Question? Use Google Now for iPad

iPad_May21_BTo some fans of Apple’s products the thought of using anything from Google is simply ludicrous. Why would you use something from a competitor? Well, it could be that the product or app is better than anything else out there. This is true for Google Search, which brings Google’s powerful search tools to the iPad and iPhone. The app has recently been updated with a new feature called Google Now. Have you heard of it?

Here’s a brief overview of Google Now, and how to install and use it.

Ok, so, what exactly is Google Now?
Google Now is best thought of as Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri. It’s an app that functions like a personal assistant and has become a large component of Google’s Search for mobile app. The idea of Now is that you can use natural language to search for answers to questions, find recommendations or even perform actions like creating a calendar entry, or writing an email.

Google Now also passively delivers information that it thinks is useful to you. While creepy at first, especially when you see how accurate predictions can be, it is actually a really cool tool.
What’s interesting about Google Now is that relevant information is displayed below search results in what are called ‘cards’. The cards shown will depend on your location, recent searches, calendar and even method of transport.

Probably the best way to explain Google Now is through an example:

Say you have a meeting with a potential supplier at a coffee shop across town tomorrow. You pull up the Google Search app on your iPad, tap the microphone button and ask Google, “What’s the coffee shop on 5th Avenue?”. Google searches for the coffee shop and comes back with three search results including the shop you are looking for. You then enter the name and address in your Google Calendar, along with the date and time.

The next day, you look at the Google Search app again because you’ve forgotten the exact address. Just below the Search bar you will see that new cards have popped up. The first is a reminder of the scheduled event, along with the contact information of the person you are meeting. Just below that is a map on how to get to the coffee shop, along with driving directions.

When you get in the car, you notice that traffic seems a little heavier than usual, so you pull up Google Search and the card has been updated with a map showing current traffic along with what Google thinks will be the fastest route, without you having to ask.

This app works surprisingly well, and many users have noted that both search results and the cards are accurate. Where Google Now really shines is when you are traveling. If you go to another country, cards will pop up with the exchange rate, translator, local map with landmarks, time back home and even flight information (assuming the reservation has been sent to your Gmail account).

How to install and use
If this app sounds interesting, all you have to do to get it is download Google Search app from the Apple App Store, install it, open it and sign in using your Google account. Cards will start to popup after a couple of days. You can tweak what cards appear by using the search feature, or through the app’s settings.

While this is a Google product, it can be useful for your Apple device, especially if you have a Google account. If you would like to learn more about this app or how the iPad can make your business easier, contact us today to see how we can help.

Posted in General Articles B, Mobile Tablet – iPad | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Google Now, now on the iPad

iPad_May21_CAt first glance it may seem that Apple and Google are inharmonious – at least some hardcore fans would have you think that. The truth is, many Apple users rely on Google’s products for email, storage and search. Many have installed the Google Search app on their iPad or iPhone and may use it on a regular basis. The app has recently been updated with an awesome new feature called Google Now.

Here’s a brief overview of Google Now, and how to install and use it.

Ok, so, what exactly is Google Now?
Google Now is best thought of as Google’s answer to Apple’s Siri. It’s an app that functions like a personal assistant and has become a large component of Google’s Search for mobile app. The idea of Now is that you can use natural language to search for answers to questions, find recommendations or even perform actions like creating a calendar entry, or writing an email.

Google Now also passively delivers information that it thinks is useful to you. While creepy at first, especially when you see how accurate predictions can be, it is actually a really cool tool.
What’s interesting about Google Now is that relevant information is displayed below search results in what are called ‘cards’. The cards shown will depend on your location, recent searches, calendar and even method of transport.

Probably the best way to explain Google Now is through an example:

Say you have a meeting with a potential supplier at a coffee shop across town tomorrow. You pull up the Google Search app on your iPad, tap the microphone button and ask Google, “What’s the coffee shop on 5th Avenue?”. Google searches for the coffee shop and comes back with three search results including the shop you are looking for. You then enter the name and address in your Google Calendar, along with the date and time.

The next day, you look at the Google Search app again because you’ve forgotten the exact address. Just below the Search bar you will see that new cards have popped up. The first is a reminder of the scheduled event, along with the contact information of the person you are meeting. Just below that is a map on how to get to the coffee shop, along with driving directions.

When you get in the car, you notice that traffic seems a little heavier than usual, so you pull up Google Search and the card has been updated with a map showing current traffic along with what Google thinks will be the fastest route, without you having to ask.

