Tips on the site include, for example, an idea for organizing your grocery list with OneNote on your phone, a pointer on how to pick the right-sized TV for your living room, and ways to use Office applications to help plan a child's birthday party.

ENGADGET: Microsoft Office 2013, Office 365 Home Premium available now; 365 for business coming later (updated)

For example, now you can edit a document on the go with Windows Phone 8 and pick right up again on your PC when you get home.

ENGADGET: Microsoft brings guest user account to Windows Phone 8 via Kid's Corner

That means if you've got it paired but have it in your pocket or across the room, you'll be able to pick it up on your phone without a problem.

ENGADGET: Plantronics Voyager PRO UC senses your Bluetooth wants and needs, softly whispers in your ear

You can indeed watch a movie on your phone or tablet and pick up where you left off on the Xbox 360, but you can't push arbitrary footage to the console.

ENGADGET: A conversation with Microsoft's Marc Whitten on SmartGlass and the quest for a better living room

You get your pick of receiving either an automated phone call or an e-mail on the day before the appointment to confirm that you'll show up.

CNN: Analysis: Brace yourself for the e-scheduling revolution

And of course the problem with that is that if you're the woman who's made a complaint, or indeed if you're Julian Assange and your name has been traduced so comprehensively, why on earth don't you pick up the phone and have a meeting?

BBC: Transcript of Mark Stephens interview