Google has tonight announced its much anticipated Powerpoint competitor. It has been added to Google Docs - the new, simpler name for "Google Docs & Spreadsheets". With the new Presentations feature, users can create "simple web-based presentations". A quick glance at the functionality shows it is similar to the other Google Docs features (word processing and spreadsheets) - with sharing, revisions, etc. Note that Presentations is also available as part of the Google Apps suite of tools.
We'll test out Presentations some more before delivering our verdict to you. For now here is the rest of the email Google sent out (sans the PR quotes from execs):
Presentations are a natural addition for Google Docs , as they are usually created with the intention of being shared. Web-based, collaborative presentations offer users much-needed relief from manually managing and compiling group members' input in separate attachments, and they make it possible for multiple users to view a set of slides while a moderator controls the presentation. Users will see that these features are still in simple, early stages; the Google Docs team is making them available today in response to strong user demand for presentation-sharing, and updates and improvements will continue to roll out over the coming months.
Google Docs is an innovative, web-based platform for creating, sharing, storing, and publishing documents; it now includes capabilities for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Starting today, users can:
- Create and keep presentations in one place on the web that's accessible anytime, from any Internet connected computer.
- Manage, update and share presentations with colleagues by sending them a simple email invitation.
- Edit together online and in real time, or contribute at different times to the same presentation on the web.
- Present and control slide shows for all viewers over the web, with no special setup required. Chat with viewers in real-time via integrated chat.
- Import existing presentations to get started quickly.
- Quickly publish presentations to the general public or individuals of their choice.
The Google Blog has more details, including that users can connect through Google Talk and "can chat about the presentation as they're watching." Below is a video which shows Presentations in action:
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Confirmed: Google Presentations.
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well..its nice to have the powerpoint thing under its belt..kudos google
Posted by: sid | September 18, 2007 2:15 AMExcept it doesn't. This is no PowerPoint/Keynote beater as you can only edit and work with Slides. No notes, no print layouts, nada. For a web presentation that's fine but I'd warrant the majority of people who use powerpoint for presentations do so for conferences or other speaking engagements where (usually) the notes are included in the handout?
Don't get me wrong, it's good, a little slow and clunky (but that will improve) and it might just be enough for most people.
All they need now is a good To Do list app and they are sorted (c'mon Google! Buy Remember the Milk! already)
Posted by: Gordon | September 18, 2007 7:57 AMTypical me too product.
Posted by: TanNg | September 18, 2007 8:09 AMThese are my two cents on the first impressions of Presently. Uruguayan Pesos cents, that is. :-P
Posted by: MeTheGeek | September 18, 2007 11:30 PM