Finally a new version of Microsoft Office is coming out for the Mac in a couple of months. If you buy the current Office package now you can upgrade to this new version for free. The prices are quite reasonable as compared to what they used to charge for Office but still way more than iWork, Open Office and Google Docs.

So if you or your company lives within Microsoft and the only way you can use a Mac is if you succumb to using Office, we can think of worse deaths but we’re interested to find out which office suite you use and if these new features for Office: Mac 2011 will get you to buy it?

We here at the ‘Punch love iWork – all 3 programs look and work better than the Office suite does for us, and actually makes it feel fun to work in. While we’re not doing huge spreadsheets and multi-document files, its ease of use and price (HK$650) makes it a winner.

Sure we also use Google Docs when we are collaborating with others but for all the money Google has you’d think they could hire some nice UI designers even if it can be argued that its a free and fast fully-featured Office substitute.

Here are some videos from Microsoft (yes we know, 2 posts in 2 days) about their new Office suite and we think its interesting enough to watch:

New features include:

• Compatibility: Microsoft has focused on making Office for Mac 2011 more compatible with the Windows version than ever before, ensuring that users and documents can move seamlessly between platforms.
• Graphing: Office for Mac 2011 brings a number of new tools to help users display data in graphical formats, including the Sparklines feature that debuted in Office for Windows 2010. Sparklines allows users to display simple data in small graphs that fit right into the cells of Excel spreadsheets to provide a significant amount of information at just a quick glance.
• Photo Editing: Available throughout the suite, photo editing tools will allow users to perform a number of tasks such as filter application, background removal, and color correction without having to leave the document on which they are working.

Editions and pricing include:

• Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Messenger and is priced at $119 for a single install or $149 for a Family Pack allowing up to three installs in a single household.
• Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Messenger and is priced at $199 for a single install or $279 for a Multi-Pack that allows a user to install Office on two of their Macs.
• Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Messenger and is available for higher education students, staff, and faculty, with a single install priced at $99. This academic version may only be purchased from authorized academic stores or direct from Microsoft.

Office 2011 will be available in 13 languages, including Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Sorry, looks like the Chinese version availability will be announced in October.

via Macrumors.com

You have to wonder what’s going on at Sony. They make phones and they make handheld music devices and they make portable game devices and we’re sure they’ve seen the iPhone by now – but only rumors and shushed sounds on a potential PS game/phone device. But look who’s beaten then to the table?

This Fall when Windows Phone 7 ships from Microsoft its going to have a whole integration with its Xbox platform and now you can see what its going to look like.

Engadget broke the story today on the launch games: Castlevania, Halo: Waypoint, Star Wars, Crackdown, and Guitar Hero, alongside a handful of newer properties like the ultra-cute ilomilo, produced in-house by Microsoft Game Studios.

Head over to Engadget to see tons of photos and tons of videos of the offline phone giving you a pretty nice look at the experience.

We played with an early build of Windows Phone 7 about 2 months ago and it was running on an LG phone. All we’ll say for now is that it looks like Microsoft, ironically, put too much into the aesthetic and not enough into practicality of the phone (not to mention it lacks everything the first gen iPhone lacked) but we’re still hoping that by the time it comes out that some of kinks will be worked out and if it really does integrate seamlessly with say Microsoft Office then it could get some marketshare in the business world.

So to cover the other side – the fun side – adding in this Xbox gaming side is pitch perfect. While Asia is more Playstation than Xbox. the 360 has a very serious hold on the worldwide gaming community, but will they gravitate to this new device.

Tell us what you think in today’s poll:

It was a hot sticky Sunday afternoon, as we discovered not everyone is in line for an iPad, as hundreds of gamers came out in force to buy the new Xbox 360 console this past weekend.

The special first day sale took place in the Atrium of Langham Place Mall in Mong Kok and gamers had been queuing up since the mall opened its doors that morning for a chance to be among the first 200 people in Hong Kong to own the new Microsoft console.

The new Xbox 360 features a new slighter slimmer and edgier body that comes with a whopping 250GB hard drive and built-in Kinect hardware, making this Xbox 360 2.0 console a definite must buy for the hardcore gamer.

There to help launch the new 2.0 console was celebrity ??? and local super Halo gamer girl ??? (who only plays Halo with the best of the best in the world).

