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Google launches Google Docs and Sheets apps for iPhone and iPad, Slides ‘coming soon’

Google is out today with a brand new set of productivity apps for iOS with the release of Google Docs and Google Sheets for both iPhone and iPad. Previously, documents stored in Google’s collaborative productivity apps were restricted to access in Google Drive or browser-based web apps. While both Google’s word processor and spreadsheet editor have appeared on the App Store, Google says that Google Slides, its presentation app, is “coming soon”.

The new mobile productivity apps follow Microsoft’s debut on the iPad with dedicated Office apps for 365 subscribers and new iWork apps from Apple last fall. Both Google and Apple offer free solutions on both iPhone and iPad. Google has also released dedicated Docs and Sheets apps for Android.

Release notes on Google Docs for iPhone and iPad:

Create, edit & collaborate with others on documents from your iPod, iPhone, or iPad with the free Google Docs app.

With Google Docs you can:

-Create new documents or open and edit any that you started on the web or another device. 
-Share documents and work together with others in the same document at the same time
-Get stuff done anytime–even without an internet connection
-Add and respond to comments
-Never worry about losing your work–everything is automatically saved as you type

Google on what its new Sheets app can do:

Create, edit & collaborate with others on spreadsheets from your iPod, iPhone, or iPad with the free Google Sheets app.

With Google Sheets you can:

– Create new spreadsheets or open and edit any that you started on the web or another device. 
– Share spreadsheets and work together with others in the same spreadsheet at the same time
– Get stuff done anytime–even without an internet connection
– Format cells, enter/sort data, perform various sheet operations, and more
– Never worry about losing your work–everything is automatically saved as you type

Google Docs and Google Sheets are available for free for iPhone and iPad on the App Store.

Update 5/1: Google today added passcode lock, a feature introduced in yesterday’s new software, to Google Drive in an updated version available on the App Store. Users are also reporting that the updated version removes the ability to edit documents (probably to promote the new set of apps). The update release notes mention “Bug fixes and performance improvements” so removing the ability to edit must fall into that category.

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Comments

  1. rgbfoundry - 10 years ago

    Let’s see if Microsoft sues Google for color scheme infringement.

  2. Dr LHA (@dr_lha) - 10 years ago

    Interesting that they choose to use colors that are associated with Microsoft Office products with their apps, i.e. Blue = Word = “Google Docs”, Green = Excel = “Google Sheets”. I wonder what MS thinks about that?

  3. Mr. Grey (@mister_grey) - 10 years ago

    Another Pages rip-off. Great.

    The only reason Microsoft and Google are able to implement such cool-looking and functional apps, is that the majority of the work has already been done by Apple in the form of the API’s and graphics, and the fact that both of them copy almost feature for feature what Pages already did.

    But will Apple get any credit at all for this? No. Absolutely not. Apple is evil/doomed/whatever (of course).

    • Your point re the value of the iOS platform is valid, but I would hardly call Word for iOS a Pages ripoff. its feature complete with Word for Windows document editing which is far more important to me than any similarity of design element with pages.

    • Kevin E. Ford (@Bowman74) - 10 years ago

      So Microsoft shouldn’t have followed Apple’s design guidelines?

  4. Crunchedd - 10 years ago

    Finally!

  5. Tal Agam (@talagam) - 10 years ago

    These apps are actually the same as opening the files through the Google Drive app. Which means they are just a kind of a shortcut for someone who wants to launch and get right to writing a document or a new spreadsheet, or want a separation between docs and spreadsheet.

    • jonvdveen - 10 years ago

      My thoughts as well. I just don’t get it.

      Perhaps this is phase one of a more significant transition. Separate apps allow Google to pack in more features. A single do-all app would probably get pretty bloated, I suppose.

  6. Apple Deaf News - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on Apple Deaf News.

  7. Kareem Dorset - 10 years ago

    The app is already no longer available;It figures

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.