Set your Sites on better Gadget and LInk Integration

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To expand the potential of Google Sites for internal and secure customer portal, Google has improved how gadgets and links are managed.

You can now

  • Paste embeddings that use object, embed, or iframe tags; they will be auto-wrapped in a gadget
  • Add custom links in your sidebar navigation, using manual mode
  • More easily paste HTML from external sources

Click here to learn more …

Sending Email from Multiple Addresses

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It is no longer uncommon for some users to manage multiple email accounts. Whether covering email addresses for support or customer service, or providing administrative assistance to an executive the “on behalf of” label can be distracting to the email recipient.

Google Apps Premier Edition (and Education Edition) now allow users to send emails from multiple addresses without the “on behalf of” label in the sender address.

Click here to learn more …

Google Apps and OpenID

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With in-house systems, multiple user names and passwords are often an issue as applications and systems have unique security systems and requirements. So too is the case as you move into cloud computing solutions.

By providing an API for OpenID, organizations can allow users to log into OpenID-enabled applications using their Google Apps username and password.

This feature, available for Education and Premier Editions only, improves the end user experience.

Learn more …

Can I find the document you shared with me?

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As organizations improve collaboration, document sharing replaces endless chains of email attachments. One adaptation for users, however, is the ability to find documents that others have shared.

By adding “Shared With …” to search options in Google Docs, users have an easier way of finding documents that have been shared.

Document Sharing Just Got Easier

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One of our concerns about Google Docs was the user interface for sharing. The options were not in one place and were not clear to newer users.

Google has addressed our concerns. All of the sharing options are no located in one dialog box with multiple tabs. The Sharing menu item lets you pick which tab appears when you open the dialog box.

Improved Directory Sync with Google Apps

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One of the advantages of the paid versions of Google Apps is the additional integration features provided. Even smaller companies gain when administration time is minimized.

Recently, Google updated the capabilities of Google Apps Directory Sync:

  • Google Apps Directory Sync can now help synchronize contact information for non-employees (as well as employees) that are listed in the central LDAP directory, so that employees can look up and contact important customers, partners and vendors.
  • More contact fields can be synchronized between an LDAP system and Google Apps. Rich user profile information like multiple phone numbers, addresses and job titles are now supported.

With these enhancements, it is now easier to manage your Google Apps user accounts as part of your overall directory (including Active Directory) administration.

Google Releases the Google Apps Connector for Blackberry Enterprise Server

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After an extended period in Beta testing, Google has released its connector for Blackberry Enterprise Server.

  • Messages sent to your Gmail inbox are pushed to your BlackBerry within 60 seconds.
  • Emails read/deleted on your BlackBerry are marked as read/deleted in Gmail, and vice-versa.
  • Emails archived/starred on your BlackBerry are archived/starred in Gmail, and vice-versa.
  • BlackBerry folders are synchronized with labels in Gmail.
  • You can search for contact information of coworkers from the global address list on your BlackBerry.
  • Contacts in Gmail are automatically synchronized with your BlackBerry address book.
  • You can view your Google Calendar schedule with the native BlackBerry application, with one-way synchronization from Google Calendar to your BlackBerry device.
  • Administrators can use the management and security tools that are part of BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
There is One Caveat:
  • Two-way calendar sync with the ability to accept, decline and schedule meetings from your BlackBerry device is not available with this release but we are working on it.
Contact us for more information.

Themes for Google Forms adds Color and Style

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Quick and simple, Google has added about 70 themes for Forms that add some color and character to your information gathering efforts.

Click here to learn more

Better User Admin for Google Apps

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Back in April, Google released Google Apps Directory Sync, a tool that lets Google Apps administrators add, remove, and change Google Apps accounts automatically as changes are made to the directory service on the local network. The tool works with Microsoft Active Directory and Lotus Domino.


A few weeks ago, Google release a significant upgrade that includes:
  • The ability to synchronize non-employees (i.e. contacts) kept in the central directory.
  • Inclusion of more fields from contact records, including email addresses, phone numbers, etc.
The addition of these features enhances and further simplifies administration of Google Apps in a managed network environment.

Google Spreadsheet gets several new usability features

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Over the past few weeks, Google Spreadsheets have seen a number of important new features, all of which improve its usability and, with some features, compatibility with Microsoft Excel.


  • From within spreadsheets, you can now attach the spreadsheet to an email via the Share menu.
  • You can now use SUM() and SUMPRODUCT() functions in addition to linear equations with the Solve Tool
  • When you export spreadsheets to .XLS format, images are now included in the data.