SlideShare, a startup that we’ve likened to a YouTube equivalent for PowerPoint presentations, has released a new plugin for Microsoft Office 2007 that allows users to edit and publish presentations directly to their SlideShare accounts. You can download the free plugin here.
Beyond publishing new PowerPoint documents to the web, the SlideShare plugin can import SlideShare files from the cloud (both your own and those that are shared by others), which can then be modified on your native PowerPoint client. The plugin features an integrated search so you can browse through files from your SlideShare contacts and groups, as well as support for Twitter and FriendFeed so you can broadcast a new presentation without leaving Office, adding a social component to PowerPoint that extends beyond typical group collaboration.
SlideShare’s plugin offers a peek into where cloud-based document editing is probably ultimately headed for most consumers. While most online-only services like Google Docs are free (Office isn’t), the vast majority of computer users have been using the Microsoft suite for years, and aren’t keen on learning a new interface loaded with new quirks. Even with the offline capability afforded by Google Gears, Docs still feels foreign. Expect plugins with functionality similar to SlideShare to emerge for all of Microsoft Office (Microsoft already offers its own similar service) as consumers desperately look for familiarity as they make their first steps into the cloud.
Other players in this space include Scribd, DocStoc, and SlideRocket (a cloud-based PowerPoint alternative).
I love using slideshare … though lately I have been facing difficulties in uploadng my slideshows…I dunno if anyone else is facing similar problem too..?? …
Marvin
http://www.latticepurple.com
Yeah I’ve had problems too. Takes several attempts.
wow very cool… I like how you can search other slides for ideas when your stuck thinking about what to add to your own slides.
Marvin: we did have some upload problems the last few days. As of yesterday we think it is fixed. I’m sorry you had to experience that.
Nice
Great News. I am curious to give it a try.
Surely all the decent slides and images will be copyrighted to the owners, if they put them up at all?
Are there any licensing issues with uploading slides with images of the internet etc etc??
Not a problem if you use creative commons licensed imaged and credit the authors. You can search for CC images on Flickr.
I tried to install it but it failed!
Already have office 2007 but not sure why it was again installing files for 2007 PowerPoint!
Idea itself though is promising (But surely they are not the first to try such AddIns!). However, not that much sure about the stability of the application!
Hi Bunty,
Can you check whether have .Net framework 3.5SP1 on your machine. Just wanted to double-check on it, as it is important.
If not present, the link to download .Net 3.5SP1 can be found in the Install Instructions section of ‘http://www.slideshare.net/developers/ap ps/pptribbon’. Try the SlideShare Ribbon installation again after this.
One of the pre-requisites for SlideShare Ribbon is “Microsoft Office 2007 Primary Interop Assemblies” and it is what the installer is installing.
If you see any failing installation message again, then please send the message to me on plugin@slideshare.com and I will try to resolve it asap. Also, let me know whether you have XP or Vista and which ServicePacks you have installed.
Thanks,
Uttam
very cool . Slideshare Rocks !!
Slideshare makes live good !
That sounds positive. Looks good
-www.hostedFTP.com
Looks cool, it would be nice to see a plugin for Open Office as well.
Installed failed. Not good.
http://slideserve.com seems to be doing a better job. It also has a great plugin and what is best is it retains all the effects!
Hi John,
It would be great if you can provide some information on the installation steps and the error messages you have encountered so that we can find the root-cause for the installation failure.
Can you please check whether you have .Net framework 3.5SP1 on your machine.
If not present, the link to download .Net 3.5SP1 can be found in the Install Instructions section of ‘http://www.slideshare.net/developers/ap ps/pptribbon’. Try the SlideShare Ribbon installation again after this.
If you see any failing installation message again, then please send the message to me on plugin@slideshare.com and so that I can reproduce the issue and fix the same. Also, let me know whether you have XP or Vista and which ServicePacks you have installed.
Thanks,
Uttam
I do not have office 2007 :( . If it works for office 2003 it wud be gd
Try http://www.slideboom.com Their plugin works perfectly with PowerPoint 2003
The offline/online distinction, I guess, is on the verge of vanishing. While it is true most pc users have been locked up by ms office, it is inevitable that open source becomes the norm.
interoperability is a key requirement if tech outfits want the billions of ppl to start embracing technology far more widely than has been the case so far.
Let us hope that slideshare would take the lead and release plug ins for keynote, impress and other open source presentation apps soon.
kudos to slideshare for making it easier to work with it.
I would like to see the google docs moving more towards offline online collaboration. Sometimes you need a rich client to do ur stuff, but many other times you need it online. Something like this for google docs would be so coool
Too bad it only works on Office 2007 and .Net. Tough luck for Mac users on PowerPoint…
Slideshare is very useful.
I’ve always liked SlideShare – I’ve been using it for about 6 months mainly to host PowerPoints for our partners regarding how to onsell our software. If anything it’s a technology like this which Microsoft should look at buying to beef up Office and even integrate into Office Live when it launches.
I’ve imported dozens of PowerPoints into SlideShare and even the most complex ones came through perfectly so Kudos to the guys at SlideShare for building such a great tool that has real value for business users. Definitely agree that it’s the YouTube of PowerPoints alas not such a big market for PowerPoints as there is for videos.
Bit useless for me as it doesnt retain any of the custom animations and just support simple static stuff. When this changes i will be interested.
I like slideshare, but it seems to be down a lot. Either I can’t upload or I can’t watch the slides (empty page). I’ve been switching to http://myplick.com recently, a lot faster and more reliable.
I love slideshare and I use it regularly!