Tag Archives: Google Apps
Video: Chromebooks at Work
Posted on 23. May, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 
0 Comments
There is a lot of potential for the use of Chromebooks in the workplace. Although the criticism is that Google’s subscription plan is too expensive for a three year plan per user, it seems that being able to deploy Chrome OS for very little upfront cost would be enticing. Add in the fact that the pricing includes a warranty, support and lifecycle replacement after three years and it seems there would be a lot of businesses that could be good candidates for Chromebooks. Remember, owning a traditional PC today is more like buying a car – there are a lot of hidden fees associated with ownership. Why not lease the hardware in an attempt to lower your overall cost?
Do you think Chromebooks for Business and Education is a good idea?
Video: Optimzing Google Apps with Chrome
Posted on 02. May, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
This video is a training session I did for users of Google Apps. If you are using Google’s productivity suite you’re better off using Chrome with all of the extra features that Google’s own browser throws in. This is also a great demo for those who don’t already use Chrome, or have just recently switched over as it goes through many of the basics you’ll need to know. I also discuss the Chrome Web Store and Chrome OS at the end.
Additionally, I will also be blogging/editing daily about Google Apps over at the newly created Google Apps Experts blog. If you’re using Google Apps, or maybe just thinking about switching to it check it out. If you read this blog, throw it in your RSS reader as well because you’ll probably get something useful out of it.
Do you use Google Apps right now?
Microsoft Office 365: Another Offering in the Cloud Race
Posted on 19. Apr, 2011 by Julian West. 1 Comments
Companies are racing to the cloud. Call it the Cloud Race. Microsoft is attempting to stake its claim in the cloud by taking advantage of its huge presence in our desktops with Office 365, currently in Beta, and open to test.
Chances are you are already familiar with Microsoft’s offerings from Windows to its Office suite and use them on a day to day basis. There is not much difference between Office 365 and its Windows Office counterpart. It also offers seamless integration between local files and cloud storage. This is very likely to make the small businesses who are a bit resistant to the cloud computing trend feel more at ease moving to the cloud. You can say that Office 365 is for those who need a bit of weaning from the desktop into the cloud.
All the features you’d expect from cloud computing are there: email and calendar integration, access to your documents from anywhere, ability to corroborate on your documents with your co-workers and hold online meetings, even Exchange integration. Email includes 25 GBs of storage per user, which should be plenty. Office 365 is offering everything you need to access your work from anywhere. Microsoft even guarantees 99.9% uptime.
“Not bad”, you might say. “I know Microsoft products. I use them every day along with everyone else in my office. Sign me up!”
Yet there is one other detail that I still need to mention: that familiarity is going to cost you. While Google Apps costs $50 per user for a year, Office 365’s plans range from $2 a month, which covers only email, to $24 a month for the “complete solution” per user. That’s right: $24 a MONTH per user. That strikes me as a bit steep especially considering Google offers Cloud Connect which integrates Microsoft Office with Google Docs (enabling you to edit your documents from anywhere) for FREE.
Maybe for some, this additional cost may be worth the Microsoft brand and give a level of comfort in the cloud. Not for me though. To me, it’s just the same old same old from Microsoft.
What do you think? Will Microsoft be successful in getting people to the cloud with Office 365?
Video: Google Docs Gets a More Collaborative Social Feature
Posted on 16. Mar, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 2 Comments
One of the best features of Google Docs is the fact that more than one contributor can be working on the same document and see changes being made in real time. Even people who don’t work in offices can benefit from this: check out this great example post from two fiction authors that have used Docs to produce novels together.
Today, Google is rolling out a new comment system that will enable users to work on documents that allow for even more collaborative elements.
I can see this new feature having both positive and negative affects. The positive: Google is essentially taking a social feature that is commonly found on sites like Facebook and applying it to a productive purpose. That’s great, and really differentiates their product from Microsoft’s Office offering.
The negative: I could see this being a distraction depending on workflow. Sometimes, too much information is simply not conducive to getting things done and projects hitting their deadlines. I would be curious if there is a way to turn this off – or even better – a limit on the number of comments that can be made by default.
Really, though, you have to give Google credit for taking something that everyone uses in Facebook and on blogs and putting it into a context that allows for work to get done. I hope we see more of these type of “social” implementations in Google’s feature set for their services in the future.
Video: New Google Apps Release Options
Posted on 15. Mar, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
Organizations that rely on Google Apps might not always want to have updates happen during critical operation times. Because of this, Google has added a new feature: administrators can now choose between Rapid Release or Scheduled Release. With Rapid Release, all of the newest features will be pushed out right away, while the Scheduled option will give admins the leeway to choose.
Google Apps is used by businesses as a productivity tool and includes features that many individuals use for free such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites. There is a per user license fee for using the web software depending on what type of organization you have be it a business, educational institution or a non-profit.
Google is also releasing a “What’s New” tool that allows users to see new feature updates at whatsnew.googleapps.com.
