Google Docs for business

2019. Google Docs now lets natively edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint



Until recently, in order to edit Microsoft Office files within Google Docs, it was necessary to convert them into Google's own format. However, a significant development has taken place: Google has recently revealed its plan to introduce native support for Microsoft's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats, such as .docx, .xls, and .ppt. This exciting update allows users to engage in real-time collaboration using Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides while working with these file formats. While this feature is already accessible in the commercial versions of the mentioned applications, it will soon be made available to regular users as well, with the release expected as early as this month.


2019. Google’s AI grammar checker is now live in Google Docs



Google has introduced a new grammar checker, powered by machine learning, which is now available in Google Docs for G Suite users. Leveraging machine translation techniques, Google's grammar checker can identify both obvious and subtle mistakes, providing suggestions for corrections while users are working on their documents. While comparing words in a dictionary and flagging errors is one approach, comprehending intricate grammar rules, which can vary across regions and styles, requires a more sophisticated solution. Google claims that its machine translation technique is effective in detecting such issues, as they are challenging to define as rigid rules. By collaborating closely with linguists, the company decoded these grammar rules and integrated them into the machine translation model, serving as the foundation for automatic suggestions within Google Docs. All of these advancements are made possible through the power of AI.

2019. Google Docs gets an API for task automation



Google has introduced a new API for Google Docs, granting developers the capability to automate numerous tasks that users traditionally perform manually within the company's web-based office suite. The REST API is specifically designed to aid developers in creating workflow automation services for their users, developing content management systems, and generating documents in large quantities. With the API, developers can establish processes that manipulate documents retrospectively, enabling updates and changes. Additionally, the API provides functionalities such as inserting, deleting, moving, merging, and formatting text, as well as inserting inline images and working with lists, among various other features. This new API opens up a wealth of possibilities for developers to enhance productivity and streamline document-related workflows within Google Docs.


2019. Google Docs get Material Design



Google has initiated the deployment of its Material Design update for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites. With the update, you will notice changes in interface fonts, subtle modifications to controls, and the introduction of new iconography. Additionally, there are some refreshing additions of new colors throughout. The rollout of this redesigned experience commenced today for G Suite subscribers following the Rapid Release schedule. Within the next 15 days, all eligible users on that schedule should receive the update.


2018. Google Docs gets AI grammar checker



Google Docs has introduced an advanced grammar checker powered by an AI-based algorithm, which is now available through Google's Early Adopter Program. This innovative feature utilizes a machine translation algorithm to identify errors and provide suggestions for corrections in real-time while you type. Google's grammar checker can detect a range of issues, from simple mistakes such as incorrect articles ("an" instead of "a") to more complex errors like improperly used subordinate clauses. Additionally, it can identify punctuation errors and peculiar word choices, similar to the capabilities of tools like Grammarly. It's worth noting that Google has chosen a translation-based approach for this feature, highlighting the company's emphasis on artificial intelligence and its commitment to integrating these techniques into its diverse product lineup.


2017. Google updates Docs with new collaboration features



Google has introduced a range of fresh enhancements to its alternative document editing applications, namely Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The most notable updates are centered around the organization of collaborative documents. Users can now assign distinct names to different versions of the same file, providing a convenient way to differentiate between final versions and works in progress. Additionally, users can preview "clean" versions of a document, ensuring improved readability and facilitating easier reviews. To save time on approving edits individually, a new feature enables users to accept or reject all edits with a single command. Importantly, the suggestions tool is now accessible on mobile devices through the "three-dot" menu. Moreover, Google is introducing new add-ons and templates to enhance productivity within its suite. These additions include partnerships with LegalZoom and Docusign, LucidChart, PandaDoc, EasyBib, and Supermetrics, enabling users to swiftly create documents such as NDAs directly in the cloud.


2016. Google Docs now let you create custom templates



Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms now offer the capability to create custom templates that can be shared with colleagues. While templates may not be extensively utilized in everyday G Suite activities, they are essential for businesses. It can be inconvenient to recreate report or newsletter layouts from scratch for each new project. Therefore, the introduction of template support in Google Docs is part of Google's ongoing efforts to enhance its services and cater to the needs of business users. This demonstrates Google's commitment to the enterprise sector and its continuous endeavor to make its offerings more appealing in the business environment.


