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Microsoft Updates Office 2007 Beta 2

Microsoft will soon post a public refresh of Office 2007 Beta 2, another step on the way toward a release in late 2006 or early 2007. The update, "Technical Refresh," will be available only to Office 2007 Beta 2 users, who will be able to download it from the Microsoft Web site.

According to Microsoft there are improved performance, better integration, improved collaboration tools, and "general fit and finish changes" in the Technical Refresh (TR). Microsoft`s spokesperson said: "This Technical Refresh is the final external product milestone leading to RTM [Release To Manufacturing]". There are many Interface changes in the TR, which range from a new silver-colored skin, more predictable behavior from the Ribbon, and additional keyboard command support.

The Ribbon, which reviewers have marked as the greatest departure from earlier Office interfaces, now can be more easily minimized, and once minimized remains that way the next time the application is launched. The keyboard support has been improved from Office 2003`s approximately 30 percent to 100 percent in Office 2007, the spokesperson said. No launch date has been revealed yet, though Microsoft said corporate users will be able to use the program by the end of the year 2006 and the rest ? in early 2007.