Time for changes for Google, which announces several new features for the desktop and Android versions of G Suite and the release of the Google Chat PWA (Progressive Web Application) – formerly Hangouts Chat.
In a nutshell, here is the list of changes introduced.
GOOGLE DOCUMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND SHEETS – THE NEWS
Google Docs (desktop) : the desktop version of the Word document creation platform is updated introducing support for a new status indicator. Thanks to the latter, quickly identifiable through a cloud icon (already used, for example, on Google Drive Backup & Synchronization and other services), it will be possible to quickly view the saving status of the relative document. A quick click will then allow you to check the actual availability for offline use. The new feature is currently in distribution.
Google Docs, Presentations, Sheets (Android): after the aesthetic changes introduced at the beginning of October, the three apps of the Google Office suite return to update on Android by integrating a new extended search bar that replaces the respective logos at the top of the UI. The news is already available in Italy with the latest version of Documents, Presentations and Sheets to download on the Play Store.
GOOGLE CHAT
Google Chat is now available as a new and autonomous application developed with PWA (Progressive Web Application) technology. Included benefits include:
- Users just have to keep Google Chrome up to date as the app fetches updates via the web.
- Better performance when loading.
- Support for Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS and Linux (with Google Chrome 73 or later).
- Available soon: administrators will be able to deploy the application to employees through Chrome Policy Management .
To install Chat :
- Sign in to chat.google.com .
- You can use any of the following methods to install the application on your computer: <> If the application is not already installed, a pop-up window will appear allowing you to download it. In Google Chrome, at the top right, click More
Install Hangouts Chat. In chat.google.com , at the top right, click Settings
- In order to receive chat messages, make sure the standalone application and the Chrome browser are open.
To open the application from Chrome, go to chrome: // apps and click Hangouts Chat. On a Chromebook, you can find the application in the Launcher app (the button at the bottom left of the screen).