2016. G Suite adds some intelligence to Docs



G Suite (formerly known as Google Apps for Work) is introducing several intelligent features. One of the most notable additions is the automatic action suggestion in Docs. When you type a phrase like "Mathew, create a document containing the upcoming earnings," Docs will now automatically propose creating an action item and assigning it to the appropriate person. Google has also made it simpler for you to identify which action items are assigned to you and which documents require your attention. All G Suite applications will now display a badge on files that have attached action items, as well as unresolved suggestions made by others to your files.


2014. Google Docs for iPhone/iPad now can edit MS Office files



Google is expanding its support for natively editing Microsoft Office documents to iOS devices. Previously, this feature was available on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android and web browsers. With this update, Google now provides a comprehensive alternative to MS Office across all major platforms, including Android, iOS, Chrome OS, and the web. It's worth noting that Google is unlikely to release a Metro app for Windows. Microsoft had previously launched Office for iOS, but users require an Office 365 subscription to fully utilize those apps. In contrast, Google's apps are available for free, although business users may already have a Google Apps for Business account.


2014. Google Docs allows to edit MS Office files without conversion



Google has introduced a convenient feature that allows users to edit Microsoft Office files directly within Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This means that you can now open and edit these documents in their original format using Office Compatibility Mode, eliminating the need to purchase additional software or worry about file compatibility. The mobile apps for Docs, Sheets, and Slides already include built-in Office editing functionality, and with the Chrome extension, you can edit and share files directly from Google Drive or Gmail. Another notable addition is the "Suggest Edits" feature in Docs, which enables your team to provide suggestions that you can easily accept or reject with a single click. These enhancements enhance the collaborative capabilities and streamline the editing process within Google's suite of productivity tools.


2014. Google to discontinue QuickOffice for Android, iOS



Google has announced that it will be discontinuing the QuickOffice app for Android and iOS in the coming weeks. According to the company's official apps updates blog, the QuickOffice app will be "unpublished" from Google Play and the App Store as a result of its integration into the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps. While existing users will still be able to use the app, no new features will be added, and new users will no longer be able to install it. Google acquired QuickOffice in 2012 to incorporate its Office-compatible software into Google Docs. Chromebooks have already witnessed some integration with QuickOffice, and once the app is removed from app stores, QuickOffice will only be accessible through Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, provided it is already installed on users' mobile devices.


2014. Google launched standalone Docs and Spreadsheets for iOS and Android



Previously, Google offered its suite of document editors for mobile devices within a single app known as Google Drive. While they still remain available within that app, Google has recently launched standalone applications for Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets (available on iOS and Android). The presentation app, which will be called Slides, is also in development and will be released soon. One might assume that Google's intention with these standalone apps is to allow users to edit files not only from Google Drive but also from other documents stored on their smartphones or tablets. However, this is not the case. In the new apps, you still cannot open a document without uploading it to Google Drive's cloud storage. As a result, the standalone apps currently offer limited utility.


2014. Google Docs gets Add-ons store, ONLYOFFICE gets server version.


Online office suites are constantly evolving, and Google Docs has recently introduced an embedded add-on directory accessible through the top menu Add-ons. This directory offers a wide range of useful tools and plugins, such as collaborative document approval, sticker printing, Mailchimp integration (email marketing service), and more. It's evident that this directory will continue to expand with new additions over time. Meanwhile, one of the primary competitors to Google Docs, Teamlab Office, has launched a local version specifically designed for large companies, enabling installation on their own servers. In addition to office document editors, Teamlab Office Enterprise provides a comprehensive set of collaboration tools. Teamlab already offered a free, open-source, in-house version called Community Edition, albeit with limited functionality. The new Enterprise version is priced at $1200/year for a group of 30 users. While this may seem expensive, it's worth considering the costs of acquiring MS Office and SharePoint licenses for the same number of users.


