Microsoft Corporation has started private testing of Office 2008 for Mac, the first version of Office for the Macintosh that runs natively on both Intel- and Power PC-based Macs. As well, the new software adds support for the XML file formats that Microsoft added to Office 2007, which hit store shelves in January. Microsoft did not say how many people are taking part in the private beta or whether it will have a public test version, but a representative said Friday that the company is still on track to have the final product out sometime in the second half of the year. A new feature in Office 2008 for Mac is a program called My Day, which gives users quick access to calendar information without requiring them to first go into the Entourage e-mail program. As well, improved page layout controls in Word and new Excel templates, called ledger sheets, are on the way. Microsoft has taken longer than its normal 18 to 24 months to come out with a new version of Office for the Mac – Office 2004 for Mac debuted in April 2004.
News source: ZDNet