Blogger on my smart phone!

My final post of the day is on Google Blogger, well not really, it's on the flexibility that Google not only offers for Blogger but for all it's apps.  The freedom and flexibility to access these apps via any device that is internet accessible.  Posting this from my HTC one right now. Sure there is limited functionality to the Google smart phone version of the Google Blogger app, but convenience is also an added benefit.  The ease of use for all the Google apps even allows my 10 year old to create an account at school, create content and immediately share progress with me when he gets home.  I'm able to monitor progress and give feedback.  At that age to be already using technology thst most current adults are learning late on in life just shows you how important and easy to use these Google apps are to use.

Gmail, the web answer to Outlook

I now have three Gmail account, one for work use, one for my professional handle and one for school.  Gmail is easy to use, convenient, and affordable (free!).  I like the fact that it's right on my smart phone and I get alerts when I get new emails.  The service is fee and high frequency functionality is the same as outlook.  Just as I have mentioned in my other posts, the only differences are the advanced features of Microsoft desktop apps, they've had many more years to refine and develop their products, it will take Google a while to get to that point.

Google Calendar allows you to stay organized

With Google Calendar, stay organized and alerted.  The Google Calendar app allows you to sync your calendar to your phone.  I currently use MS outlook to sync mail, calendar and contacts.  I'm always having issues with my calendar sync.  It will randomly update reoccurring events to random times of the day.  The mail and contact sync is pretty reliable, but the calendar is very annoying.  I'm hoping Google Calendar can help!

Google Voice taking on Skype and other mobile phone apps!

Google voice allows you to consolidate your various phone numbers and voice mails into one app accessible via the web on any internet ready device.  Google voice can take your existing numbers and send them to one single phone number, it also allows you to access online voice mail via text or email.  The app also can be used to customize greetings and call blocking according to the Google voice website.  There are many other features available in this Google app.  Not only does this free app take on Skype, but many other mobile phone apps.

Google Drawing

Google takes another shot at Microsoft with Google Drawings, the web based app that takes aim at Visio.  There are a number of staple features included with Google Drawings, including but not limited to Sharing and real-time chatting while users are viewing your drawings.  Some nice benefits of Google Drawings is the snap in to grid and you can overlay Google Drawings into other Google Apps.  Obvious benefits of this app are the cloud based availability of the app and the collaborative nature of all of Google Apps.  However, like many of the Google apps, this does fall short of the real power you get with Microsoft's Visio desktop application.  Again, like many Google apps, it's really up to what the consumer needs.

Google Wallet, shopping made easier

Google Wallet app make shopping easier, convenient and affordable.  I'm not sure about you, but my wallet is stuffed full of cards, coupons and rewards cards.  Google Wallet takes care of this.  The app allows you to shop in stores on select phone, send money, shop online, all with the safety of 24/7 fraud monitoring.

Shop in the store where contact less transactions are accepted, pulse never forget a rewards card when they are loaded directly on your Google wallet.

Google's answer to Paypal, using your Google wallet to send money.  Using your Google wallet and your gmail account you can send money to friends and family.

Google wallet allows you to check out quickly while online shopping.  I am a regular online shopper though and have not seen the option to pay with my Google wallet yet.  Paypal is having a hard time breaking through that market as well, with only really tech savvy companies offering this service, I don't foresee an immediate market share increase for Google wallet when a long established company like Paypal is having a hard time.

Google Sites!

Google sites is a great way to get a website up and running quickly and best of all is a part of the free Google apps.  Google even has a business solution with a relatively low cost of $5/user/month.  As a family man, one of the constant battles is to get pictures and videos of the kids out to grandparents and other family members.  Google sites allows me to update current family events, photos and movies and allows me to share that with everyone without having to create DVDs and print hard copies of pictures with the added expense of postage.  The additional security measures allows me to control who can access my Google site.

Not only is Google sites great for families, but the business solutions are a nice option for start ups who don't have the cash or infrastructure to build out expensive extra-net and intranet websites for customers and employees.  There are plenty of features that are available for businesses.

You can watch a short demo of Google Sites here.

Google Apps Email Post

I'm testing the blogger email configuration to create a blog post.

Google Slides, Presentations on the Cloud

Google offers their version of Microsoft's PowerPoint, Google Slides.  Google Slides offers the same basic features as PowerPoint, but just as I commented on in my post comparing Excel and Google Sheets, Google only touches on the basic functionality.  Again, all depends on what you're needs are.

The site below offers you a good overview of the pros and cons of both Google Slides and MS PowerPoint.

https://sites.google.com/site/ericalynnwoods1115/extra-credit

Google Apps Script

Let's focus this post on Google Apps Scripts.  Google Apps Script allows you to enhance your Google documents, sheets and forms using Java based code.  Just like other Google apps, this app is cloud based so there is no downloading and installing a program on your desktop to use this app.  Google provides a web based coding editor that you can use to create the Java based scripts.

