Friday, February 25, 2011

Software : Google Cloud Connect now on general release

Software : Google Cloud Connect now on general release

Google Cloud Connect now on general release

Posted: 25 Feb 2011 07:19 AM PST

Google's Cloud Connect plug-in is now on general release, having been on a limited beta since late last year.

The free plug-in allows Windows users with Microsoft Office 2003, 2007 or 2010 to synchronise Office documents with a Google account, keeping both the cloud and local files the same.

Once uploaded, Word, Excel and Powerpoint files can all be edited online using Google Docs; as Google Apps puts it, "Google Cloud Connect teaches your old docs new tricks".

Google Office

When working locally, the Google Docs link to your document appears in a Google Cloud Connect toolbar on the Office document so syncing the two as you go is a breeze.

Microsoft itself is hoping to take on the administrative cloud with Office 365, itself currently in beta. Microsoft's software, however, comes at a premium price.

Google probably hopes to take Microsoft down a peg or two with its easy to use, free version of what is essentially the same product.

No doubt many businesses will feel more secure opting for Microsoft's paid-for version though, particularly as Google makes no reference to document security when using Cloud Connect.

Android apps running on BlackBerry phones?

Posted: 25 Feb 2011 03:02 AM PST

An app developer has noticed that someone has been running its Android app ShopSavvy on several BlackBerry handsets.

That someone could well be RIM, as rumours that the company is looking to the Android App Store to bolster its PlayBook app offerings surfaced earlier this year.

Analytics data showed that the Android shopping app was accessed on a BlackBerry 8300, 8600 and 8520 during January and February of this year.

Appetising

It could, feasibly, have been anyone trying to get Android apps working on BlackBerry hardware and not necessarily RIM itself.

ShopSavvy delved a little further into the analytics data which apparently shows that these server requests came from Waterloo, Ontario in Canada.

Coincidentally, that's where RIM is based.

The three handsets are pretty aged BlackBerrys, which suggests that if it is RIM, the company could be hoping to get an Android Market tie-in up and running on all BlackBerry phones and not just the QNX-running BlackBerry PlayBook as was previously imagined.
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