2014. Google, Microsoft and Apple refreshed their online office apps



These are not very important updates, but we thought why not remind you once again that online office apps exist, develop and you may well use them instead of paid Word, Excel and PowerPoint. So, Google updated its spreadsheets (watch video above). Now they work faster, even with a very-very large documents. There are new filters and functions, as well as the ability to work offline in the Chrome browser (just like it works for text documents and presentations). As for Microsoft, they mainly worked to redesign their Office Web Apps. The interface became more flat (like in Outlook.com) and more comfortable thanks to the updated toolbar. And the notebook app OneNote for Android has become like Evernote (watch video below): ***


2013. Google makes QuickOffice free for everyone



The top mobile office suite, QuickOffice, was acquired by Google a year ago. Towards the end of last year, Google launched the free version of QuickOffice for Google Apps users who had previously paid for it. Now, Google has decided to make QuickOffice free for everyone with a Google account, available on all platforms including Android, iPhone, and iPad. This is a strategic move, as Google has the potential to outperform MS Office in the battle for mobile users while Microsoft is still attempting to profit from mobile Office apps. As an added incentive, Google is offering an extra 10 GB of free storage to those who install QuickOffice before September 26. It's important to mention that this generosity from Google came after they integrated QuickOffice exclusively into Google Drive, meaning users can no longer use other cloud storage services with QuickOffice. Remember, QuickOffice enables you to open, edit, and view Word, Excel, PowerPoint documents, as well as PDF files on your smartphone and tablet.


2013. Google Forms adds real-time collaboration


Google has introduced a new feature to its online forms editor, Google Forms: multiuser real-time collaboration. This functionality, which is already available in other Google office apps such as Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets, Google Presentations, and Google Drawings, now allows users to invite coworkers to collaborate on form creation. With this update, you can easily monitor who is assisting in building the form, track their edits (each user is assigned a different color), and communicate through chat and comments. This recent enhancement transforms Google Forms into the ultimate tool for conducting employee or customer surveys. It offers a wide range of field options (text, checkboxes, radio-buttons, lists, tables, and more), template selection, form embedding on your website, data collection in a spreadsheet, and the ability to view data through graphical reports.


2012. Google Drive for iOS now can edit documents


Back in July, Google released a mobile client, Google Drive, for iOS, but users were disappointed to find that editing documents on their iPhones and iPads was not possible. Today, Google has addressed this issue, although with some limitations. Editing, including real-time collaboration, is now available, but only for text documents. While the video may suggest that spreadsheets can also be edited, it is merely a special effect. The actual functionality for editing spreadsheets will be introduced at a later time. Additionally, Google has introduced new features such as the ability to view presentations, create new folders, and move files between folders. The Google Drive app for Android has also received an update today, offering the capability to create folders, move files, and add comments to files and documents.


2012. Google Docs - on its way to offline



One day, Google Docs will achieve complete offline accessibility across all computers and mobile devices. However, it seems this milestone won't be reached for at least two more years. Google takes pleasure in providing users with exciting updates on the progress of Google Docs' offline capabilities. During a recent Google I/O conference, the company proudly declared that Google Docs now functions offline! So, what does this mean exactly? The service can now be used offline, but exclusively within the Chrome browser. To enable this feature, you need to install the Google Drive app for Chrome. Some readers who have been following our news may recall that approximately a year ago, we previously reported on Google Docs working offline in Chrome. However, at that time, it was limited to document viewing. This time, however, you can edit documents and even post comments while offline. Any modifications made will synchronize with your online account once an internet connection is established. Presently, only text documents and spreadsheets can be edited offline. The next major update will undoubtedly bring the exciting news of offline editing for presentations.


2012. Google acquired the best mobile office - Quickoffice



It seams that start-ups become cheaper in spring. Every day IT giants are buying someone. During two days Google has bought two companies - Meebo and Quickoffice. The acquisition of social messenger Meebo aims to strengthen the social network Google+. And the acquisition of Quickoffice is much more interesting to us. Quickoffice is known as the best suite of mobile document editors. Quickoffice provides native applications (that can work offline) for iPhone, iPad, Android and even for Symbian and webOS that can perfectly open and edit Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). In addition, Quickoffice can synchronize documents between different platforms, but this feature is likely to be replaced by the Google Drive. Thus, Google Docs is becoming the dominant office suite not only in the cloud, but also on mobile devices. ***