Instead of having to deal with traditional software upgrades, Google Apps users simply log in and get new features since it is 100% web-based. This new initiative makes it easier to integrate improvements to the software. As more feedback is given from customers, Google realizes that larger organizations need to be able to schedule new releases, while smaller ones can get everything as soon as it is tested.
Video: Google Apps Marketplace at One Year
Posted on 09. Mar, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
Google’s Apps Marketplace is a specialized webapp market that is targeted towards those who use the company’s productivity suite. It has quietly hit the one year mark today, with over 300 applications that can help people organize and get more work done. You could think of the Apps Marketplace as “extensions” for the services many of us use for free through Gmail and Google Docs.
Google’s work in providing an alternative is not just another way for them to make money. Sure, that’s part of the goal (Google is a business of course) but it’s all about thinking about software in both the enterprise and in organizations altogether differently.
Instead of having to deal with information technology issues such as servers and upgrading software, Google Apps takes many problems associated with that model away and replaces it with a cloud solution that is more seamless for both users and administrators.
Yes, this alternative may not be the most optimal for some organizations, but it’s only fair that Microsoft should be challenged with a different way of thinking. The market allows for it, and many decision makers are considering making the switch to Google because of this different model, among other reasons such as potential cost savings.
What are the benefits of Google Apps vs. the solutions offered by Microsoft?
5 Ways Chrome OS Can Bring Google Revenue
Posted on 18. Feb, 2011 by Daniel Cawrey. 7 Comments
Google is a sneaky company. Most people use their services, and some even profess their love for the company and its free services. But don’t be fooled because the company is very a profitable one. In 2010, the company made $8.5 billion. So there’s no doubt that Google is working on the Chrome OS initiative in order to make money.
The question is: how do they plan on profiting from giving away a free operating system? In some ways, it plans on using the Android model. But it’s clear that the company thinks it can make money in different ways than the mobile operating system. Here are five ways that it may plan on doing this.
Microsoft Office Apps in the Chrome Web Store
Posted on 21. Dec, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 9 Comments
I was searching for a PowerPoint webapp the other day when I came across an interesting app in the Chrome Web Store: Microsoft Office.
That’s right; you can get Word, Excel PowerPoint and OneNote all in the cloud. Microsoft has had this Google Apps rival suite for some time. It’s surprising to me that it is included in the Chrome Web Store, however.
Google wants to be able to sell its Apps suite to businesses and organizations, and Microsoft’s free offering complete with 25GB of free storage space, seems like and encroachment of that effort. However, some people will still choose Microsoft for productivity purposes, and perhaps the goal for Google here is to try and ease the transition for users.
What do you think? Would you use Microsoft’s free cloud-based Office product?
UPDATE: It appears that this has been removed from the Chrome Web Store.
What Businesses Need to Know About Chrome OS
Posted on 29. Nov, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 4 Comments
Recently, a New York Times article had Google’s VP of Engineering for Chrome quoted as saying that 60% of businesses could easily switch to Chrome OS over Windows. But what does that really mean for businesses? Here are some of the key points that companies need to know about using Chrome OS in the enterprise.
Just a reminder, it has been reported that Chrome OS for business will be launched in 2011, surely some time after a consumer launch. So can 60% of businesses really make the switch? Decide for yourself after these points.
Video: Google Apps Gets More Features, Administration
Posted on 18. Nov, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
Google is counting on its Apps offering to be an integral revenue source for the company. It’s a solid strategy: offer cheap productivity webapps to businesses and organizations. Today, the company announced more services than ever before inside Google Apps accounts as well as a revamped administration console to offer deep integration.
Anyone can use Google Apps. Starting today, Google has simplified its structure for users. Here is how it breaks down.
- Google Apps: Free service geared towards families, entrepreneurs and other groups up to 50 users.
- Google Apps for Business: 25GB of email storage per user, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, data migration capabilities, advanced management tools, telephone support, added security features and more, all for $50 per user per year.
- Google Apps for Government: FISMA certified and designed with local, state and federal agencies in mind.
- Google Apps for Education: Offers many benefits of Google Apps for Business, but at no cost to schools, universities and qualifying non-profits.
Do you use Google Apps?
Video: Going Google With Apps
Posted on 26. Oct, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
We don’t post much about Google Apps. That’s because we’re not sure you’re interested in it. But the reality is that Apps will be an important component of Chrome OS since there will be no Microsoft Office installed on it. So here is the latest and greatest from Google about switching your productivity suite to the cloud.
Are you at all interested in Google Apps on this blog? Or is it boring?
thechromesource Daily: Links for 10/5/10
Posted on 05. Oct, 2010 by Daniel Cawrey. 0 Comments
Google’s “Speedbook” trademark name could wind the company up in a legal battle.
Facebook has lured over 200 ex-Googlers to the company, some in high level positions.
DownloadSquad is fretting over the fact the blogosphere lights up every time the new monthly browser stats arrive.
A revamped version of Googlesharing has arrived, leveraging Google’s SSL security to keep searches anonymous.
Google is working with regional carriers in Asia to promote its low-cost Google Apps platform.
