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ScanDrop comes to Mac: makes scanning to cloud services simple
I've been a fan of a paperless workflow for a couple of years now, and I rely heavily on Evernote for organizing everything scannable that crosses my desk. One of the tools I've found invaluable for speeding up the scan and filing process is ScanDrop, as it allows me to scan a document and do basic image editing. I can also send a PDF to Evernote with a name, tags, and the appropriate Notebook setup without having to juggle files between multiple applications. Unfortunately, this has also kept my scanning leashed to Windows, since ScanDrop didn't exist for Mac OS X. I was delighted to find out that OfficeDrop has debuted a Mac OS X version on the Mac App Store at the bargain launch price of US$1.99. If you aren't an Evernote user, ScanDrop also works directly with Google Docs and OfficeDrop's own commercial cloud service, or you can scan files to any location on your drive, enabling you to sync documents to Dropbox, iDisk or similar solutions. The only downside is ScanDrop depends on the service to do optical character recognition (OCR), so you'll need to be an Evernote Premium user, a subscriber to OfficeDrop, or put up with the limitations with Google Docs' OCR. If you're saving to your drive, you may need to find an additional tool for OCR or live without searchable text documents. Make sure to read over the details about scanner support to make sure ScanDrop will work with your hardware before you click purchase.
Google Docs: now supporting mobile editing in 45 languages
Never mind the fact that you'll need to have a basic grasp of English to even understand this report -- if you're an avid user of Google Docs on your Android 2.2+ phone, you can now edit in 45 languages. Heck, even if you're not using Android, you can surf on over to docs.google.com with any iOS 3.0+ device and accomplish the same thing. Would it make it any clearer if we spoke slowly and removed all adjectives? [Thanks, Calvin]
Google brings Cloud Print service to mobile Google Docs, Gmail
You'll still need to have that Windows PC acting as an intermediary, but folks looking to use Google's Cloud Print service now at least have considerably more devices at their disposal to print documents from. Following up its roll-out to Chrome OS netbooks last month, Google has now announced that it's begun rolling the service out to its mobile Google Docs and Gmail sites, which you'll be able to use to print documents from most mobile devices that supports HTML5 -- those running Android 2.1+ or iOS 3+, for instance. What's more, while you will still need that Windows PC connected to your printer for the time being, Google now notes that both Mac and Linux support are "coming soon."
Google Docs introduces video player, yet another way to kill time in the office
Google's headed ever deeper into the clouds this year with a new function for Google Docs: video playback. As of this week, users can upload videos (up to 1GB) in a supported format, and make them available for viewing in Google Docs. As with the previous video sharing set up, you can still download video, including previous versions. Google engineers have warned of excessive processing time, but once videos are up, viewing is as easy as clicking play -- and having a Flash player, of course. We're not entirely sure what the advantage is over Youtube, but we're on board for anything that lets us share our love of creepy robot workout videos with our coworkers.
Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad gets PowerPoint editing for Christmas
The Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad has gained some new features that make it even more useful to business people on the go. Quickoffice, Inc. announced today that its mobile office suite for the iPad now has an editor for Microsoft PowerPoint files in addition to the Excel and Word editors that were available earlier. You can manipulate font type, color, size and style, and you can add, delete or reorder slides in a PowerPoint deck. Graphical editing tools allow object layering changes, insertion and editing of text boxes, and insertion and rotation of common shapes, images and text boxes. Another feature of the PowerPoint editor is that it allows the insertion of images from inside the app or from the iPad's Photo Library. When presenting from Quickoffice, the app supports video output using the Apple Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and provides a built-in "laser pointer" for pointing out highlights on the slides. There's also a filmstrip preview of slides to assist in making presentations on external monitors. While Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad now allows round-tripping of animations and transitions between the desktop app and iPad, there is still no way to edit or show custom transitions or animations on the iPad. The Quickoffice developers have noted that this is in consideration for a future update. It's also worth mentioning that the PowerPoint editing feature only supports PPT (Office 2003 format) files; PPTX (Office 2007/2010/2011 native format) presentations can be viewed and shown, but not edited yet. The app now supports additional cloud storage services, including Box.net, Dropbox, Google Docs, Huddle, MobileMe and SugarSync. If you already own the suite, this is a free update for you. To kick off the new update, Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad is on sale on the App Store for US$14.99, 40% off of the usual $24.99 price. Thanks for Mike Rose for the gallery screenshots! %Gallery-111932%
Google Docs presentation makes PowerPoint weep, beg for mercy (video)
And you thought your year-end PowerPoint -- complete with that snazzy "Ding!" after every slide -- was something to admire. The video below is a Google Demo Slam entrant, going up against a Voice Search piece featuring Maria Sharapova. We know precious little about what it took to create, but somehow or another, a trio of animators created a mind-blowing 450 page presentation in just three days, and none of 'em were located in the same space. Thankfully for you, it's all explained in a blistering one minute, twenty-nine second YouTube clip. Enjoy.