Those that attended and bought a console each received data transfer cable and a special coupon that will allow them to try out the new Kinect system at this year’s Ani-Con that is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai at the end of this month.

There was also a special deluxe package that was available for an extra HK$399 on top of the HK$2,369 for the console, which included an extra controller with re-chargeable battery and charging cable, a carry bag and two games (Forza Motor Sport 3 and Nier).

The new Xbox 360 2.0 console is available now at your nearest gaming retailer for the suggested retail price of HK$2,369. Kinect is coming in November so plenty of time to practice your skillz before jumping around with it.

Yesterday, Microsoft Hong Kong officially launched MS Office 2010 their latest installment of their widely used office tools suite. Neonpunch was at the official launch event that was held at the Hong Kong Air Cadet West Kowloon Helipad (it’s very near Elements).

Yes, we were outside in the heat, on one of the hottest and humid days in Hong Kong to watch Raymond Lam (林峯) fly in on a helicopter to kick-off the launch of MS Office 2010! Because nothing says “Office” more than being outside in the humidity, with helicoptors, big inflatable balls and Raymond Lam.

If things weren’t hot enough Neonpunch’s favourite models Emma and Wing were in attendance to double team our photographer with their sweet hot summer smiles.

During the launch presentation Raymond Lam confessed he was a lifelong MS user and said “I don’t know any other operating system,” the comment was met with cheers and applause from some very pleased MS Bosses. At the end of 20 minutes of pomp and circumstance where big cardboard checks were doled out to contest winners and a whopping HK$50,000 was donated to the HK Air Cadet Corps, we were given the opportunity to try out the new MS Office 2010. Unfortunately due to the heat and the fact that the shuttle bus back to Tsim Sha Tsui was leaving 5 minutes after the end of the presentation, we didn’t get to put the new office suite through its paces.

But according to MS hype and press release the new Office 2010 can do these things:

• Create great-looking documents and presentations. Express creativity in PowerPoint 2010 presentations with new video and photo editing features. Add extensive text effects and table formatting options in Word 2010. Reveal important trends in data with Sparklines in Excel 2010. OneNote 2010 makes everything you need simple to find, organize and share.
• Connect and work together more simply. Advanced e-mail management and calendaring capabilities in Outlook 2010 and the new Outlook Social Connector help people stay productive and in touch with personal and business networks. Work with others more efficiently using new co-authoring in Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and OneNote 2010. Deliver presentations over the Web with new PowerPoint Broadcast Slideshow.
• Get things done from virtually anywhere. With Office 2010 and the Office Web Apps — the online companions to Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote — people have the freedom to save documents directly from Office 2010 to Windows Live SkyDrive, then view, edit and share those documents in the cloud. The Office Web Apps preserve the look and feel of Office documents, so valuable content and formatting are not compromised while moving between the PC, phone and browser. Office Mobile 2010 also is available from Windows Phone Marketplace for all Windows Mobile 6.5 phones. People using Office Mobile 2010 can perform lightweight editing of Office documents and take notes on the go, or work on Office documents stored on their phone or attached to an e-mail.

Suggested Retail Price

• Home & Student (for 3 machines) – HK$1,204
• Home & Business (1 for primary use and 1 for back-up) – HK$2,199
• Professional (1 for primary use and 1 for back-up) – HK$3,899

MS Office 2010 is available from Fortress, Broadway and more than 100 retail outlets. As part of the launch promotion customers can also get a MS BlueTrack Mouse 6000 and Office training toolkit if purchasing Office 2010 with Lenovo machines at chain retail stores Fortress and Broadway or the Lenovo Pro Shops at Shatin and Tsim Sha Tsui.

We get one holiday and the video game world explodes. We’ll try and catch you up on what you may have missed yesterday.

At the E3 Expo, Microsoft unveiled “Kinect“, the motion-sensing game system that plugs into Xbox and allows hands-free games and controlling the console with voice commands. It will begin selling in November 4, before the crucial holiday season, hoping to lure new and casual players to the Xbox and steal a march on rivals Nintendo Co Ltd and Sony Corp.

The world’s largest software vendor will also begin selling a smaller, same-priced version of the console this week. But the new Xbox 360 will not be able to read players’ motions without the Kinect add-on. Microsoft ambitions to make its Xbox 360 not just a gaming device but a hub of home video and Web entertainment,

Kinect uses a three-camera system and gesture recognition software to read a player’s body movements and then translates those actions onto the TV screen into the game to let people play videogames using natural body gestures instead of hand-held controllers. The platform, if it works well, takes gamers a step beyond Nintendo’s Wii.

