Earlier this week, Google updated its office productivity tools for iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) with new features added to Google Docs and Google Sheets. These native apps gain the ability to open, edit and save files using Microsoft Office’s format, making it a stronger competitor to Microsoft’s own Office apps for iPad. Arguably, Google’s acquisition of Quickoffice in 2012 might play a little role for this native editing feature. As a bonus, Google also launched Google Slides to make and edit presentations, including in powerpoint format. With this addition, Google has completed its productivity suite in most major platforms, from iOS, Android, ChromeOS and of course web-based apps.
Just like Apple iWorks in iPad, both Google’s and Microsoft’s productivity suite are the stripped-down versions of their desktop counterparts (or web-based version in Google’s case). Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides offer simple interface, yet somehow felt underpowered for my liking. Most ordinary users will probably satisfied with those features, but as a person who needs precise control on my documents’ formatting and styling, these “mobile” versions still could not convince me to use them as my primary apps.
Obviously, Google productivity suite has a clear benefit compared to Microsoft’s: the price. Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides are free to download and fully functional. Unlike Microsoft Office apps for iPad that could only open files in read-only mode when we use them without Office 365 subscription.
For now, I still prefer to use Microsoft Office for iPad with my Office 365 subscription for my primary productivity apps in iPad as it’s currently the suite that could produce the closest formatting capability to the desktop version of Microsoft Office. Or at least these native apps from Microsoft won’t destroy the formatting (and styling) that I have carefully made in desktop computer. I will keep updating Google productivity apps in my iPad to see if one day Google have improved them to my specific needs. If what you want is a simple suite to create productivity files without the need of precise formatting, Google productivity suite might be a good (and free) apps for you.
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