Snap to Grid is Snappy Feature

One of my biggest frustrations with Google Presentations has been the inability to easily align text and images. With the addition of “snap to grid”, this problem is solved. You can now use the Alt, Ctrl, and Shift keys to fine tune object and text placement. [ALT] while dragging turns off the grid and gives […]

Google Adds Scripts to Spreadsheets

Google Spreadsheets now include the ability to use Google Script, a means for running server-side Java script. Already available for Google Sites, the addition of Google Script in Spreadsheets gives you the ability to automate complex or repetitive actions. Click here to learn more or to read the overview.

Cost Savings versus Sustainability?

A recent article in Mass High Tech lamented that “Company cost savings still trump cleantech, alternative energy“. The assumption that cleantech and cost savings are mutually exclusive, however, is flawed. Cloud computing lowers carbon footprint and, in most cases, offers significant cost savings. Furthermore, cloud-based solutions shift IT spending from capital expenditures to operating expense. […]

As Microsoft Competes with Google, Old Habits Die Hard

A recent blog entry at CIO.com points out a disturbing practice: Microsoft is tainting Bing’s search results with pro-Microsoft results. If Microsoft is rigging search results, what traps will they place in other online products?

Microsoft Readies Office in the Cloud

In a move that indicates Microsoft is looking to battle Google Apps in the cloud, Microsoft is now the owner of the Office.com domain (click here). But, if Microsoft is going to going to compete, they will need to move away from the perpetual license business model. Some cannibalization of software sales will be inevitable […]

Google Calendars has its own Lab (Finally!)

A few weeks ago, Google added a Labs link to Google Calendar. As with Gmail’s Labs, the Calendar Labs includes new features for users to try that may or may not become a permanent part of the system. User feedback helps the developers improve, pick, and choose. Of the initial Calendar Labs entry, I love […]

Recent Google Site Upgrades, Part 3

Since our last round of postings about Google Site upgrades, Google has added several features. Here is a summarized list: You can add customized maps into your Google sites, including place marks, defined zoom level, and advanced map features Layouts and Themes (more info) 26 new themes are available 7 new layouts Automatic Navigation (more […]

Google Tasks Provide Integrated “To Do” Management

Back in mid-July, Google promoted “Tasks” from a Google Labs experiment to a full feature within Google Apps (all editions, learn more here …) For me, the best part is the level of integration not usually found between email, tasks, and calendars. For example, you can: Turn an email into a task using one click […]

Google Features Horizon in Case Study

Today’s Google’s Enterprise Blog features Horizon Info Services, one of our customers, and the web developer that brought us together. Access Fitness Management Systems provides consulting and management services to health clubs, as well as being the owner and operator of the Worcester Fitness and Plymouth Fitness clubs here in the Boston area. Horizon was […]

Recent Google Sites Upgrades, Part 2

As part of the recent upgrades to Google Sites, Google added the following capabilities: The editing toolbar has been updated to more closely resemble Google Docs. The rendering infrastructure has been modified to improve performance. Related Colors and Fonts settings have been grouped. A “From theme” option to each variable to make it easier to […]

Recent Google Sites Upgrades, Part 1

Google Sites provide a convenient means of collaboration within your company or securely with others. Recent upgrades improve the look and feel of sites and the user experience. Navigation Widget Updates Organize the navigation widget into a hierarchical tree structure Highlight the current page Subgroup pages into categories Site Settings Site settings area uses vertical […]

Google Announces ChromeOS: Is it a game changer?

Google’s announcement of ChromeOS has sparked widely varying opinions on the Internet. On its own, ChromeOS is an open source operating system targeting netbooks and desktop PCs. Google’s intent is to support cloud computing — internal or external. At this level, ChromeOS is certainly a threat to the Linux versions in that space. While an […]

Updates to Google Forms Improves Information Gathering Tools

With the ability to embed Google Forms on web pages and within emails, they are a powerful tool for gathering information. Recent upgrades are addressing some of the limitations of the tool. Section headers can be added to give longer forms more structure. The editor supports fixed-width The ability to edit multiple forms at once […]

Solve Feature Enhances Google Spreadsheets

If you work with linear equations, check out the new Solve feature in Google Spreadsheets. While it does not yet support equations containing formulas, the feature enhances the complexity of information analysis available in Spreadsheets. Click here to learn how to use Solve.

Domain-Level Templates in Google Apps

Last fall, Google released a public template gallery for Google Apps. Last week, Google released template galleries for domains using Google Apps Premier and Education Editions. Now, any user in the domain can submit a template to be shared with all other domain users. Templates exist for Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms, and Presentations. This feature should […]

Backup Axiom #1 – Recovery is Hard

In his IT Project Failures blog, Michael Krigsman bemoans his “Failing with Online Backup” in his effort to backup 350 GB using two popular consumer online backup services (. While many of the comments teased him with “you get what you pay for” taunts, the real issue is … Backup Axiom #1: Backups are Easy; […]

New Label Features in Gmail Add Flexibility

Last week, the Gmail Team announced three new features related to labels within Gmail. As you may know, Labels are a way to organize and search messages. While they can be used like folders in most email systems, Gmail allows you to apply multiple emails to messages for more intuitive management. The new features are: […]

Google Contact Updates

Last week, Google added a series of improvements to Google Contacts, primarily targeting business customers. In addition to additional fields and improvements to the Contacts interface in Gmail and the Contacts screen, Google added new APIs that let administrators add fields and share contacts within the domain. Click Here to learn more …

Tiny URLs: Convenient, Cool, and Risky

URL shortening, through services such as tinyurl.com and bit.ly, are a convenient way to get shorten URLs so they fit within emails, tweets, and other postings. The convenience, however, does come with risks. In the CNET Article, URL shortening is hot–but look before you leap, Stephen Shankland identifies some of the risks and offers great […]

SPAM Continues to Trend Upward;

So how do spam trends related to cloud computing? It all depends on how you block and fight SPAM. According to the Q2 2009 Spam Trends report published by the team at Google Postini Services, spammers have developed means of releasing days worth of spam in just hours. If you are manage spam from within […]