2012. QuickOffice now can sync your files. Even with desktop



The developers of the most popular mobile office suite QuickOffice have created a new product QuickOffice Connect, which allows not only edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your smartphone and tablet, but also sync these files between user devices (or between co-workers). However, QuickOffice is not going to compete with Dropbox, Box, SkyDrive, SugarSync and Google Drive. On the contrary, it allows you to synchronize files and folders with any of these cloud services but doesn't provide its own online storage. QuickOffice Connect works not only on mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android) but also on the desktop (PC, Mac). But it also is not going to compete with Microsoft Office, editing documents on the desktop is supposed be done in Microsoft's programs. ***


2012. Google launched Google Drive



After (just) six years after the first rumors appeared Google has launched the legendary file storage service Google Drive. And the first question is: why they created Google Drive as a separate service, when Google Docs is de-facto Google's online storage that can store any files? There is a couple of reasons. First, such file storage and sharing services (Dropbox and clones) is a very hot topic either in consumer or enterprise space. And the attention that Google can attract with the new app in this space is not a bad thing for the search giant. Second, Google Drive will serve as a file system not only for Google Docs, but also for other Google's services that operate files (GMail, Google +, Google Sites, Picasa ...). ***


2012. Google Docs adds the world best spell-checker



Do you remember the recent humorous video by Microsoft, targeting Google Apps? One of the criticisms raised against Google's online office suite was its subpar spell-checker. However, it seems Microsoft might not be joking about it anymore. Google has unleashed its secret weapon—the world's largest search database, which encompasses a greater number of words than any dictionary. Surely, you have noticed that when making a spelling mistake in a search query, Google automatically corrects it. Well, now that same technology is being implemented in Google Docs. Unlike a conventional dictionary found in applications like Word, Google's database is constantly updated, incorporating new words, as well as names and titles in any language. Currently, this advanced spell-checker is available exclusively for the English language. Nevertheless, Google has promised to extend its functionality to support other languages in the near future.


2012. Google Docs for Android adds real-time collaborative editing


Google continues to enhance its office suite, focusing not on competing with the rich functionality of MS Office, but rather on improving its core strengths: collaboration tools and mobile accessibility. Today, the latest version of Google Docs for Android has been released, enabling real-time collaborative editing of documents on smartphones and tablets. As customary, each user is assigned a unique color, allowing you to easily identify who is currently editing the text and their current location within the document. Furthermore, this new version brings improvements to the user interface, including zooming and copy/paste functionality, along with the addition of new formatting tools such as bold text, lists, and font color. Excitingly, all these new features are compatible with older Android versions, extending support up to version 2.1.


2012. Video: Google Docs vs SkyDrive


Microsoft continues its playful teasing of Google services through entertaining videos. This time, they focus their attention on Google Docs. The video portrays a group of young coworkers who attempt to collaborate on a document using Google Docs. Unbeknownst to them, Google Docs is more suitable for simple tasks, and attempting to create a planetary system within it proves to be impossible. However, such a task can be accomplished using Microsoft SkyDrive. Not within SkyDrive itself, as it lacks complex formatting capabilities, but by utilizing the desktop MS Office application, which allows simultaneous editing of the document alongside the online SkyDrive editor. It is noteworthy that Microsoft has transitioned from using the title "Windows Live Office," which was initially used to refer to the online office suite, and now employs "SkyDrive" (previously exclusively associated with file storage) for this purpose.


2012. Insync (Dropbox for Google Docs) becomes Free


The widely popular online file storage service, DropBox, finds itself facing a new threat posed by Google Docs. Up until now, DropBox held a significant advantage over Google Docs by allowing users to synchronize files between their online accounts and multiple computers. However, this feature has now become available to Google Docs / Google Apps users for free, with the only cost being for additional storage space beyond 1GB. Notably, the cost of this additional space is much more affordable within Google Docs compared to DropBox. This remarkable development is attributed to the startup InSync, which has made this synchronization capability freely accessible after securing nearly $1 million in funding. InSync operates seamlessly, allowing users to create a folder on their PC or Mac that automatically syncs with their Google Docs account (you can watch the video for a demonstration). For Google Apps users, the option to create shared folders for the entire company is also available.


