Technologies

Get Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Free With This Tip

It’s simple to save $100 a year.

This story is part of 12 Days of Tips, helping you make the most of your tech, home and health during the holiday season.

Microsoft 365, the most recent version of the Microsoft Office set of tools includes programs that you already use at home, school or work. Buying a Microsoft 365 membership is still the most popular way to access them.

On Jan. 11, Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft 365 Basic which costs $2 a month, or $20 for a yearly subscription. However, you can snag Microsoft 365 at no cost under some circumstances.

Microsoft’s suite of productivity software consists of classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, as well as newer apps like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint.

The suite typically costs $20 to $100 every year for subscription access across devices and family members. Microsoft also has a standalone version of Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac, called Office Home and Student 2021, for a flat $150 — no subscription required.

Here are the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365 and their apps that you can find online for free.

Get Microsoft Office 365 Education free if you’re a student or a teacher

If you’re a student, teacher or faculty member with an active school email address, you’re likely eligible to get access to Office 365 for free through Microsoft, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Teams, plus other classroom tools.

All you have to do is enter your school email address on this page on Microsoft’s website: Office 365 Education. In many cases, you’ll be instantly granted access thanks to an automated verification process. If you attend an institution that needs to be verified, it might take up to a month to confirm your eligibility.

College students can also get Microsoft 365 Personal for $3 a month with a valid school email address.

How to get Microsoft Office suite free if you’re anyone else

Anyone can get a one-month free trial of Microsoft 365. However, it does require you to enter a credit card number. And if you don’t cancel before the month is up, you’ll be charged $100 for a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Family (formerly called Office 365 Home).

The good news is if you don’t need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, My Content, Skype, Designer and Clipchamp. Here’s how to get them:

1. Go to Microsoft365.com.

2. Click Sign up for the free version of Office under the «Sign in» button.

3. Log in to your Microsoft account or create one for free. If you already have a Windows, Skype or Xbox Live login, you have an active Microsoft account.

4. Select the app you want to use and save your work in the cloud with OneDrive.

So what’s the catch for the free version?

You may be saying, «Wait a minute, if I can get all of those apps for free, why pay for Microsoft 365 in the first place?» Well, the functionality of the free apps is limited: They only run in your web browser and you can only use them while you’re actively connected to the internet. They also have fewer features than the full Microsoft 365 versions.

There are still a number of benefits, however, including the ability to share links to your work and collaborate in real time, similar to what the Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) productivity tools allow. If you’re looking for basic versions of each of these apps, the free version should work well for you.

For more productivity coverage, check out what Microsoft 365 Basic offers customers, all of the best features in Windows 11 and how to take screenshots in Windows 10 or 11. You can also take a look at CNET’s list of the best Windows laptops.

Technologies

A ChatGPT Screenless Phone Could Be Coming, as OpenAI Reportedly Eyes Jony Ive’s AI Startup

Ive, the designer of the iPhone, has a startup that’s reportedly developing a range of AI-powered devices.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is reportedly looking into a potential acquisition of an artificial intelligence startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The deal could exceed $500 million, according to The Information.

The venture, called io Products, is developing a range of AI-powered technologies including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices, the publication said. io Products has denied that a phone is in development, however, and OpenAI didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The closely guarded AI hardware initiative was first reported by The New York Times in September. Ive — who is renowned for designing the iPhone, iPad and other iconic Apple products — said he was partnering with Altman to create a new AI-driven computing device aimed at being «less socially disruptive than the iPhone.»

Although few specifics have emerged about the device, Ive and Altman have reportedly secured early-stage backing from investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Funding was expected to reach $1 billion by the end of last year, according to The New York Times.

In addition to acquisition talks, OpenAI is said to be exploring strategic partnerships with the venture. If a deal materializes, OpenAI would gain access to both the underlying technology and the core engineering team.

The report arrives as the AI voice assistant landscape grows, with OpenAI, Google, Meta and others racing to advance their AI chatbot offerings. A deal could also tighten OpenAI’s integration with a hardware player.

Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom — founded after his departure from Apple five years ago — is spearheading the device’s development. The company, co-founded by renowned luxury designer Marc Newson, a key contributor to the Apple Watch, includes former Apple executives such as Tang Tan, who led iPhone hardware design. LoveFrom’s client list includes brands like Airbnb and Ferrari.

OpenAI would ‘maintain its lead’ in AI

Jitesh Ubrani, a manager at market research firm IDC, told CNET a move into hardware would enable OpenAI to continue expanding across various platforms and make a stronger push into more environments.

«By partnering with a hardware startup, OpenAI can help maintain its lead across these other device types and usage scenarios,» Ubrani said. «Until the launch of AI, smart home hardware innovation [started] to plateau and by combining forces, the two companies could also benefit from growth in this space by injecting AI into the home.»

Technologies

An iPad Instagram App Might Actually Be Happening

The social media platform has long focused on its smartphone app, which looks clunky on tablets. That may be about to change.

Meta may be working on a dedicated Instagram app for the iPad, nearly 15 years after making a decision not to launch one. The social media giant is reportedly now developing an iPad-friendly version of Instagram, according to The Information.

Instagram has long existed solely as a smartphone app, though it is also accessible via its website. The move could mark a shift in Meta’s mobile strategy and offer Instagram users a more immersive experience on iPads. The timing also would coincide with Meta’s broader push to better compete with TikTok.

TikTok’s legal status in the US remains in limbo. US President Donald Trump recently extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an approved US buyer by another 75 days but the app’s fate is still uncertain.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in the past has downplayed rumors it would launch an iPad app, saying it wasn’t a priority. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, tweeted in February 2022 that «it’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority.»

«Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now, we’re very heads down on other things,» Mosseri added in February 2022.

A year later, Mosseri echoed that sentiment as the company focused on building out Threads. He also previously said expanding the app to more platforms would add costs and emphasized that the team is «leaner than you think.»

It’s possible, however, that interest has shifted. The company is also reportedly considering spinning off its Reels feature into a stand-alone app as it works to improve recommendation algorithms and support longer Reels, according to The Information.

In addition, Instagram recently launched a video editing app called Edits, which bears a strong resemblance to ByteDance’s CapCut, and has reportedly tried to lure TikTok creators with cash bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Sol Messing, a research associate professor at NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics, told CNET that Meta may see strategic value in optimizing for larger screens beyond competing with TikTok. Messing was previously an employee of several tech companies, including Meta and X.

«There isn’t much data out there on iPad TikTok use, but they have continued shipping updates to [the TikTok app], suggesting they think the benefits outweigh the costs,» he said.

Messing pointed to a few studies suggesting more screen real estate might translate to more engagement, productivity and higher levels of attention.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, April 13

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 13.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword wants to know a lot of «Big (Color)» expressions, so hope you’re up on that. 8-A also threw me off — while I’ve heard the abbreviation they wanted, it didn’t come right to mind. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: State sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson
Answer: UVA

4A clue: Flower containers
Answer: POTS

6A clue: «Crib» or «pad,» for «house»
Answer: SLANG

8A clue: Pants, informally
Answer: TROU

9A clue: Company nicknamed «Big Blue»
Answer: IBM

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Company nicknamed «Big Brown»
Answer: UPS

2D clue: What «V» stands for on a battery
Answer: VOLT

3D clue: Big name in 1980s arcade games
Answer: ATARI

5D clue: Stuck-up sort
Answer: SNOB

7D clue: Big Red, e.g.
Answer: GUM

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.