Are there any Office (doc/xls) editing apps yet?

[Manatee]

Have any apps been released that do creation and editing of Word and Excel documents?

I want something like Documents to Go (yes, I know DataViz says it is coming). These were among the first apps available on now-ancient platforms like Palm and Pocket PC. If a well-engineered app like this were available for the iPhone, it would make me a lot more laptop-independent. Sure, there are other business-related apps I'd like, but this one would fill a huge hole for me on the iPhone platform.

Or has Apple designed the SDK to prevent the development of such an application? I can't think of a reason why they would do that, but then when I bought my new MacBook Pro I could only get it with a screen that reflects light like a pool of mercury. I mostly love Apple's products, but sometimes they make design choices that I just don't understand.

Thanks,

 

[marksman]

Mobile Files lets you edit xls documents on the phone.

I don't think you can create from scratch but I need to double check. They don't have .doc editing yet, but believe they are working on it.

I use it with my iDrive and just pull/edit the files from there.

 

[odelay]

Mobile Files lets you edit xls documents on the phone.

I don't think you can create from scratch but I need to double check. They don't have .doc editing yet, but believe they are working on it.

I use it with my iDrive and just pull/edit the files from there.

MobileFiles Pro does let you create new xls spreadsheets from scratch. It's a very good app, and I use it frequently. It gives you access to your MobileMe iDisk for downloading/viewing/editing spreadsheets, and downloading/viewing other document types (.doc, .ppt, .pdf, images, music, video etc.). If you don't use MobileMe you can transfer files to/from the app over wifi. The spreadsheet editor is very user friendly and intuitive, but not without it's limitations. Don't expect the same level of functionality as you get with a desktop app. But it's great for creating and editing basic spreadhseets on the go.

Quickoffice will be updating the app later this year, hopefully by Q2 I believe, with .doc editing.

 

[Wolfpup]

MobileFiles Pro is decent, but primitive compared to Documents to Go (I mean even just comparing the spreadsheet portion).

Among other things, there's no way to delete the contents from multiple cells at once. It doesn't remember your zoom level when you relaunch the program. There's no secure way to transfer files to and from it. You can password protect that web interface (which is a bizarre hack, but clever and functional), but you can't encrypt the connection, so that seriously limits its usefulness.

Still...I guess it's something, for now. Seems stable so far at least.

 

[odelay]

I just received an email update from Dataviz re Documents To Go for the iPhone. Take a look here for the news:

http://www.dataviz.com/ecampaigns/DXTGIP_UPDATE_FEB09.html?rgfull=

 

[Wolfpup]

Oh wow, thank you so much! I can't wait!

Until today I had no idea Dataviz had even announced anything officially.

Now I just need a way to sync my calendar to Windows Calendar and I'll be set (Come on Missing Sync 2.0! I'm hoping it'll be in there)

 

[odelay]

Oh wow, thank you so much! I can't wait!

Until today I had no idea Dataviz had even announced anything officially.

Now I just need a way to sync my calendar to Windows Calendar and I'll be set (Come on Missing Sync 2.0! I'm hoping it'll be in there)

Do you mean Outlook Calendar? If so, you'll be able to do this soon with the imminent release of Pocket Informant for the iPhone.

You can sync Outlook to Google Calendar using Google's utility: http://dl.google.com/googlecalendarsync/GoogleCalendarSync_Installer.exe

Then once you've got that syncing you'll be able to sync with Pocket Informant when it is released.

Pocket Informant will also sync with Toodledo (an online task manager) so you'll be able to use it as a todo list app as well. There is also a 3rd party tool for syncing Toodledo with Outlook tasks, see here: http://www.chromadrake.com/ChromaticDragon/software/ToodledoSyncInfo.aspx

So you'll be able to have all your outlook tasks and calendar events syncing in the one app.

As someone "in the know", I can tell you, this will be a very impressive productivity app, arguably the best yet on the appstore.

 

[Wolfpup]

Do you mean Outlook Calendar? If so, you'll be able to do this soon with the imminent release of Pocket Informant for the iPhone.

You can sync Outlook to Google Calendar using Google's utility: http://dl.google.com/googlecalendarsync/GoogleCalendarSync_Installer.exe

Then once you've got that syncing you'll be able to sync with Pocket Informant when it is released.

Pocket Informant will also sync with Toodledo (an online task manager) so you'll be able to use it as a todo list app as well. There is also a 3rd party tool for syncing Toodledo with Outlook tasks, see here: http://www.chromadrake.com/ChromaticDragon/software/ToodledoSyncInfo.aspx

So you'll be able to have all your outlook tasks and calendar events syncing in the one app.

As someone "in the know", I can tell you, this will be a very impressive productivity app, arguably the best yet on the appstore.

Thanks, but it'll already sync with Outlook out of the box. I need it to sync with Windows Calendar. I'm really surprised that it doesn't, given that it syncs with SEVERAL different contact programs, including the built-in software, and given that Windows Calendar (and Sunbird) are format compatible with iCal, which they support on the Mac.

The first Missing Sync product adds support for mobile OS X's notes program, so I'm hoping the second one will fix it so it can sync with more than just Outlook

 

[eplchamps0304]

Oh wow, thank you so much! I can't wait!

Until today I had no idea Dataviz had even announced anything officially.

Now I just need a way to sync my calendar to Windows Calendar and I'll be set (Come on Missing Sync 2.0! I'm hoping it'll be in there)

They announced their app 10 months ago, and its still comming. Be prepared to wait.

 

[Wolfpup]

I didn't realize. I was really expecting it to be announced when 3rd party development was (figured that would be the first company Apple would work with)...but there's nothing on their site that I've ever been able to find, even though they have links up for their upcoming Android product!

At any rate, I can't wait. I hope they come up with some way of syncing Office files too, rather than that very flawed "run an unsecure web server" idea MobileFiles Pro uses. I mean it's a clever hack, but far from ideal. (Though all this syncing stuff should be built in by Apple...)