2011. Google Presentations adds real-time collaboration



Google continues to compete with Zoho and SlideRocket for being the online presentations champion. Today Google rolled out completely new Google Presentations editor. It adds more than 60 new features, but the main one - is the ability to collaborate on a presentation in real-time. Everything is very similar to collaborative tools in Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets that appeared last year: in the right pane you can see who is currently working on the presentation, chat with them. And in the presentation view, you can see what objects the collaborators are currently editing (these object are highlighted with the corresponding colors). And with the help of Google+ Hangouts you can even video chat with colleagues while co-creating the presentation. ***


2011. Google Hangouts turned into full-featured web-conferencing tool



The ingenious hack developed by a Lebanese programmer, enabling text collaboration in Google+ Hangouts, didn't remain a hack for long. Today, with the latest Google+ update, Hangouts has received a plethora of exciting new features. Firstly, there's the addition of screen-sharing, allowing users to share their screens. Secondly, the ability to collaboratively draw on a whiteboard enhances the interactive experience. Thirdly, users can now collaborate on Google Docs documents directly within Hangouts. Fourthly, Hangouts allows for the creation of broadcasts with an unlimited number of viewers (while the number of active participants remains limited to 10). Fifthly, Google Hangouts video chat is now compatible with Android smartphones. And finally, sixthly, Google has officially opened the API for Hangouts, eliminating the need for hacks like the one developed by the Lebanese programmer, enabling users to create their own applications for Hangouts. By the way, Google+ social network is now open to everyone. Is your company prepared for this?


2011. Google restores offline access to GMail, Calendar and Docs in Google Chrome



As you know, earlier GMail, Google Calendar and Google Docs supported offline mode in all browsers using Google Gears plug-in. But then Google decided to bet on HTML5 and abandoned its own proprietary plug-in. The Gears was quickly removed from the Chrome browser (in Firefox and IE it still works). And today Google developers were happy to announce that the offline mode for these apps in Chrome is back and it is implemented on HTML5. However, for an average user it will look no better than it was before: for offline access you still need to install an app (from the Chrome Web Store). In addition, the interface of the offline app is different from the usual web-based GMail interface. It looks lie GMail for iPad. ***


2011. Google Docs allows to preview archived docs



This news may not bring joy to most readers, but for editors of informational portals, it is a true cause for celebration. Each day, they receive numerous emails containing news from various vendors. Unfortunately, there are some PR specialists who not only send news as attached Word documents but also compress them into archives. Reading these news articles can be quite cumbersome. However, there is now a much easier solution, as Google Docs has introduced the capability to view archived documents without the need for extraction. GMail users can directly open these archives from their emails, with support for both Rar and Zip formats.


2011. GMail gets instant search



Quite a strange idea - to make a search plug-in for GMail and Google Apps - i.e. the services of the Search Giant. Nevertheless, the startup CloudMagic had enough courage to make it. And they've created really useful thing. Most people would say that the search in GMail - is great enough, and even if this CloudMagic gives search-as-you-type results - it's not the reason to pay attention to it. But the search speed - is not the greatest feature of CloudMagic. First, it shows search results in a popup widget - on top of the main GMail interface. So if you writing an email and need to find some information in the previous messages or docs - you don't need to save the email to drafts, open the search page, then view the search results one by one, copy something and go back to the email. Now you can (without closing the message) quickly find and copy what you need in the popup widget. ***


2011. Google Docs gets Comments 2.0



"Great documents come from great discussions" - this idea inspired Google developers and they have created the new cool commenting system. At the moment it's available in Google Docs, but we hope that soon it will appear also in other Google services (Sites, Groups, Reader, Buzz ...). We can't say that it is something revolutionary but the developers took the best from Facebook, Twitter, somewhere else and created quite nice and convenient commenting system. First of all, it can be used as a context chat - in the right column near the document. Comments appear in real time and can be used to communicate with colleagues while editing the document. ***


2011. Google Cloud Connect is available for all


The plug-in known as Google Cloud Connect is now accessible to all users. This plug-in enables collaborative document editing in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, synchronizing changes through Google Docs. Initially launched in November of the previous year, it was exclusively available to paid Google Apps accounts. The main objective of Google Cloud Connect is to entice users to transition from MS Office to Google Docs, hence it is offered as a free service. Interestingly, it also allows users to edit their documents stored in Google Docs using the MS Office editors, enabling bidirectional flexibility. To observe the functionality of the plug-in, you can refer to the provided video. For a more comprehensive review of Google Cloud Connect, click here.


