docs - ReadWriteWeb

Google Crowdsources Reader, Docs and Search Features

Dana Oshiro — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:16:32 -0800

Google has just opened the floodgates. With millions of users, it's only natural that the company is prioritizing features and crowdsourcing new product ideas. In a recent blog post, the company has revamped Google Product Ideas as a series of separate feedback pages for iGoogle, Google Docs, Google SketchUp, Google Ad Planner, Google Custom Search and as of today, Google Reader.

]]>Sponsor

]]> The Google Reader Team is asking users to submit new features, bundles (reading lists) and custom links. From here submissions can be shared and users can move ideas up or down in a Digg-like voting mechanism.

ReadWriteWeb first wrote about Google Product Ideas in late 2008. At the time the site was focused on collecting mobile ideas. Today Google is offering users a chance to submit on a variety of products. Within each sub-site users can view the top voted suggestions, the most popular concepts, the newest submissions and the ideas that have been "answered" or acted upon. While Google Reader's Answered Ideas page is currently blank, it will be interesting to track what the team chooses to work on and why.

To submit your product ideas visit the main Product Ideas page.

]]>Discuss

LA Police Department Considers "Going Google"

Dana Oshiro — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:31:31 -0800

In a recent Los Angeles Police Protective League blog post, President Paul M. Weber raised some concerns about the boys in blue switching to Google-hosted services. The group received their latest computer system after donations from the Michael Jackson memorial service at the Staples Center crashed the department website and took out their old system for most of the day. As the second-largest city in the US, they knew they needed to modernize; however, Weber raises legitimate concerns over the department's consideration of a $7.25 million contract with Google to replace the city's email and records retention system.

]]>Sponsor

]]> Said Weber, "This is a complex technological issue that demands careful study and planning by the city. Before the city introduces an outside entity into the chain of custody, sufficient safeguards need to be in place to secure confidential information. We will be closely monitoring this issue for the security of both our members and the sensitive information they access on a daily basis."

As covered by ReadWriteWeb, Twittergate is one example of how Google may be left open to security breaches. The documents stolen from Twitter were Google Docs, and because they were not hosted behind a firewall, Twitter's business plan was more easily obtained. In this case, as with most cases, human error and insecure passwords are to blame. In order to use Google services, the LAPD would have to be particularly cautious to back up their records and follow password protocol.

Google's "Going Google" campaign recently launched to encourage businesses to switch to Google Apps in the workplace. 1.75 million businesses, schools and organizations are currently using Google Apps in the office, including Motorola, University of Notre Dame and the Mercy Corps. For many businesses considering the service, security still remains the biggest question.

Thanks to Eric for the tip!

]]>Discuss

Now It's Gmail, Now It's a Doc with New Labs Offering

Rick Turoczy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:04:10 -0800

In the workaday world, it happens all the time. You get caught in a string of emails among colleagues, the thread grows and grows as everyone adds their two cents, and when the dust settles, you realize that you've managed to create a ton of good content. Unfortunately, you're now tasked with cutting and pasting all of that good content into a more formal document. If only you could press a button and turn that email into something more useful.

Now, you can. Thanks to Google Labs.

]]>Sponsor

]]> Just add the "Create a Document" Labs feature, open the email string you'd like to convert, and you'll notice a new option in your right sidebar called - appropriately enough - Create a document. Click the link and, after a few moments of conversion, you'll be transported to a Google Docs version of the email you were just reading.

But what if you're simply inspired by the email and not its contents? Create a Document can help you there, too. Once the feature and keyboard shortcuts are enabled, you gain the ability to start a new blank Doc directly from Gmail. Simply, hit the G and W keys at the same time and you'll have a new blank document. Ta dah!

Now, granted, this may not seem like a huge leap forward in technology. But it does mark yet another step that enhances the interoperability among the Google offerings. And that provides a glimmer of hope - and a reason to seriously consider Google's suite of tools - especially for those of us who constantly bemoan the lacking interoperability among the components of other more popular office productivity suites.

At the very least, it makes more sense than Google Mail Goggles.

To try the new feature, log into Gmail and then visit Google Labs to enable Create a Document.

]]>Discuss

Google Labs Adds More Gmail Goodness: Gadgets for Calendar, Docs

Rick Turoczy — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:23:32 -0800

If you use Google's apps, you likely find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time in Gmail. And with good reason. Gmail is where the majority of the activity is happening, so it tends to be where you live. That said, you're likely still interested in keeping tabs on your schedule and what's happening with your work.

Wouldn't it be great if you could keep an eye on your other Google apps - like Calendar and Docs - without having to open multiple tabs or traverse from window to window? Now, thanks to the latest feature releases from Google Labs, you can. Introducing Google Labs Calendar and Doc gadgets for Gmail.

]]>Sponsor

]]> The new Gmail gadgets are designed to make your Gmail interface more inclusive by providing views into your other Google apps - without having to leave your Gmail inbox. No more jumping around. Now, you can see everything in one spot.

While the real estate is constrained, the view manages to provide just enough detail, giving you access to upcoming meetings and appointments and a glimpse of the latest documents on file.

But you can do more than just view the contents. The Docs gadget allows you to search your documents, and both gadgets enable you to create new items on the fly. The Calendar gadget also gives you the option to have a "mini calendar" present for reference.

To test drive these gadgets for yourself, simply head over to Labs and enable the Calendar gadget and the Docs gadget. Save your new settings and switch back to your Gmail interface. Now, you'll see two new collapsible areas below Labels that give you a view into your Calendar and your Docs.

Labs Holds the Key to Future Gmail Features

The rate of innovation coming out of Labs seems to be on the upswing. Lately, we've seen a steady stream of Google Labs features for Gmail, like Labels enhancements, Mail Goggles, and Canned Responses. And they're beginning to answer very real workflow issues - okay maybe not with Goggles - that enhance the functionality of Gmail and make it a more competitive platform.

It will be interesting to see what users choose to install and adopt from Labs - and equally interesting what they choose to ignore - because that will determine what Google decides to bake into future features of Gmail, itself.

I think it's safe to assume that these two latest gadgets from Labs are leading candidates for core Gmail functionality, especially given how simply and effectively they combine access to the most popular Google apps in the place where most users live and breathe - their inbox.

]]>Discuss