Desktop version of Google Docs now on iPad, but still disappoints
9to5Mac brought us the news that the desktop version of Google Docs is now available on the iPad, coming just a few weeks after the mobile version debuted. But, like the screencap above warns, not all features are available through the iPad and the clunky interface is disappointing. Viewing the desktop version of Google Docs is slow and a bit cumbersome as the screen reloads each time you tap on a different area. You are able to navigate menus and do things you can't do on the mobile version such as edit spreadsheets and add comments to documents, but the ability to use these features are overshadowed by the lack of basic tasks. You're unable to select text, which means no copy or pasting. If you double-tap at the end of a sentence to get a period, you won't be rewarded with that particular mobile shortcut. There is no shift key; if you capitalize a word, all the text will be capitalized until you toggle the button off. Backspacing is equally slow, especially if you need to edit a large area of text. For editing, I'd head for specific apps that can link to your Google Docs such as Documents 2 Go or Quickoffice. Otherwise, unless you're doing basic notating or spreadsheet editing, viewing the desktop version of Google Docs on the iPad is more trouble than the feature is worth.
Full version of Google Docs now works on iPad, but you can still go mobile if you want
The big G just revamped its mobile device interface of Google Docs to make it closer to the full-fledged experience you get when editing from a proper computer -- you know, something that probably has a keyboard, a big display, and a price that didn't come with any two year agreements. Now that top shelf interface is also available on one of those devices that fits somewhere in-between those two segments: the iPad. Users of Apple's tablet can opt into the desktop version for big-time editing of spreadsheets and documents and, while Google still recommends using the mobile editor, if you want full power it's yours.
Google's Cloud Connect plugs Microsoft Office into Google Docs
It's been a pretty busy time for Google Docs this month -- first Google added support for mobile editing, and it's now finally bridging the considerable divide between the cloud-based service and Microsoft Office with its new Cloud Connect plug-in. That functions just as you'd expect, letting you edit files in Microsoft Office (either 2003, 2007 or 2010) and then sync them with Google Docs every time you hit the save button. Likewise, you can also edit your files in Google Docs and share them with others, and then simply pull down the latest revision the next time you open the document in Office. There's still no word on a widespread release for the plug-in, but those interested in trying it out can sign up for Google's early tester program at the source link below.
Google Docs now supports mobile editing
While Android and iOS aren't short on productivity applications for cobbling together a .doc and sending it on its way, we've been really hankering for native Google Docs support since pretty much day one. Google is finally ready to deliver, and it looks like they've actually put some thought into the UI, particularly on the phone end of things. Edits show up in near realtime across platforms, and you can even edit tables embedded in documents -- though don't try to get too fancy, the tools still look pretty basic. Android also allows you to insert text using voice recognition. Currently Google Docs will be supporting Android devices with Froyo and iOS devices with 3.0 or newer (including the iPad), with the functionality rolling out over the next few days. There's a video after the break demonstrating the new features.
