Skip to main content

Microsoft acquires startup LiveLoop to change the way you work with PowerPoint files

Microsoft acquisition LiveLoop
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Today, collaborating with others on an important presentation for a business audience usually requires lengthy email strings with countless PowerPoint attachments and a cumbersome revision process. Microsoft’s recent acquisition of a startup called LiveLoop could change all that for the better.

LiveLoop, up until now a small San Francisco-based startup, built a PowerPoint plugin enabling groups to work on a single presentation together in real time via the Web. Or as its website puts it, LiveLoop’s service “converts presentations into Web URLs that can be viewed from any computer or phone *without* installing any software,” such as GoToMeeting, WebEx or join.me.

“Microsoft is excited to welcome the talented team from LiveLoop to help build great collaboration across Office applications, as part of our strategy and vision to reinvent productivity,” according to a company statement.

LiveLoop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The terms of the acquisition, reported by ZDNet, have not been disclosed. LiveLoop is displaying a prominent notice at the top of its home page notifying visitors that the company will shut down on April 24, and that new user registrations and presentation uploads have been disabled. The company has already shuttered its Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.

Before Microsoft’s purchase of the company, LiveLoop had two undisclosed rounds of funding in February 2011 and August 2012, according to CrunchBase.

This move follows Microsoft’s purchase of calendar app Sunrise in February, as well as its acquisition of email apps creator Acompli, which has already had an effect on Microsoft’s Outlook app for iOS and Android.

Editors' Recommendations

Jason Hahn
Jason Hahn is a part-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. He earned his master's degree in journalism at Northwestern…
The 5 best MacBooks for video editing in 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

Video editing is one of the most demanding things you can ask of your laptop. Not only do you need a powerful processor to keep things running smoothly, but you'll also need loads of RAM and a solid GPU to best carry out the task. If any of these components are lacking, you could run into trouble with your software – resulting in sluggish performance and a frustrating overall experience.

Hunting for a laptop that's robust enough to handle video editing isn't easy, but you can make things more manageable by sticking to Apple's MacBook catalog.

Read more
The 7 best laptop stands in 2024
Time for a desk upgrade! These great stands will elevate and protect your laptop
The Grovemade Wood Laptop Stand with other Grovemade desk supplies.

One of the first things to do after you get one of the best new laptops is to hunt for great accessories. That can mean getting the best wireless mouse to carry around with you, upgrading to more consistent Wi-Fi with a PC Wi-Fi adapter, or even getting a carrying case for when you take it out to the coffee shop for work. One laptop accessory that is often overlooked, much to our despair, is the laptop stand.

A laptop stand can be a great source of comfort due to the increased ergonomics, reduced heat on your lap, and give your laptop better overall functionality on top of a desk, too. Some are even designed to help keep the laptop cool, something every owner of one of the best gaming laptops will know is important. So, look at the following list of the best laptop stands with a mind for quality and comfort, you're sure to find something that meets your needs.
The best laptop stands in 2024

Read more
This Lenovo gaming laptop with an RTX 4090 is $740 off today
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i on a desktop surface outside.

Lenovo often has some of the best laptop deals and today is no different with a sweet discount for anyone seeking a new gaming laptop. A new arrival from Lenovo, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is already $740 off bringing it down to $2,900 from $3,640. Packed with the latest hardware, you’re going to love it and we’re here to tell you exactly why. Remember -- this deal is unlikely to stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
As one of the best gaming laptop brands, it’s always worth strongly considering Lenovo and its Legion range when seeking a new gaming rig. This particular model is packed with the latest hardware. It has a 14th-generation Intel Core i9-14900HX processor paired up with a massive 32GB of memory so it’s all set for gaming for a long time at high detail levels. Of course, to do so, it needs a great graphics card and you can’t get much better than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 with 16GB of dedicated VRAM that’s included here. It all comes together to futureproof your gaming sessions for a long time to come.

Read more