This app works surprisingly well, and many users have noted that both search results and the cards are accurate. Where Google Now really shines is when you are traveling. If you go to another country, cards will pop up with the exchange rate, translator, local map with landmarks, time back home and even flight information (assuming the reservation has been sent to your Gmail account).

How to install and use
If this app sounds interesting, all you have to do to get it is download Google Search app from the Apple App Store, install it, open it and sign in using your Google account. Cards will start to popup after a couple of days. You can tweak what cards appear by using the search feature, or through the app’s settings.

While this is a Google product, it can be useful for your Apple device, especially if you have a Google account. If you would like to learn more about this app or how the iPad can make your business easier, contact us today to see how we can help.

Posted in General Articles C, Mobile Tablet – iPad | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

How to use breaks in Word

Office_May21_AMicrosoft Office is one of the most popular and important suites of software used by businesses. The key idea is that the different programs that make up the suite allow for greater productivity. One of them, Word, has some great productivity features that allow users to create professional text documents. One downside is that it can be unwieldy is formatting, especially when you need to break text.

There are numerous types of text breaks you can use in Word:

  • Page break – Will insert a break where the cursor is and move the next line of text to the following page. This break is good for formatting reports and other longer documents, especially if you have headings with multiple subheadings; a page break between each main heading will make a report easier to read.
  • Column break - If you have a document with more than one column, inserting a column break will move the cursor or text to the next column on the right. If you don’t have columns, this will function as a page break.
  • Section break – There are four different types of section breaks that can be used when you want to divide a document into different sections. For example, if you have a report where 3 pages need to be in a column, you can insert a section break around these pages and format them separately from the rest of the document.
  • Line break – These breaks will move text to the next line. This can be useful if your document has an extra line between paragraphs, or when you are writing a list and need to add another paragraph without a new list point. You can insert a line break by hitting Shift+Return.

How to break your documents
If you need to insert a break in your document, we first recommend that you turn on Show/Hide. This can be done by:

  1. Clicking on Tools from the menu bar at the top of the window.
  2. Selecting Options followed by the View tab in the window that pops up.
  3. Ticking All under the Formatting Marks section.
  4. Clicking Ok.

This will show all formatting marks on the document, making it easier for you to see what breaks and changes to formatting you have made. You can then insert breaks by:

  1. Clicking where you would like to insert the break in the document (The break will be inserted where the blinking cursor is located, so be sure it’s in the right spot.)
  2. Clicking Insert from the menu bar at the top of the screen followed by Break.
  3. Ticking the type of break you want to insert.
  4. Clicking Ok.

Breaks are a great way to create documents that not only look more professional but are easier to read. If you are looking to learn more about using Word to its full potential, please contact us today.

Posted in General Articles A, Microsoft Office – News & Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Breaking your text for better formatting

Office_May21_BOne of the cardinal rules of document creation is that you need white space. We are taught from a young age to separate our written thoughts into paragraphs which make them easier to read and make documents look professional. This has carried over to documents created using word processors like Microsoft Word. While Word is great, it can be a hassle formatting documents, especially when you need to add gaps or breaks between text. Did you know that Word actually has features that can help you format your text by adding breaks?

There are numerous types of text breaks you can use in Word:

  • Page break – Will insert a break where the cursor is and move the next line of text to the following page. This break is good for formatting reports and other longer documents, especially if you have headings with multiple subheadings; a page break between each main heading will make a report easier to read.
  • Column break - If you have a document with more than one column, inserting a column break will move the cursor or text to the next column on the right. If you don’t have columns, this will function as a page break.
  • Section break – There are four different types of section breaks that can be used when you want to divide a document into different sections. For example, if you have a report where 3 pages need to be in a column, you can insert a section break around these pages and format them separately from the rest of the document.
  • Line break – These breaks will move text to the next line. This can be useful if your document has an extra line between paragraphs, or when you are writing a list and need to add another paragraph without a new list point. You can insert a line break by hitting Shift+Return.

How to break your documents
If you need to insert a break in your document, we first recommend that you turn on Show/Hide. This can be done by:

  1. Clicking on Tools from the menu bar at the top of the window.
  2. Selecting Options followed by the View tab in the window that pops up.
  3. Ticking All under the Formatting Marks section.
  4. Clicking Ok.

This will show all formatting marks on the document, making it easier for you to see what breaks and changes to formatting you have made. You can then insert breaks by:

  1. Clicking where you would like to insert the break in the document (The break will be inserted where the blinking cursor is located, so be sure it’s in the right spot.)
  2. Clicking Insert from the menu bar at the top of the screen followed by Break.
  3. Ticking the type of break you want to insert.
  4. Clicking Ok.