Now edit your Google Docs on your iOS device
Native editing for Google Docs will be available on the iOS device closest to you within the next few days -- if not already. Google issued a press release this morning, complete with a demo set to some snazzy music demonstrating the new editor in action. Google said that the it will be available on all iOS devices, plus those with Android version 2.2 and higher, within the next few days. You need iOS 3.0 or above to run the mobile Google Docs editor. I grabbed my iPad and saw that I could already edit my documents. For basic editing of your projects on the fly, it's not bad at all. But, it's very basic editing at best and does not have any support for styling text or customizing spreadsheets like Documents 2 Go and Quickoffice do. For video of Google Docs on an iPad (among other devices), click the link below.
MeLLmo's Roambi delivers business intelligence on the go
When talking iPad with enterprise users, one of my favorite show-off apps for the iPad is MeLLmo's Roambi. It's a little hard to explain what it does, but once they see it in action, they know they want it. Roambi (free on the App Store, pro/enterprise plans available) gives you instant, easy dashboards for your data on your iPad, and it lets you share your numbers in striking visual form. With the free Roambi plan, you can quickly import your Excel or CSV data into the app and pick from four dashboard displays: CataList, PieView, SuperList, and Trends. In the pro version (US$99/user per year via the Google Apps Marketplace) you can add connections to Salesforce CRM and Google Docs for live online updating; the ES3 enterprise version gives access to high-end business intelligence systems from SAP and IBM, along with device-lock security and remote data wipe options to protect your key info. The enterprise version also provides access to Flash/browser versions of the same dashboard displays, in case you need to show your stuff sans iPad. The graphs and dashboards themselves are a visual treat. You can easily drill down into your data with a few touches, or bring up a trendline or sparkline to make a clear point. If you've got a view you want to return to quickly, you can bookmark it for instant access; you can also easily send screenshots of a particular view. It's not an app for everyone, but if your day includes explaining numbers to others, you need to give Roambi a shot. It's also available in a free iPhone edition.
TUAW TV Live today at 5 PM ET: Writing tools for Mac
Monday was the start of NaNoWriMo, the annual writing fest in which authors from around the globe attempt to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. I've started on my third novel, and as usual I'm having a blast thinking up characters, situations, plot lines, and just how I'm going to wrap up this entire story. There are a number of wonderful writing tools for the Mac, so on today's episode of TUAW TV Live, I thought I'd introduce to you at least 10 of them. You don't need to be a budding novelist or screenwriter to benefit from the power of some of these tools, so if you do any sort of writing I think you'll enjoy this afternoon's show. We'll start at 5 PM ET (2 PM PT) sharp. Just drop by TUAW about 5 minutes before the start of the show and you'll find a post with a livestream viewer and chat box. You can also join us or watch old episodes of TUAW TV Live at ustream.tv/tuaw.
Google Docs editing coming to iPad
This is pretty fantastic. Dave Girouard, president of Google Enterprise, announced via the Google official blog today that mobile editing for Google Docs is coming to the iPad and Android. Up until now, the Webkit browsers used on the mobile devices have been missing a key capability for handling rich text editing. While you can access Google Docs through iPad office suites such as Documents to Go and Quickoffice, native access through Google will eliminate the need to purchase a 3rd party app and may make an iPad sound more appealing to those who want to use it to edit documents. It may prompt Apple to finally add cloud storage access to iWork. [hat tip to Electronista]
Google acquires Slide, aims to 'build a more social web'
We can't say we've ever heard of Slide (okay, maybe in passing), but there's a good chance the entire tech universe will know their name after today. Why? Google just picked 'em up for an undisclosed amount of cheddar and good will, with the overriding goal of "building a more social web." Google's own announcement is rather cryptic, nothing that there aren't any "detailed product plans to share right now." We're guessing that some of the company's web apps will be fleshed out with social features at first, but the minute we see Farmville load within an applet in Gmail, we're gone, baby, gone. And that's a promise. Update: Reuters is reporting that Google shelled out a staggering $182 million for Slide, not to mention an extra $46 million in "employee retention bonuses." It pays to be wanted, eh? Thanks, Chris!
