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Google releases revamped Google Drive 2.0 for iOS
Google has released Google Drive 2.0 -- a total revamp of the cloud-storage app that lets you edit and share documents and spreadsheets. The new version of Google Drive features Google's signature "card" layout, which lets you view documents and photos as tiled grids. However you can still view them in list view if that's your preference. Other changes to Google Drive 2.0 include the ability to edit documents in landscape view, an easier to access the search function, better logic when grouping folders and improved ways to copy and share files. Google Drive 2.0 for iOS is a free download.
Google updates Drive for iOS with new card UI, easier way to browse files
You know how they say that when it rains, it pours? Well, shortly after unveiling a new set of native ware for Chrome, Google's also taken the time to announce an update to its Drive app on iOS. Most notable is the introduction of the card-style user interface, something we saw make its way to the Android version of Google Drive earlier this year. There's now a better way to browse and preview files as well, plus an easier approach to how links get copied within the app -- essentially, this means users will see a new option that automatically copies file links to the clipboard. The update doesn't appear to be live everywhere just yet, but keep an eye on the App Store as it should be arriving very soon.
Gmail for iOS nets improved Drive and Google+ integration
Sure, Gmail on iOS was completely redesigned in June, but Mountain View's just pushed out a fresh update with a few features to polish things off. Version 2.4 of the email app bakes in improved integration with Drive and Google+, making links to the platforms open in their respective apps. Of course, if you'd rather continue following links to the web, the application's settings can be tweaked accordingly. Rounding out the release is a spruced up attachment system with larger image thumbnails that can be opened up in a full screen mode. To grab the refreshed app, head to the neighboring source link.
Google Drive for Windows gets desktop shortcuts for speedier editing
Google Drive is as much about productivity as cloud storage, but it's hard to discover this through a cursory glance at Drive's desktop apps. That connection should soon become clearer, at least for some users -- a new version of Google Drive for Windows will create shortcuts to Docs, Sheets and Slides after installation. The editing-friendly aliases should reach Google Drive over the course of the next week. There's no word of a Mac equivalent, but we've reached out to Google and will let you know if a matching update is on the way.
Google Drive reportedly encrypting files, keeping prying eyes off of your cloud
CNET has learned that Google may be implementing measures to keep the government (or anyone else) out of your Google Drive-stored data. Should this be true, folks concerned about their privacy -- everyone, we would hope -- might rest easier in a post-PRISM world. According to one of CNET's anonymous sources, this isn't some flight of fancy, either: A small percentage of Drive files are already protected. Of course, even such digital protection is not guaranteed to keep your files private, but it would force those who would like a peek to obtain your login credentials first. Not that Uncle Sam would ever do such a thing without legal permission, right?
Chrome OS 28 hits stable release, brings visual feedback to Chromebook Pixel
A welcome bit of news for Chromebook owners came this evening, as Chrome OS 28 hit the stable channel and will be rolling out to laptops over the coming days. First and foremost, you'll find a speedier version of the Files app, which now supports recent and shared files on Google Drive. In addition, the operating system now allows for monitor rotation and scaling, and even displays pop-up notifications after taking screenshots. As an added treat, Chromebook Pixel users will find visual feedback when clicking on buttons and links. Combine this with performance enhancements and crash fixes, and Chrome OS 28 stacks up as another incremental (but wholly welcome) update.
Google Drive makes it easy to email spreadsheets, copy/paste your heart away
Google Drive updates might be few and far in between, but they usually add welcome changes to the service -- take for example its recently improved copy/paste function. You can now paste tables from spreadsheets into Gmail with their formatting intact, and it doesn't even matter what browser you use. Chrome users get a bit of extra, of course, like bringing shapes from drawings into presentations and copying slides from one presentation to another. While minor at best, these upgrades do make it easier to share data from Drive -- when it's online, anyway.