Breaks are a great way to create documents that not only look more professional but are easier to read. If you are looking to learn more about using Word to its full potential, please contact us today.

Posted in General Articles B, Microsoft Office – News & Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Word tip: Break your text

Office_May21_CWhen someone mentions ‘breaking’ something, most will think of the physical action. Writers will think of something different. A break in writing means an extended space. You see breaks at the end of chapters in novels and reports that shift to another section. These breaks are an integral part of document formatting, and yet many Microsoft Word users still use them incorrectly, if at all. If you’ve ever had trouble formatting a document, why not try breaking your text?

There are numerous types of text breaks you can use in Word:

  • Page break – Will insert a break where the cursor is and move the next line of text to the following page. This break is good for formatting reports and other longer documents, especially if you have headings with multiple subheadings; a page break between each main heading will make a report easier to read.
  • Column break - If you have a document with more than one column, inserting a column break will move the cursor or text to the next column on the right. If you don’t have columns, this will function as a page break.
  • Section break – There are four different types of section breaks that can be used when you want to divide a document into different sections. For example, if you have a report where 3 pages need to be in a column, you can insert a section break around these pages and format them separately from the rest of the document.
  • Line break – These breaks will move text to the next line. This can be useful if your document has an extra line between paragraphs, or when you are writing a list and need to add another paragraph without a new list point. You can insert a line break by hitting Shift+Return.

How to break your documents
If you need to insert a break in your document, we first recommend that you turn on Show/Hide. This can be done by:

  1. Clicking on Tools from the menu bar at the top of the window.
  2. Selecting Options followed by the View tab in the window that pops up.
  3. Ticking All under the Formatting Marks section.
  4. Clicking Ok.

This will show all formatting marks on the document, making it easier for you to see what breaks and changes to formatting you have made. You can then insert breaks by:

  1. Clicking where you would like to insert the break in the document (The break will be inserted where the blinking cursor is located, so be sure it’s in the right spot.)
  2. Clicking Insert from the menu bar at the top of the screen followed by Break.
  3. Ticking the type of break you want to insert.
  4. Clicking Ok.

Breaks are a great way to create documents that not only look more professional but are easier to read. If you are looking to learn more about using Word to its full potential, please contact us today.

Posted in General Articles C, Microsoft Office – News & Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Leveraging Google Hangouts

GoogleApps_May21_AIt wasn’t that long ago when video calls were only seen in cartoons and sci-fi. These days, video calls are seen to be a normal part of the various forms of communication at a business’s disposal. One of the newer video platforms is integrated into Google Hangouts, Google’s integrated chat platform that allows small businesses like yours chat and host video chats with up to 10 participants. Hangouts is still so new that it can be hard to figure out how your business could use it.

Below are four ways you or your business could use the video conferencing capabilities of Google Hangouts.

1. Provide customer support
If you have a product or service, you have likely had clients contact you with questions or concerns. When customers are having problems, they normally prefer to talk face-to-face with a real person. The problem is, you may not be where your customers are, or they may not be able to reach you.

Hangouts provides you with an ideal channel where customers can contact you, see your face and discuss problems they may be having.

2. Product demonstrations
Have a product that customers have been asking how to use, or would like to know more about? Why not host a Hangout? This is a great platform that allows you and up to 10 customers to interact. You can show them how the product works, how it can help them and answer questions all face-to-face. If a participant would like to learn more, you can then host a one-on-one Hangout.

3. Conduct team meetings
There are two useful Hangouts features that could be a boon to productivity. The first is the ability to share your screen with participants and the other is built in compatibility with productivity apps like Google Drive. This allows you and your team to collaborate on a document, spreadsheet or even presentation.

Hosting a Hangout is also great if you or a teammate is away. You can still work together because Hangouts is now Google’s main chat app with integration across desktop and mobile devices. As long as you have an Internet connection, and a device with a camera you can join a Hangout. Imagine having someone out in the field with a tablet talking to colleagues who are on their desktops. This will make your team and company more productive.

4. Launch a new product or service
Google Hangouts allows you to live stream events on both Google+ and YouTube. This could be useful if you are launching a new product, or service and want to enable people who can’t make it to the event to take part. You can even record the event so people can watch it later.

While still relatively new, video conferencing and webinars are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for small businesses to really connect with their customers regardless of their location. If you are looking to learn more about Google Hangouts and how they could be used in your business, please contact us today.