2011. Google Docs gets new interface and new competitor - LotusLive Symphony



Unlike the Google Wave team, nobody disturbs Google Docs developers, so they continue to add useful and not useful features to the suite. This time they changed the Google Docs interface in order to help users more easily manage lists of documents. They added a right pane with preview of the selected document and relevant information about it: history, versions and users who have access to it. The new Google Docs homepage now shows the most frequently used documents (an extension of the GMail Priority Inbox idea). The list of documents can be filtered by file type or you can show only images / videos (they are be displayed as thumbnails). For images the new slideshow-viewer has been added: ***


2011. Google Docs gets video player



Online video is rapidly becoming the primary format for training, promotional materials, and social content, which plays a crucial role in team-building, such as corporate party videos. Consequently, providing shared access to video content within the intranet is a significant undertaking. Previously, only paid users of Google Apps had the privilege of utilizing the Google Video service as an intranet video gallery. However, a remarkable development has occurred: all Google Apps and Google Docs users can now share videos within the intranet, thanks to the addition of a YouTube-like embedded video player in Google Docs. As you may recall, since last year, it has been possible to upload various file types, including video clips, to Google Docs. Now, these videos can be viewed online instead of requiring downloads and desktop viewing. The list of supported file formats can be found here. The maximum video file size is 1GB, which aligns with the storage limit in free Google Docs accounts. It is likely that Google hopes this new tool will encourage users to reach the free storage limit more quickly and transition to paid accounts.


2010. Google gets inside MS Office



Google continues to use the fact that the main competitor of the new MS Office 2010 is not Google Docs but Office 2007/2003. "Why should I pay some hundreds of dollars for the new Office 2010?" - user thinking. "First, it has more beautiful buttons. Second, you can sync with online Office Web Apps" - says Microsoft. "Hey, you don't need to update! " - Google enters the conversation - "Now you can sync between Office 2003/2007 and Google Docs in real time." Today Google has introduced Cloud Connect - the plug-in that allows to open documents, spreadsheets and presentations from Google Docs in MS Office applications, edit them and save back. Moreover, multiple people can edit the same document simultaneously and Google will keep track of the versions and conflict resolution. ***


2010. Edit your Google Docs on the go



Google continues to prove all that mobile web-applications can work as good as mobile native apps. After the great mobile web-version of GMail, the company has updated the mobile web-version of Google Docs and added the ability to edit documents on the go. Previously it was possible only view docs on mobile devices and only a few mobile browsers allowed basic editing of Google Spreadsheets. From now you can create and edit spreadsheets and text documents on iPhone/iPad (version 3.0+) and Android (2.2+). And Android users can even enter text by voice (English only). The text input in the mobile version also supports English only. Other languages will be added later. ***


2010. New interactive charts in Google Docs

Google has once again showcased the potential of web applications in delivering interfaces as feature-rich as those found in desktop apps. A recent development in this area is the introduction of the chart editor in Google Docs, specifically within Google Spreadsheets. This latest chart editor not only surpasses similar tools in Zoho Sheet and Excel Web App but also outperforms the capabilities of the desktop editor Excel 2010. The chart editor in Google Docs offers several impressive features. Firstly, it incorporates a scalable timeline, reminiscent of Google Finance, which allows users to zoom in on specific time periods within the chart. Secondly, users can now create dynamic charts within the player using the Play button and slider. This functionality enables users to monitor chart changes over time. These interactive charts can be embedded in public websites, granting visitors the ability to interact with the charts rather than simply viewing static images. Importantly, any modifications made to the values in the original spreadsheet automatically update the data in the published chart.


2010. Online Office Search: Google vs Zoho



At long last, Google (also known as the Search giant) has made the search experience within Google Apps more convenient. It wouldn't be fair to say it was bad before, but previously, if you wanted to find an email, you had to open GMail, and if you wanted to find a document, you had to open Google Docs, and so on. This meant that to gather information about a client or task, you had to collect data from various sources. Fortunately, GMail has introduced a new feature called Google Apps Search, which enables searching for documents from Google Docs and pages from Google Sites directly within your inbox (you can activate this feature in GMail Labs). However, please note that this search feature does not include results from Google Calendar and Google Notebook. In contrast to Google, Zoho has taken a more comprehensive approach to online office search. Earlier this summer, Zoho launched Zoho Search, which is a separate service (similar to google.com) that can search across all major Zoho apps. As you can observe, Zoho prefers creating new services, while Google positions GMail as the primary user interface for all Google Apps applications.