First look: Memeo Connect Reader for iPad
If you're a big fan of Google Docs and the iPad, then you're going to love the free Memeo Connect Reader for iPad. While the app doesn't allow you to edit your documents, it works well as an online and offline reader for many file formats, including Microsoft Office, Apple iWorks, PDF files, images, and movies. Documents that are updated online by collaborators are instantly synced back to Memeo Connect Reader, so you'll always have access to the latest version. As you can see in the video, the app has a nice, simple interface. Documents that have been created and saved in Google Docs or that have been created elsewhere and uploaded to Google Docs are automatically parsed into a group of folders. There's one for Documents, another for Presentations, one more for Spreadsheets, and so on. Tapping a folder displays an animated folder with a list of new or older documents, listed in reverse chronological order. To open an view a document, you simply tap on it. Memeo Connect Reader for iPad looks like a big ol' bucket of win for anyone with an iPad who needs access to their Google Docs.
WWDC Demo: Flogger, a flight logger for iPhone
We're winding down the last of our WWDC video demos this week, and today we're looking at Flogger, a simple but powerful flight logger for iPhones and iPod touch handhelds (despite a name that might make you look twice). I'm not a pilot, but some of the features sounded pretty nifty, including a method for exporting your logs to Google Docs, right in the app. Other nice options include a huge database of airport codes, the ability to flag entries as simulator flights, and a fast method for adding crew members from your Address Book.Flogger (iTunes link) is currently $9.99 in the App Store.
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Google brings Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Talk out of beta (updated)
Guess what, internoodle? Google Apps is officially out of beta. Do you know what that means? It means that Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Talk are losing that "beta" signage / language you've come to know and loathe. It also seems to mean that Google will be taking a much more direct and serious approach to courting businesses for its Apps suite. At first blush, it looks like the company has all but squashed the "Standard Edition" free hosted Apps package that many now use, though that isn't the case (yet). We say "all but" because while it looks like the pro bono package has been zapped out of existence by the magic raygun of capitalism, a tiny link to the service still exists on an arcane page buried deep in the casefiles of one T. Google Merryweather III. Or just Google. To be completely clear, however, regular old Gmail will still be freely available to anyone and everyone who wants a crack at it. At any rate, you'll be happy to know that the beta tag will be scuttled later today, and you can start getting righteously mad at Google for not taking care of their proper, released products immediately. Now maybe they can get to coding up nice native versions of Gmail for the iPhone and webOS... eh?Update: The folks at Google, bless 'em, have posted a quick note on their blog stating explicitly that the Standard version of Apps isn't going anywhere. In their words, "We have no intention of eliminating Standard Edition, and we apologize for any confusion." Nice!
Google Docs adds spreadsheet editing on the iPhone
A while back we noted that Google had optimized the Google Docs services for viewing on the iPhone (and other mobile devices). It's taken a while, but now it's been announced that some basic editing is possible from the iPhone as well. The interface is a little clunky: you basically have to hit an edit link to adjust any given row of a spreadsheet and scroll to the right to change values for the columns, each within a separate form field. There's no easy way, for instance, to scroll down a column changing the values for each row. Nonetheless, it is now possible to make changes to a spreadsheet, as well as alter the sorting and filtering options. Even though the implementation is imperfect, I'm happy to see mobile editing in Google Docs spreadsheets and I've already begun to make use of it. We can only hope they'll figure out how to make it a bit more streamlined in the future. [Via jkOnTheRun & Download Squad]
GDocsUploader puts Google Docs API to use
TUAW reader Vinod tipped us off to GDocsUploader, a small application for drag-and-drop uploading of Office documents to Google Docs. It's a wrapper around a Python implementation of the Google Documents List Data API. The API, which is limited primarily to uploading and searching, has been around for a while now, but we haven't seen too many Mac applications make use of it. This app is simple, open source and duly small. A notable drawback of GDocsUploader is its use of AppleScript keychain scripting, which is notoriously slow and not altogether reliable (might I suggest something more usable?). It also gets a little sketchy with reporting transfer results, but that could possibly be an issue on the Google side. Overall, once you get through the first round of Keychain-doesn't-like-AppleScript (or was it vice-versa?) problems, it's a great little drop-point for getting Google its docs. Grab it at Google Code. Thanks, Vinod!
