Microsoft Offers Sneak Peak At New 'Office' Software

By Ian Bush

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Microsoft is showing off a new version of the productivity software so many of us use at work and home. The next Office has features that favor cloud storage and touch control.

Office 2013 stores your Word, Excel and PowerPoint work on Microsoft SkyDrive.

"You'll have access to that document and be able to resume where you left off, regardless of the device you're on."

PCWorld senior editor Melissa Perenson says there's less clutter.  That ribbon bar can be collapsed in favor of an old-school menu of features.

Outlook is streamlined and has a "Peaks" function that gives a glimpse of your calendar or contacts without switching views.

The Office suite keeps its new look across desktops, laptops, and tablets.  And Perenson says there's handwriting recognition.

"It's all about being able to use a stylus to annotate, mark up, add to documents from what you've handwritten to actual text."

No word on price, but expect Office out in the fall to coincide with the latest version of Windows and Microsoft's Surface tablets.