Chicago Database Programmers

Google Docs is without a doubt one of the easiest ways to collaborate with multiple people on a single document. Instead of having to share a file in the cloud or keep emailing each other with changes, you can simply work on one document and have the luxury of having it save automatically and be visible to all the other people working on the document. Google Docs offers a slew of features that make it easy to collaborate with others.

However, there are always ways to improve, and thankfully that is where extensions come in. There are extensions that let you know when someone changes your document, and some even help you start a new document faster and easier. There are two particularly useful ones that I am going to take a look at today. These apps really bring the Google Docs experience to a whole new level in terms of efficiency.

Watch Doc

WatchDoc is available for free from the Google Chrome Web store, which you will find here. Once you get to the application page, simply click “Add to Chrome” and the extension will automatically show up in the top right corner of your screen.

The first time you log into the extension you will need to grant it permission to get access to your Google account. This will pop up automatically when you log in for the first time, and all you need to is click the grant access button.

Once you have the application installed, it will sit quietly up there and watch any document shared with your Google account. Of course, you need to make sure you are logged into Google in order for the application to work. If you aren’t sure if you are logged in, simply click the button for WatchDoc. If you aren’t logged in, the application will tell you and provide you with a link to log in.

When someone edits one of your documents, an alert will pop at the bottom of the screen, and you will see a number over the icon.

Click the icon, and the extension will show you the document that has been edited and it will offer you a quick link to go straight to the document. It even tells you how long ago the edit happened, so you never miss a beat.

Docs Quickly

To install Docs Quickly, click here to see it in the Chrome web store. Click “Add to Chrome” and then get ready to have access to Google Docs much more quickly.

Once you install the extension, you will see the little icon for it on the top right of your screen. If you click it, a small drop down menu will appear that allows you to choose what kind of document you wish to create. It saves a few seconds when you are trying to create something, and if you are against a deadline, that can be extremely valuable.

What do you use to improve Google Docs? Let us know in the comments!

Need Database Programmers near Chicago?
Get 8 Free Quotes:

Social media bragging rights calculator Klout has just launched a free app for iPhone users to quickly check their score and incoming notifications, with the company promising an Android version in the near future. The app is a result of Klout’s acquisition of mobile startup Blockboard and, according to a recent blog post, is the result of just 7 weeks of work.

Klout is a service that plugs into social networks like Twitter and Facebook in an attempt to determine a user’s social media influence. As well as a score determined by a variety of factors including likes, retweets and followers, users can also award influence points, known as K+, to increase a user’s influence in particular topics.

One particularly interesting feature to make its way into the app is the ability to view your Klout score without having to open it. Klout uses the iOS notification badge to display your score and sends push notifications when you receive K+ or your score changes. At present there’s little else to do apart from check your score and view recent notifications, but according to Blockboard co-founder Stephen Hood the team are busy working on more features.

This was a fast-paced project, going from zero to code-complete in under seven weeks. We’re very happy to be sharing these first efforts with our users. There’s much more to come, including an Android version and the ability to give out +K. – Klout

Download: Klout for iPhone @ App Store

Do you use Klout? Have you tried the iPhone app? Did you like what you saw? Sound off in the comments, below.

Source: Klout Blog

Need Web Design?

Need Web Design?

Need Web Design?