Microsoft didn’t disclose how much Kinect will sell for, though analysts’ estimates range from $50 to $200.

On its launch day, Kinect will drop with 15 titles. Microsoft highlighted 6 of the 15:

• Kinectimals – Lets youngsters play with virtual animals, sort of like Nintendogs but with wild and impossibly cute animals.
• Kinect Sports – Soccer, bowling, beach volleyball, pingpong and boxing competitions, track and field games. A bit like Wii Sports.
• Joyride – a racing game, lets players use their hands to hold an imaginary steering wheel – “Thrill of high speed kart racing, with the joy of controller-free gaming”
• Kinect Adventures – an adventure that lets players raft down digital rivers.
• Your Shape: Fitness Evolved – an amazing looking fitness game that lets users track their personal fitness and do workouts with digital trainers. The game features running and aerobics.
• Dance Central – brings a So You Think You Can Dance experience at home, without needing to step on stupid pads or mats.

Microsoft also offered sneak peeks of a LucasArts game, in which Jedi Knights do battle with light sabers, something very enticing. In demonstrations, Microsoft employees showed how Kinect can also be used for video chats as well as to listen to music and watch movies with friends in other locations.

But that’s not all. Microsoft also struck a deal with ESPN network to broadcast live sporting events through the Xbox 360 games console, bypassing traditional cable providers.

Nintendo’s got Wii. Microsoft’s got Kinect. Your Move, Sony.

Earlier this week we picked out the best Android phones, well if you are still not sold on those as alternatives you still have one more big one coming later this year.

Microsoft announced its next-generation mobile OS for mobile devices and dubbed it as Windows Phone 7. It is successor to Microsoft’s line of Windows Mobile operating system. According to the announcement Microsoft made at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, the project formerly known as “Windows Phone 7 Series” is set to be released by the holiday shopping season.

Unlike its predecessors, is focused on regular mobile phone users instead of just business users. The WP7 features a new METRO User Interface, which is a bit similar to Zune HD’s UI. On the Start Menu, a barrage of “tiles” is displayed, showing you the apps and functions that you most often use or do on your phone. These tiles can also show real time data from apps like Facebook, Calendar, etc.

Another feature of WM7 is People Hub, which shows you the people in your phonebook, whom you usually call, exchange messages with or connect with, whether they’re your Facebook buddies or GMail contacts. Since it allows you to sync with Facebook, you can view your friends’ updates thru People Hub.

Another feature is Office Hub, which allows you to easily sync your Microsoft Office documents between your phone and your PC. Office Hub comprises of OneNote, ideal for notetaking, and Documents and Sharepoint for presentation collaboration. Office Hub also syncs with Outlook and offers features found on the desktop version like mail flagging. WP7 will also come with a mobile version of Xbox LIVE, complete with Spotlight feed, gamer’s avatar, achievements and profile display.

WP7S also allows users to purchase games and apps easily from the Windows Marketplace and play games with other users.

There’s no multitasking in Windows Phone 7 – in general most apps won’t simply be able to carry on when you switch away from them. Aside from the lack of multitasking, Microsoft has another notably absent headline feature that’ll undoubtedly ruffle some feathers: copy and paste. You would have thought Microsoft would have included this since Apple initially didn’t.

Still, while Microsoft is laying down the ground rules in an effort to construct a more reliable experience across different phones, it doesn’t mean there won’t be variety. Different devices will have their own distinctive features, like keyboards and front-facing cameras, but in general there will be a much more sturdy tone in the nature of Windows Phone 7 devices.