According to Google's Overview on Apps Scripts, you can create custom menus, dialog and sidebars.  My personal opinion, custom dialog would be a nice way to personalize a Google Form.  Additionally, Apps scripts can be used with Google Sheets to add custom functions as well as interacting with other Google services.

Just one more reason why Google's web based apps are taking market share away from traditional desktop applications.

Click on the video to watch a quick overview of how easy it is to create a custom script using Google Apps Script.

Translate on the Go!

Google offers a web based language translation app, Google Translate.  This app is simplistic in nature, but a powerful app.  Google Translate is able to "Instantly translate text, web pages, and files between over 50 languages."  The app is available on the web or an app available in the Play Store.  This is truly is a great app for people on the go.  No more do you need a software application installed on your desktop or laptop.  With the Google Translate app on your tablet or smart phone, you can travel the world and this app will help you navigate in countries that don't speak your native language.

Cloud Printing

Everyone has heard of cloud computing, how about cloud printing?  Google offers Cloud Print, an app that allows you to take any device with internet capability and access and print any document to a printer you chose from anywhere in the world.

How does it work?  There are two options you can chose from.  First is the easiest, buy a printer that supports cloud printing, connect it to the internet and configure it to your Google account.  A Second option is to take a printer (generally older) that does not support could printing and configure it to a desktop or laptop computer.  You'll need chrome and there will be some configurations within Chrome you'll need to make.  The downside to this option is the computer will always need to be one and chrome open.

What are the advantages to cloud printing?  No more are the days you're looking at a document on the phone, only to have to walk over to your desktop or laptop, turn it on, wait for it to boot up, log in to your account and then print it.  What Cloud Printing eliminates is that hassle.

Check out the video overview from Google.

Google Sheets

Google sheets is Google's web based answer to Microsoft's Excel.  Sheets offers a good alternative to Excel, at a basic level.  What do I mean by a good alternative?

Financially

Sheets is free to personal users.

Flexibility

Sheets is web based, so it's available from any desktop or mobile device.

Ease

You need a gmail account to access Sheets and that's it.

What do I mean by basic?

Sheets features most of the common tools of Excel such as Charts, Forms, Images, Drawings and have a variety of functions that can be used to manipulate and calculate data.  Some of the features available in Excel that are not available in Sheets are:  Data connections, tables, and many advance features of data manipulations.  Sheets does offer support to import a variety of different file types, including Excel.

Microsoft has a web page that does a good job of visually showing the differences between the two apps.  Bottom line, it's really up to what you need, I think they both offer something to a variety of consumers.

Google Drives

Google has a number of apps available for use with your Google account.  One such app is the Google Drive.  The Drive is a cloud based storage for files created by other Google Apps and supports storing up to 30+ other file types by simply uploading them.

There are a number of advantages to the Google Drive.  First and foremost it's in the cloud, so you can access your Google drive with any mobile device or desktop computer that supports connecting to the internet and where you have an internet connection.

Secondly, Google Drive allows you to share individual folders and files within your Drive.  You simply right click on the folder or file you want to share and click on Share.  There are a number of great options to chose from.  You can either share with any one on the web, meaning any one can search for something and your document may be available to them in the search results.  The other two options are to either give access to anyone with a link to your folder or file or share privately is the last option and you would have to set permissions at the user level.  I find the anyone with a link the most useful.  Below the share settings is another option.  You can specify whether they will have access to Edit, Comment or View.  Really depends on why you are sharing that file or folder with someone.

Google Drive is really best for supporting collaboration, whether that's sharing files among family members, classmates or coworkers, Drive is really easy to use and very intuitive.  Let's explore a few ways Drive can support students and businesses.

I was using Google Drive and Google Hangouts for a class I had in Fall 2013.  We had all of our documents created in a shared Folder where anyone could go in an edit them.  We used the Google Hangouts to collaborate with each other, posting ideas, status', and deadlines.  It really helped as this was an online class with the group working and taking other classes, we never needed to meet face to face, it was all done with Google Drive/Files and Google Hangouts.  We new when someone posted something new or added a comment as we would get alerts in our gmail accounts.  It worked out really well and made the project a success.


In terms of a comparison from a business perspective when deciding what file sharing product to use, certain aspects of Microsoft's SharePoint are similar to the Google Drive.  In it's simplest form, SharePoint is used as a central location for employees to keep documents (central repository).  As a business, it depends on wheat you're looking for when deciding which product to purchase for your employees.  If you are a Microsoft shop and want all the hooks into your current Microsoft environment, then SharePoint might be the way to go.  However, sharing to external sources take a little more resources, time and energy to do.  Since it's cloud based, Google is really ready to go when you are.  There is also a cost factor, Google is on the cheaper end of the two.  It really comes down to weighing the options they offer and the price you're will to pay for them.