2010. Google develops a new office document format?



No secrets can evade the watchful eyes of curious bloggers. In a Google Docs tutorial video shared on YouTube by a Google employee, keen observers have discovered a fresh addition to the "Create document" menu. This new offering is labeled as Punch. Interestingly, one interpretation of this term refers to a beverage made by blending potent spirits or wine with fruit juice and spices. Hence, we can speculate that the new format enables the creation of blended documents that incorporate text, spreadsheets, forms, and media content. Clearly, these documents are primarily intended for real-time collaboration rather than being tailored for publication or email distribution.


2010. Google Docs gets OCR and Google Chrome - PDF reader



Google has introduced new office tools to enhance document management. Firstly, in Google Docs, a text recognition (OCR) feature has been added, allowing for the extraction of text from images and PDF files. This functionality supports not only English but also French, Italian, German, and Spanish languages. Secondly, a plug-in has been developed specifically for viewing PDF files within the Google Chrome browser. Users can easily add this plug-in by visiting the "chrome://plugins" page. With these advancements, Google maintains its ongoing partnership with Adobe, following the previous integration of default Flash support in the Chrome browser.


2010. GDrive is now a reality



We all remember the saga of GDrive - a mythical online file storage, which Google (as was supposed) developed within 2 years, and then it just added the opportunity to upload any files to Google Docs. Along with this opportunity, Memeo Connect (the service for syncing Google Docs with a local folder) appeared. It seemed that the dream about GDrive had come true. But sometimes details decide everything. Until now, to download a file to Google-account with Memeo Connect or to open file from there it was necessary to launch Memeo Connect software. Because of this little issue many Google users switched to DropBox. But today Memeo Connect has released version 2.0 and its main feature is GDrive - the local drive, which exists on your computer and works like any other local drive. ***


2010. QuickOffice and Documents To Go allow to edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the iPad



When the iPad was initially introduced earlier this year, one of the major challenges faced by business users was the inability to work seamlessly with office documents such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Apple's iWork, their own mobile office suite, only allowed viewing MS Office documents on the iPad without the ability to edit them. However, this limitation has now been addressed. Two of the most popular mobile office suites, QuickOffice and Documents To Go, have simultaneously released versions specifically designed for the iPad. Both solutions are available for a fee: Documents To Go offers a standard version priced at $10 and a premium version priced at $15 (which includes additional cloud file storage), while Quickoffice is priced at $10. Both packages enable basic editing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on the tablet. Although QuickOffice does not provide a cloud-sync option, it offers greater stability in its performance.


2010. QuickOffice for Android launches



Finally, the highly popular mobile office suite, QuickOffice, has made its debut on the Android platform. Up until now, it has been available on iPhone, Symbian, Palm, and Blackberry. The trial version of QuickOffice for Android allows users to view documents in various MS Office formats from 97 to 2008 (including DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX), while the paid version, priced at $14, offers basic editing tools. Additionally, the suite includes a capable PDF viewer. QuickOffice for Android is compatible with online file storage services such as Dropbox, Google Docs, Box.net, and MobileMe, allowing users to conveniently save files to the cloud. Moreover, owners of Android 2.0 and 2.1 devices can take advantage of the multi-touch document zoom feature.


