Mind = Blown

 

CloudOn: Your iPad, Microsoft Office and Dropbox.

Integrated.

Start here.

Update: Seems that they're not taking on any new customers. No reasons given buy I wouldn't be surprised if the response was a bit overwhelming yesterday. If you downloaded the app you can still register an account (even if you didn't create one by yesterday's cutoff).

The process to get signed up is really straightforward. Launch the app to be taken to the home screen. Select the option to Create an Account.

 

Next, type in your email address and a password for your account.

Then you'll be given the opportunity to Add your Dropbox account. If you don't have one, I'd strongly suggest you check it out. Cloud storage and shared folders. Mac, Windows, Linux. 2GB free.

 

 

If you already have a Dropbox account, just add the email address and password associated to the account.

 

That's about it. Now it'll log in.

 

Once you're logged in, everything is pretty straightforward. You can see all your Dropbox folders (and there's options to change this from a list to a folder or grid display).

 

 

You can also create new folders as well as create new World, Excel or Powerpoint files. You can only view and edit these three file types. It'll be interesting to see if CloudOn adds photo-editing tools in the future.

I tested opening an existing Word document. CloudOn opened the docx file just fine. I was able edit the document (including image cropping tools).

 

Here's a screen shot of the text editing features. Standard ribbon, keyboard and function keys.

 

In conclusion:

Pros: Very useful. Not as responsive as you can imagine. Fat fingers will struggle a bit with the smaller icons.

Cons: Autosave. I can't figure out how to turn it off. Closing the file seems to automatically save your work. Sure - you can "undo-undo-undo…" just to be sure. But I prefer to be able to deliberately save (or not) when I'm done with a file.

Overall: It's free. It's useful. It works. And it let's me work inside my cloud, rather than restrict me to Apple's, Microsoft's or Google's internet cul-de-sacs.