Google Drive now stores your stuff in 18 more languages
Although Google Drive has spread far and wide, its localization hasn't always kept pace. The service just took a few needed strides forward, however, with the addition of 18 new languages. Asia gets the most recognition with support for Hong Kong Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Malaysian, Nepali, Persian, Sinhalese and Urdu. Not that Google is neglecting other corners of the world, mind you: Africa is well covered with the additions of Afrikaans, Amharic, Swahili and Zulu, while Europeans get some TLC through support for Basque, Estonian, Galician and Icelandic. French Canadians and Spanish-speaking Latin Americans get localizations, too. Google Drive still isn't tuned for every language on Earth, but those with cloud storage in Cape Town or Kuala Lumpur should feel at home.
Google Drive for iOS updated with swiping image navigation and Docs commenting on the go
Navigating that image repository and commenting on collaborative documents while in route is now a bit easier with Google Drive for iOS. The folks in Mountain View updated the Apple-centric version of its cloud storage app to allow swiping between stored images and the ability to view, create and respond to a Docs' comments on the go. Those who haven't already been prompted to update -- or those looking to dive in for the first time -- can do so via the source link that follows.
Drive and Calendar search rolling out to all US Gmail accounts
In October Google started a field trial that allowed users to peruse their Drive files and Calendar entries straight from the Gmail search box. Apparently the test was a rousing success, as the company is rolling the feature out to all US accounts, in English. The feature hasn't changed since it made its debut late last year -- simply start typing and your autocomplete results will include your next homebrew meeting, your epic beer inventory spreadsheet as well as emails from family members suggesting you seek help for your new "hobby." If you don't have access just yet, be patient, Google says it'll roll out slowly over the next week.
Google Drive for Android updated with card UI and refined scanner function
Cards, cards, cards... that's the refrain around the Google campus these days. Everything is getting turned into cards. That now includes your documents stored on Drive, too. The Google Drive app for Android was updated today with a whole new UI that moves towards the refined Holo design of the Play Music app and displays your uploaded files as "cards," though, you can always revert to a tweaked list view. The cards offer a thumbnail preview along with the file name and an icon indicating the type of document. The ability to snap photos and have the results turned into a OCR-processed PDF has also been updated slightly. The feature is now called "scan" and it automatically crops photos to contain only the document you need to upload. Lastly, you can finally tweak text settings in sheets, delivering a much more robust mobile formatting experience. Just hit up the Play Store to get your update now.
Chrome 27 goes stable with small speed boost, Chromium nabs app launcher on Mac
After sitting in a beta phase since early April, Chrome 27 is finally seeing a wide release with its arrival on the stable track. Headlining the fresh desktop version is a 5 percent speed boost to web page load times and a new API for saving and syncing data to Google Drive. Refined spell correction, "numerous fundamental improvements" to the Omnibox, improved prediction rankings and an assortment of security fixes have also been baked in. Back in developer territory, Google's François Beaufort announced that the latest Chromium build for Mac has been outfitted with the anticipated app launcher. Check your browser for the update or jab the source links below to grab the apps manually.
Google Drive triples free storage to 15 GB
We were just talking about how Amazon is competing with Apple and other cloud services by offering 5 GB of storage for free. Now, that turns out to be old news, because today Google announced that free storage spanning several Google services like Gmail, Google+ and Google Drive is now going to come in the extra-large economy size -- a whopping 15 GB. Google says the changes will be rolling out over the next several weeks to all customers. All that space is shared, so if you are just using Google Drive Photo (for example), that 15 GB is shared with any other Google services that require storage. Still, 15 GB is a very competitive number since Apple and Amazon give you 5 GB with iCloud and Amazon Cloud Drive, respectively, and Dropbox provides a measly 2 GB free. A similar service from MediaFire offers 10 GB of free storage, but the free tier includes ads. All the services allow you to get more storage for an additional fee. It will be interesting to see if Apple and other services respond to Google's challenge or stand pat. With this move, Google has unified its storage system, a similar concept to the Apple pool of iCloud storage, although at this point Apple does not count image storage in Photo Stream against your 5 GB allotment. Google has a free iOS app so you can access this storage space, and it can also be managed through a web browser on any computer.
