Google Web Applications — Google Docs
Google Docs is Google’s free web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application. Docs lets you create, share, and collaborate on documents online. And it just got better with rebuilt editors for documents, spreadsheets, and drawings, designed to improve collaboration, increase speed, and create richer documents.
Create and share your work online:
- Upload from and save to your desktop
- Edit anytime, from anywhere
- Pick who can access your documents
- Share changes in real time
- Files are stored securely online
Google decided to rebuild the underlying infrastructure of their web application Google Docs to give us greater flexibility, improved performance and a better platform for developing new features quickly.
On April 12, 2010, Google has announced preview versions of the new Google document and spreadsheet editors, and a new standalone drawings editor, all built with an even greater focus on speed and collaboration.
Better Document Editor
One of the biggest changes is that collaborators can now see what others are typing character-by-character. In addition, up to 50 people can now collaborate on one document. The company has also added a sidebar chat feature that allows collaborators to discuss a document as they work on them.
They have also improved document formatting, which means better import / export fidelity, a revamped comment system, real margins and tab stops, and improved image layout within documents.
Faster Spreadsheet Editor
With the new spreadsheets editor, you will see spreadsheets load faster, are more responsive and scroll more seamlessly. They have also added a host of often requested features, like a formula bar for cell editing, auto-complete, drag and drop columns, and simpler navigation between sheets. And as always, real-time collaboration in spreadsheets is easy with sidebar chat and the ability to see which cell each person is editing.
New Collaborative Drawing Editor
The new standalone drawings editor lets you collaborate in real time on flow charts, designs, diagrams and other fun or business graphics. Copy these drawings into documents, spreadsheets and presentations using the web clipboard, or share and publish drawings just like other Google Docs.
Introducing a new Google Docs
To get a taste of what it looks like today, check this video out.
Introducing a new Google Docs
Published on April 9, 2010 by Google.
Google Docs lets you create, share, and collaborate on documents online. And it just got better with rebuilt editors for documents, spreadsheets, and drawings, designed to improve collaboration, increase speed, and create richer documents.
These new editors are not compatible with Gears (the technology that powers offline access), so they do not have offline support today. However, we plan to bring back offline support in the future, taking advantage of new technologies like HTML5 and advancements in modern browsers.
