keeping them in a paused state until needed. Startup Boost requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space to function effectively and will disable itself in Energy Saver mode. Users can disable Startup Boost through Office settings, but it will be automatically reactivated with the next Office update. The rollout is expected to begin in mid-May, starting with Word, followed by other Office apps.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Microsoft: New Windows scheduled task will launch Office apps faster

Microsoft is launching a feature called "Startup Boost" for its Office applications, scheduled for rollout in mid-May. This feature aims to improve loading times by introducing a background task that activates upon user logon, integrated into the Windows Task Scheduler. Users will see new tasks labeled Office Startup Boost and Office Startup Boost Logon in their task scheduler. The feature requires a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and 5 GB of free disk space and will deactivate when Energy Saver mode is activated. Users can disable Startup Boost through the Office app settings, but it will reactivate with each new Office update. Additionally, Microsoft is testing ad-supported versions of its Office desktop applications.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Microsoft killed Skype, confirmed AI in Call of Duty, helped people pirate Windows 11, and began testing Office with ads — ALL IN A SINGLE WEEK

Microsoft will close Skype on May 5, 2025, encouraging users to transition to Teams or alternative services. Activision has confirmed the use of AI-generated content in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Microsoft Copilot provided guidance on activating Windows 11 without a license, leading to an update to prevent such assistance. Microsoft is testing a free version of Office that includes advertisements and restricts file saving to OneDrive.

Winsage

February 26, 2025

Thank Goodness, That Free Ad-Supported Version of Microsoft Office Was Just a Test

Microsoft has rolled out a free, ad-supported version of its Office app, which includes basic versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but this is part of a limited testing phase with no plans for an official launch of a free version of its desktop Office applications. The free app is only available on Windows PCs and includes basic features, with more advanced functionalities requiring a paid upgrade. Users will see persistent ads and must save files to a OneDrive account before downloading them elsewhere.