Google combines Drive, Gmail and Google+ Photo storage into a common 15GB pool
Google's efforts to streamline aren't limited to some spring cleaning and more spartan interfaces. Today the company is breaking down the artificial walls between the pools of online storage provided for Gmail, Drive and Google+ Photos. Instead of 10GB for all your messages and attachments, alongside a separate 5GB repository for your photos and documents, now all three sites share a common 15GB slice on Google's servers. So, if you happen to be a little photo crazy, but are nowhere near the limit on your Gmail account, you no longer need to rely on workarounds like archiving images as attachments. This also means that storage upgrades for Gmail no longer top out at 25GB. There's also a handy new visualization that shows how much of your available storage you're using and breaks it down by service for finer-grained tracking. Update: If you're a Google Apps customer your available cloud storage will also be unified, leaving you with 30GB shared between all three services.
Google Drive desktop app adds in-app file sharing, catches up to 2010's Dropbox
Sure, you could see and manage your Google Drive files from within the comfort of your PC / Mac file management system, but you couldn't publicly share them with friends -- until now. Google Drive files are now sharable via right click directly on your desktop, meaning the Drive desktop app now has one more feature that Dropbox already had several years ago. We hope you'll forgive our lack of enthusiasm for Google's catchup effort, but it's hard to get all jazzed up about functionality that should've probably been there at launch. Anyway, if you're not seeing the new feature pop up on your dashboard yet, Google says it's "rolling out over the next few days." Hold tight!
Offline Google Drive now automatically saves files, lets you create and edit drawings
Well, it looks as if the Drive news just keep pouring in. Shortly after outing a couple of new features that make the service a little more friendly with collaborators, Google's rather quietly taken to its own social network to announce some offline tidbits. Starting today, users of Mountain View's cloud-based storage goods can easily create and edit any drawings without the need for an internet connection. What's more, Docs, Sheets and Slides will now be automatically available offline -- something that should come in very handy while you're, say, 20,000 feet up in the air with no Gogo in sight. Fret not if you don't see these changes the next time you log in, as Google says "it may take a few days" before the rollout is carried out.
Google Drive now lets collaborators add friends, start chats with fewer clicks
When you're sharing a file in Google Drive, your time should be spent collaborating, not arranging conversations. Right? Google agrees strongly enough to have just finished tweaking Drive's web interface for better teamwork. Users actively working on the project now show as mouse-over icons, with their Google+ relationship front and center -- if they're not friends and you want them to be, you can change that almost immediately. It's even faster to start group chats, as a new dedicated button will launch a chatroom for everyone who's currently looking at the project. Google expects the speedier Drive socialization to reach us within a day or two, and it's planning to bolster the update with wider file support sometime in the near future.
Gmail, Drive, other Google apps down for some (update: back up)
Vital Google services down for you? Well, you're not alone. Tips have been pouring in this AM that many of Mountain View's apps are down, including Gmail and Drive. We were able to independently confirm the partial outage and Google's App Status Dashboard has been updated to reflect the "service disruption." The down time isn't affecting everyone, however. Most of those hanging around the Engadget compound are still able to check their hate mail and Caskers notifications. Are you having trouble getting through to Google's servers? Let us know in the comments. Update: According to the App Status Dashboard, everything should be a-okay now. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Google Drive on iOS updated, adds landscape editing
The latest 1.3.0 update to the Google Drive app for iOS has arrived and brought with it the joys of landscape document editing. Version 1.30 also features improved Google Doc support and the standard minor bug fixes that come with every update. Landscape editing is a simple, but incredibly important update for the powerful cloud-editing tool. Those who use their drives to edit, store and process large documents can rejoice. Freedom from the squished portrait view is here at last.
Google Drive on iOS updated to 1.30, adds landscape editing to docs and spreadsheets
The Google Drive app for iOS is freeing users from the shackles of portrait-style document editing in its latest update, version 1.30, as well as speeding up Google Doc support in general. Alongside some "minor bug fixes," that's the general thrust of the latest Google Drive update for iOS devices; an update which adds what we'd call no-brainer functionality. Most importantly, this update should allow users to stop swearing loudly while trying to edit documents in portrait mode, which we'd call a major plus.