Posted in Cloud – Google Apps, General Articles A | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Google Hangouts – 4 way you can use it

GoogleApps_May21_BOne of the more popular tech trends in recent years is the increasing adoption of video based communication. Many are familiar with products like Skype which allow face-to-face communication from anywhere there is an Internet connection. Did you know that Google has baked video conferencing into their newly released Google Hangouts? If your company uses Google, this could be a great marketing tool. The only question is, how exactly can you leverage it?

Below are four ways you or your business could use the video conferencing capabilities of Google Hangouts.

1. Provide customer support
If you have a product or service, you have likely had clients contact you with questions or concerns. When customers are having problems, they normally prefer to talk face-to-face with a real person. The problem is, you may not be where your customers are, or they may not be able to reach you.

Hangouts provides you with an ideal channel where customers can contact you, see your face and discuss problems they may be having.

2. Product demonstrations
Have a product that customers have been asking how to use, or would like to know more about? Why not host a Hangout? This is a great platform that allows you and up to 10 customers to interact. You can show them how the product works, how it can help them and answer questions all face-to-face. If a participant would like to learn more, you can then host a one-on-one Hangout.

3. Conduct team meetings
There are two useful Hangouts features that could be a boon to productivity. The first is the ability to share your screen with participants and the other is built in compatibility with productivity apps like Google Drive. This allows you and your team to collaborate on a document, spreadsheet or even presentation.

Hosting a Hangout is also great if you or a teammate is away. You can still work together because Hangouts is now Google’s main chat app with integration across desktop and mobile devices. As long as you have an Internet connection, and a device with a camera you can join a Hangout. Imagine having someone out in the field with a tablet talking to colleagues who are on their desktops. This will make your team and company more productive.

4. Launch a new product or service
Google Hangouts allows you to live stream events on both Google+ and YouTube. This could be useful if you are launching a new product, or service and want to enable people who can’t make it to the event to take part. You can even record the event so people can watch it later.

While still relatively new, video conferencing and webinars are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for small businesses to really connect with their customers regardless of their location. If you are looking to learn more about Google Hangouts and how they could be used in your business, please contact us today.

Posted in Cloud – Google Apps, General Articles B | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

4 ways you can use Google Hangouts

GoogleApps_May21_CGoogle+, Google’s social media platform, has become an integral part of the Google platform. While not the most popular of services, there are some really great features that businesses like yours could benefit from using. One such feature is Google Hangouts, Google’s integrated chat platform that also has video conferencing tool that could help with your marketing and branding efforts. The problem you, and many businesses, may be having is figuring out how exactly you could leverage this platform in your business.

Below are four ways you or your business could use the video conferencing capabilities of Google Hangouts.

1. Provide customer support
If you have a product or service, you have likely had clients contact you with questions or concerns. When customers are having problems, they normally prefer to talk face-to-face with a real person. The problem is, you may not be where your customers are, or they may not be able to reach you.

Hangouts provides you with an ideal channel where customers can contact you, see your face and discuss problems they may be having.

2. Product demonstrations
Have a product that customers have been asking how to use, or would like to know more about? Why not host a Hangout? This is a great platform that allows you and up to 10 customers to interact. You can show them how the product works, how it can help them and answer questions all face-to-face. If a participant would like to learn more, you can then host a one-on-one Hangout.

3. Conduct team meetings
There are two useful Hangouts features that could be a boon to productivity. The first is the ability to share your screen with participants and the other is built in compatibility with productivity apps like Google Drive. This allows you and your team to collaborate on a document, spreadsheet or even presentation.

Hosting a Hangout is also great if you or a teammate is away. You can still work together because Hangouts is now Google’s main chat app with integration across desktop and mobile devices. As long as you have an Internet connection, and a device with a camera you can join a Hangout. Imagine having someone out in the field with a tablet talking to colleagues who are on their desktops. This will make your team and company more productive.

4. Launch a new product or service
Google Hangouts allows you to live stream events on both Google+ and YouTube. This could be useful if you are launching a new product, or service and want to enable people who can’t make it to the event to take part. You can even record the event so people can watch it later.

While still relatively new, video conferencing and webinars are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for small businesses to really connect with their customers regardless of their location. If you are looking to learn more about Google Hangouts and how they could be used in your business, please contact us today.

Posted in Cloud – Google Apps, General Articles C | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Microsoft to update Office Web Apps

Office365_May21_AWhen it comes to productivity, there are so many apps and programs out there that it can be confusing as to which are best for your business. One of the more useful productivity platforms is Office 365, Microsoft’s cloud based version of Office. With numerous features that make it highly useful for businesses of all sizes, there is one that is often underused – Office Web Apps. So Microsoft has recently announced a few updates that could make it more appealing to users.

