Mountain View (CA) - Google has launched a beta version of Presentations, a Web-based clone of Microsoft Powerpoint.

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See all that Google Presentations has to offer...

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Adding to its slate of Web-based applications, Google Presentations allows users to create slideshows and share them with the world or with a defined set of contacts.  It can also be used as a free, basic alternative to Microsoft Powerpoint, allowing users to block any outside access to their documents.

Users can also present the slideshows live to a group of people, complete with a chat box for comments during the presentation.  Like other Google Apps, files created on Presentations carry a complete history of modifications made and the people who made the respective changes.  Users can also send the file to someone via a one-click e-mail button, automatically giving them access to the presentation.

Google Presentations has many of the same basic elements as Microsoft Powerpoint.  It contains a set of slide layouts and designs, as well as a complete palette of text editing options.  The major component not in the initial release of the new Google app is animation.  There are no image fly-in features or slide transition effects.

The Google Docs suite also includes Spreadsheets and Documents, respective clones of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.  The online giant claims that millions of people have created at least one document in the Google Docs package.

Another collaboration-based Web app is Google Calendar, which lets users share their schedules with each other by pointing their browser to a unique HTML address.

The presentation application is available now at docs.google.com.

personally I think that google needs to improve a L...

Sep 18, 2007 11:16     

personally I think that google needs to improve a LOT all those tools if they pretend to have a seriuous alternative to Microsoft Office. " The online giant claims that millions of people have created at least one document in the Google Docs package." hahaha I find this part so funny, I wonder how many of those millions tried it, created 1 doc and left dissapointed.
cd report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

good stuff

Sep 18, 2007 11:39     

I use the google docs regularly because it makes my documenst available to me anywhere i have internet access, when I am not carrying my laptop. it is not perfect but I really enjoy using it and i is good for collaboration.
Rew report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

The best out there

Sep 18, 2007 12:12     

To the poster below (cd), please learn to read first before posting. If you didn't know it yet, Google's online applications is a "free" and "basic" alternative to MS Office.
Jim Jones report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

CIO

Sep 18, 2007 12:31     

Google Docs is great. We are also evaluating OpenOffice and plan on evaluating LOTUS Symphony. We plan to eliminate as many MicroSoft apps as possible this year and eventually all of them by the end of 2008.
gordo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

If...

Sep 18, 2007 12:48     

Google office submitted the importation of Office 07 documents, I might use it to host my files... that's about it.
Joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

super..

Sep 19, 2007 09:07     

all one needs. ok, except custom slide design, but maybe I just have not figured out. bye bye M$
Christina report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Google's past doesn't inspire trust.

Sep 26, 2007 13:45     

So why should we trust them now? I wonder...if I create a doc that contains offensive stuff about the king of Thailand, will I be able to share it with friends in Thailand? Will they then be hauled off to jail thanks to Google? It wouldn't be the first time they did something like that. Google has done so much with various governments of the world to make sure people's freedom of expression is censored or denied outright. Their moral compass points to the highest bidder, and yet people seem to have no problem with it. I think I'll stick to storing my data on my USB drive where I know it's not being scanned by some software preparing some targeted marketing scheme. My USB drive goes where I go, with or without internet access. Offline, I'd guess the only real contender to M$ Office is Openoffice.org which is not too shabby at all....and the price is right.

spanko report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1