According to Engadget, here’s a look at the specs thus far:

• At first, only large 800 x 480 (WVGA) touchscreens will be permitted.
• Five specific hardware buttons are required: Start, back, search (which integrates with Bing services where appropriate), camera button, and power.
• Capacitive multi-touch with support for a minimum of four contact points, though no more than two are used by any of the platform’s six native gestures (developers are welcome to use as many as they like).
• A Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with DirectX 9 graphics support. Microsoft says the platform is flexible enough to expand to other chips in the future, but right now it’s all Qualcomm.
• 256MB of RAM or more
• 8GB of internal Flash storage or more
• No support for microSD cards, though that’s partially offset by the requirement for capacious internal storage.
• WiFi
• AGPS
• Accelerometer
• FM radio
• 5-megapixel camera or better with flash

Current mobile phone models running an OS from Microsoft sport Windows Mobile 6.5, a platform that is losing market share to Google’s Android. Unfortunately, these devices might not be able to support the next generation OS. I pity those who are buying Windows Mobile 6.5 phones today – I’d say wait for the holidays to come around to shop for the upcoming phones that will run Microsoft’s next generation mobile OS.

Now that you’ve seen (and some of you held) the Apple iPad, let’s look at one of the Microsoft alternatives: HP Slate.

Since CES 2010, HP and Microsoft have been leaking out bits and pieces of the new Slate tablet that is gearing up for a roll-out later this year.

And we’re sure from what you see from the video below, you’ll agree: the HP Slate looks tablet-tastic.

HP’s Slate may be a better machine targeted for people who aren’t already fully vested in the Apple phenomenon. Rumored to cost around US$549/HK$4,300, this new must-have is packing in a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor and an 8.9-inch 1024×600 capacitive multi-touch display.

The Slate will be available in 32GB and 64GB capacities, both models having an SDHC slot, front and rear cameras, a SIM card slot for the optional 3G modem, and a dock connector for power, audio, and HDMI out. There’s also a USB port that effectively says “You can connect whatever you want to it, even if we didn’t make it” – an idea which seems unfamiliar to Apple. And it’ll run Windows 7 and support Flash. Yes, it’s like the HP Slate capitalized on the iPad’s deficiencies.

It’s an attractive device but falls short battery-wise; it can only run up to 5 hours of battery power, half of what the iPad can give you – and since the Slate does run Flash, maybe this is why the iPad doesn’t have it. This could be a dealbreaker though given the fact that this device is already far behind on the hype-meter.

With the release of the iPad, Apple threw out the first punch. But like in boxing, a vocal crowd of supporters can give the underdog an advantage. Minor jabs on the iPad’s weaknesses might be enough to land the knockout blow. Only time will tell if Apple’s iPad can remain ahead of the pack against upcoming heavyweights like the Slate.

The questions are:

• When exactly will the HP Slate debut later this year?
• Will this be the alternative that non-Apple people flock to?
• Is this vaporware? What happened to Courier?
• Will it come with an animated Steve Ballmer screensaver?

While you’re busy thinking about that, here are some more HP Slate videos:

Microsoft Hong Kong has released a number of computer accessories that sashayed their way down a catwalk at Langham Place, with Chrissie Chau front and centre modeling off the Microsoft “gear couture!”

The new accessories that Microsoft unveiled include three new BlueTrack mice, the SideWinder X4 game keyboard and two LifeCam HD cameras. Microsoft decided to dress Chrissie in a retro 80’s outfit that just screamed “Xanadu!”

Microsoft, for the first time in conjunction with the Clothing Industry Training Authority - a local fashion design college -sponsored this unique fashion show where students incorporated the new hardware into their clothing designs.

BlueTrack mice
The new BlueTrack mice included the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500, Wireless Mouse 2000 and Comfort Mouse 4500. BlueTrack allows computer users to ditch their mouse pad and use their BlueTrack mouse virtually anywhere; from the granite kitchen counter and the wood table at the coffee shop to the armrest at the airport.

Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and Wireless Mouse 2000
The Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 includes a Nano transceiver that sticks out less than a centimeter from the USB port, so it can remain plugged into the computer at all times, and the Wireless Mouse 2000 comes with a mini transceiver that easily snaps into the bottom of the mouse when on the go. The two mice also offer an ambidextrous shape with rubber side grips; the Wireless Mouse 2000 is a full-size mouse while the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 is a bit smaller, so people can pick the best fit for their hand size. The Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 will be available in Loch Ness Gray and Dragon Fruit Pink, and the Wireless Mouse 2000 will be available in gray.

Comfort Mouse 4500
The Comfort Mouse 4500 is the first wired mouse featuring BlueTrack Technology for people who never want to deal with changing batteries. Like its wireless counterparts, the Comfort Mouse 4500 will track on virtually any surface2 and will be available in black as well as three fresh special-edition colors: Sea Blue, Poppy Red and Strawberry Pink.

