Yesterday I came across Allen’s blog where he is reportedly saying that he peeked through Google Docs javascript code few days which indicates that Google Docs team is working on providing an offline version of it’s document editing tools. Searching through the javascript code today I was not able to locate any mention of the word ‘localhost’ which obviously Google would have removed by now.
The blog post aside I personally believe that Google would be launching this new feature sometime soon. Especially after the buyout of iRows team and the integration of Google Spreadsheets and Writely being completed last month, this seems to be a logical next step in terms of its strategy for its collaborative tools and Google Desktop. Besides this we have the upcoming launch of Vista+Office 2007 that adds the extra fire power. Earlier Zimbra became the first company to demonstrate offline version of its collaboration suite. Google would have loved to be there, but maybe next time.
Having an offline version of the document and spreadsheets editor operating through the browser is great option for users who are on slower internet connections. Instead of trying to push large amounts of data at once, Google can do incremental push overtime without slowing down the users machine/browser performance. Leaving the slow internet group aside, Google Gmail+Docs Offline + Webaroo give an added reason to keep our laptops humming in subways and planes. Off course Writely team will be working hard on getting it unmatched collaborative editing and sync working in the right way.
Apart from the futuristic view, Google Docs spellchecker now supports more than 30 languages. Checkout the small arrow next to next to “Check Spelling”.
Links:
iRows team moves to Google
Zimbra introduces offline-online sync
Finally – Writely to start using Google Login
November 20, 2006 at 8:55 am |
[...] Checkout the summary at StartupSquad >> Posted by Saas-a-fras-er Filed in Uncategorized [...]
March 14, 2007 at 12:58 pm |
[...] Mozilla’s Firefox is gunning for the pubic beta launch of Firefox Version 3 in late spring this year. I had previously written about the availability of alpha version of Firefox 3. However there are quite a few significant updates to the details available about the new release. According to InfomationWeek, Firefox will be adding support for running web-based apps offline. Application developers will have to make few simple changes to their application to work with the Firefox API. We have long been expecting an offline release of Gmail, and Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Couple of companies have already been working in this direction. Zimbra had announced last year that it will be releasing the offline version of its famed Ajax client, which is supposed to be out sometime in July, while SocialText had released Unplugged version of its Wiki app last year that can take portions of your wiki content offline. Google strategy for the offline mode might tend towards integrating it will Google Desktop. However as some of Google’s resources might also be contributing towards the new release, it is not really clear which path will Google follow. Again Oct-Nov timeframe for the browser launch and subsequent releases of Google applications to take advantage of the new features seems too far for to Google to wait for. [...]