2010. OffiSync adds almost-real-time collaborative editing between MS Office and Google Docs



OffiSync - is a plug-in for MS Office editors, which allows you to save Office documents in your Google Docs account, and open them from it. I.e. the idea of the service - to combine the advanced functionality to MS Office with collaboration features in Google Docs. Since our last review, OffiSync added integration with Google Sites (i.e. documents from MS Office can be saved as attachments to a selected pages in Google Sites and opened from there). And yesterday the most interesting feature was unveiled - the ability to simultaneously edit document, while working in any version of MS Office (2003, 2007, 2010) or online Google Docs editor. Of course, it's not so cool, like in the new version of Google Docs, but it unites the users of both solutions. ***


2010. Harmony - a lot of pleasure for Outlook and Google Docs users



Harmony, the new plug-in for MS Outlook by Mainsoft gave us a lot of positive emotions, which we want to share. First, is its video presentation, which is really cool. Secondly, Harmony - is really useful tool that allows to access and collaborate with documents stored in Google Docs or MS Sharepoint, without leaving MS Outlook. In particular, you can open and edit office documents directly in Outlook, search in docs content and share documents with co-workers instead of sending them back and forth. And it's not necessary that your co-workers have this plug-in installed and have Google Docs account - they just click the link in the email and the document will be shared to them automatically (for viewing or editing). ***


2009. Google acquires DocVerse for MS Office integration



Following the acquisition of EtherPad, Google has now acquired another startup called DocVerse, which specializes in working with office documents. DocVerse is a plug-in designed for MS Office applications, allowing collaborative real-time document editing. Notably, DocVerse was developed by former Microsoft employees. Whether users are working on a document online or offline, DocVerse efficiently tracks, manages, and synchronizes all changes to create an updated version of the document. Additionally, the plug-in includes an instant messaging feature for user communication. So, why would Google be interested in acquiring DocVerse? The first reason is to enhance full compatibility between Google Docs and MS Office formats, potentially enabling collaborative document editing in both platforms. The second reason is to leverage DocVerse technologies in building a desktop client for Google Wave. The acquisition price is estimated to be around $25 million.


2009. EtherPad is ready to rival Google Docs

EtherPad, the real-time online text processor, has undergone an upgrade to enhance user-friendliness and collaborative capabilities. The redesigned version introduces a wider range of tools and functionalities. EtherPad now allows users to import and export Word, PDF, Plain Text, and HTML documents. Moreover, the writing experience has been improved to resemble note-taking in Word or Google Docs, incorporating rich text formatting options such as bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough tools. The organization of notes within a document has also been enhanced with the addition of bullet points. While the service is available for free, it does not provide password-protected document security. Alternatively, EtherPad Professional Edition offers secure cloud hosting, free for up to 3 users, and $8 per user per month for more than 3 users. For enterprises seeking a private network solution, the Private Network Edition is available for a one-time fee of $99 per seat, ensuring document protection behind a firewall.


2009. Google is going to redesign Google Docs

Google Blog has recently revealed that Google Docs is set to introduce an impressive and fresh user interface in the near future. This advance notice is aimed at informing users that they might encounter some minor inconsistencies during the upcoming weeks as adjustments are made. The revamp of Google Docs will heavily emphasize the sharing of documents, a fundamental aspect of the platform that currently lacks user-friendliness. Google has outlined their plans for improving this experience and also announced the introduction of several new search operators. The blog post concludes by stating that the new interface and a range of exciting features are on the horizon, set to be released shortly.


2009. Google Docs support .docx and .xlsx

Google Docs has introduced support for .docx and .xlsx file formats, commonly used in modern word processors and spreadsheet editors. These formats, which include Open XML and are default in Microsoft's Excel and Word 2007, offer smaller file sizes compared to their predecessors (.doc and .xls). However, Google Docs still lacks the ability to import .pptx files from PowerPoint 2007 while preserving formatting, as it currently removes elements such as themes, transitions, and artwork. In contrast, competitor Zoho has provided support for these Open Office XML formats since early 2008.


2009. Google Docs to replace MS Visio?

Google has introduced a new functionality called "Insert Drawing" in Google Docs, allowing users to create simple vector graphics directly within their Google documents. This feature provides a range of tools, including lines, freehand scribbles, text labels, and a variety of predetermined shapes that can be resized, moved, rotated, and adjusted. Users have the ability to customize properties such as line width, fill color, and font size. Additionally, common features like grouping, ordering, aligning, and distributing can be applied to multiple objects within the drawing. Collaboration is also supported, enabling users to work together on the same drawing in real-time. Google incorporated this technology into Google Docs through its acquisition of Tonic Systems in April 2007. The feature utilizes SVG or VML, depending on browser compatibility, eliminating the need for additional plug-ins like Flash.