Here’s an overview of Office Web Apps and the two upcoming updates for the platform.

What exactly is Office Web Apps?
Office Web Apps (OWA) is a browser based version of Microsoft Office. OWA includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote which users can access through almost any web browser. These apps are available free of charge to everyone with a Microsoft SkyDrive and most Office 365 users.

The beauty of OWA is that it allows users to open, edit, collaborate on, and store the most popular Office documents from a variety of devices. What this means is that as long as a user has a Microsoft Account and is connected to the Internet, they can access Office software without actually having it installed on their computer or device.

If you’ve used OWA, you know that it’s great for opening Office documents, basic editing and creating basic documents. The major downside is, these web based apps are missing a number of more advanced features e.g., Find and Replace in Word. Microsoft has stated that they are committed to introducing more features, and have recently announced two that could make OWA an even more viable solution for businesses.

Real-time collaboration
In the current version of OWA collaboration is possible. However a user will need to refresh the browser window to see changes made by another editor. This is hardly ideal, especially if you have more than two people working on the same document.

Microsoft aims to change this by introducing real-time editing. This means that if you and three other colleagues are working on the same document, you will see the changes as they are made; so there’s no need to refresh.

This feature is currently being rolled out to PowerPoint users, and should be applied to the other OWA apps sometime in the near future (there has been no specific date set by Microsoft, but it should be by the end of the year).

Editing from Android tablets
While OWA may not be the best choice for desktop users, especially since the vast majority already have Office installed on their computers, it’s great for mobile users. At this time, only Windows 8 tablet and iPad users have been able to access OWA from their devices. The recently announced update will soon bring this functionality to Android tablets as well.

Microsoft has not set a date as to when Android tablets will be able to access OWA, but it should be before the end of 2013, possibly the end of the summer. They also noted that they are working to speed up the service for tablets, which will foster even more efficient collaboration.

If you are interested in learning more about OWA, Office 365 or any of Microsoft’s other programs please contact us today to see how we can help.

Posted in Cloud – Office 365, General Articles A | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Office Web Apps to get two new features

Office365_May21_BOne of the more popular productivity oriented programs on the market today is Microsoft’s Office 365. Based in the cloud, this platform offers business users a way to increase productivity of their whole organization while making communication and sharing easier. A lesser known feature included in Office 365 subscriptions is Office Web Apps. Microsoft aims to make this a more prominent feature and has recently announced two new updates that could make it more useful.

Here’s an overview of Office Web Apps and the two upcoming updates for the platform.

What exactly is Office Web Apps?
Office Web Apps (OWA) is a browser based version of Microsoft Office. OWA includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote which users can access through almost any web browser. These apps are available free of charge to everyone with a Microsoft SkyDrive and most Office 365 users.

The beauty of OWA is that it allows users to open, edit, collaborate on, and store the most popular Office documents from a variety of devices. What this means is that as long as a user has a Microsoft Account and is connected to the Internet, they can access Office software without actually having it installed on their computer or device.

If you’ve used OWA, you know that it’s great for opening Office documents, basic editing and creating basic documents. The major downside is, these web based apps are missing a number of more advanced features e.g., Find and Replace in Word. Microsoft has stated that they are committed to introducing more features, and have recently announced two that could make OWA an even more viable solution for businesses.

Real-time collaboration
In the current version of OWA collaboration is possible. However a user will need to refresh the browser window to see changes made by another editor. This is hardly ideal, especially if you have more than two people working on the same document.

Microsoft aims to change this by introducing real-time editing. This means that if you and three other colleagues are working on the same document, you will see the changes as they are made; so there’s no need to refresh.

This feature is currently being rolled out to PowerPoint users, and should be applied to the other OWA apps sometime in the near future (there has been no specific date set by Microsoft, but it should be by the end of the year).

Editing from Android tablets
While OWA may not be the best choice for desktop users, especially since the vast majority already have Office installed on their computers, it’s great for mobile users. At this time, only Windows 8 tablet and iPad users have been able to access OWA from their devices. The recently announced update will soon bring this functionality to Android tablets as well.

Microsoft has not set a date as to when Android tablets will be able to access OWA, but it should be before the end of 2013, possibly the end of the summer. They also noted that they are working to speed up the service for tablets, which will foster even more efficient collaboration.

If you are interested in learning more about OWA, Office 365 or any of Microsoft’s other programs please contact us today to see how we can help.

Posted in Cloud – Office 365, General Articles B | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed
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