Suggested Retail Price:

• Wireless Mouse 2000 – HK$219
• Comfort Mouse 4500 – HK$159

Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 will be shipped in Mid May with price yet to be announced.
(All three mice are backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty)

SideWinder X4 Keyboard
The SideWinder X4 Keyboard, a keyboard designed to give gamers more control over their gaming experience with the industry’s most advanced anti-ghosting technology. Developed by the Applied Sciences Group, this new technology ensures gamers’ most complex key combinations will be recognized by the computer to keep the game in action. The new keyboard also offers other advanced gaming features such as macro recording, mode and profile switching, and adjustable backlighting.

Suggested Retail Price:

• SideWinder X4 Keyboard – HK$428

(The SideWinder X4 Keyboard comes with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty)

LifeCams HD-5000 and HD-6000
Microsoft release two new LifeCams the HD-5000 and HD-6000 for Notebooks that features their TrueColor Technology that automatically adjusts the picture quality to provide a more colorful video image whether you’re out on the veranda with bright sunshine in the morning or in the living room with low light in the evening. Both LifeCams also feature 720p HD sensors and Auto Focus technology to keep you sharp and in focus.

The LifeCam HD-5000 also features a flexible attachment base that bends to fit on most surfaces, including on top of flat-screen monitors and notebook screens, or directly on the desk, so people can use it at home on the desktop or with their notebook while on the road.

The LifeCam HD-6000 features a 360-degree rotation view so people can point the webcam in any direction to share more with friends and family. The cam has a three-foot cord and comes with a handy carrying case.

Suggested Retail Price:

• LifeCam HD-5000 – HK$349
• LifeCam HD-6000 – HK$$429

(Both LifeCams come with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty)

Microsoft Hong Kong announced today the release of Office 2010 Public Beta for free download right here. So, now you have yourself the new Windows 7, and you’re going to want to make your Office suite of software look just as good. This preview will run on your PC until October 31, 2010 when Microsoft will ask you to fork over real money for the final release.

While Google Docs has a huge headstart, cloud computing hasn’t really taken Hong Kong by storm (yet), and so Microsoft still has good marketshare. If this new version of Office can give users all the new social media bells and whistles that cloud computing productivity suites have, then they could still be in the game at least until the Google Chrome OS comes out.

There are several new features in Office 2010, but the big one is Outlook Social Connector which brings communications history, business collaboration and social network feeds directly into Outlook, with support for Windows Live and SharePoint Server. This feature brings business and social networking to the work force. Does that mean we’re going to be even less productive? Let the boss decide.

Cubicle Jockeys already spend a large portion of their day in Outlook, with Microsoft saying that most people receive over 93 e-mail messages per day (does that count spam too?) Outlook Social Connector lets them connect with people faster, without switching programs or changing their routines. For developers, Outlook Social Connector SDK was also released to help them easily build connectors to third-party social networks. Professional network LinkedIn will be the first site to provide a connector for Outlook Social Connector early next year.

Office Mobile 2010 is also now available in beta, making the Office experience across the PC, phone and browser a reality. Office Mobile 2010 includes mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and new SharePoint Workspace Mobile 2010, and is available worldwide in Windows Marketplace for Mobile for Windows Mobile 6.5 phones.

Hong Kong Xbox360 owners can now keep up with their Facebook posts and tweets from Twitter without having to put down their controllers.

You can share real-time status updates and photos with your friends, as well as your favorite gaming moments from television to Facebook. Gamers can also show off their gaming prowess by posting updates to Facebook about the latest achievements they’ve earned!

Gamers can also stay connected to their friends and family by posting and reading Tweets from the comfort of their living room via Xbox LIVE. Xbox 360 owners can tell friends about the new game demo they’ve downloaded from Marketplace, or announce that they are about to host a multiplayer match without even having to get off their couch and walk to their PC! Gamers can also read, reply and post tweets to Twitter through Xbox LIVE.

The two new services are currently available now and to Xbox LIVE Gold Members only. A monthly Gold membership costs HK$65, while the annual membership (12 months) cost HK$368.

Do we need to see someone’s Facebook status when we are killing them in Modern Warfare 2? Or, do we need to send a tweet while playing DJ Hero? Let us know if you are installing it, in the comments below.