According to a recent report, Canadians spend more time online that most countries. Whatever the reason, we’re seemingly more connected all the time, especially with the advent of fast 4G and LTE networks and smartphones. Even traditionally offline areas like airplanes are moving towards providing internet access (albeit for a fee). Air Canada and Westjet are both working to make WiFi available on their domestic and international flights. Cloud solutions like Google Apps for Business realize that although offline time represents a small percentage of a users time these days, it’s still critical for the busy business travelers. Since Google just made Google Presentations available to be edited offline, here are the best ways to work with Google Apps Offline:
On a PC or Mac (make sure you’re using Google Chrome)
- Gmail: Install the Offline Gmail app from the Chrome Web Store and open the app. Make sure to allow offline mail. Optionally under settings choose to have mail download more than the past week (default).
- Calendar: First, click the gear icon and choose Offline from the drop down menu. This will start the install of the Google Calendar app from the Chrome Web Store. Follow the installation instructions and there will be a green check mark next to offline when your calendar is in sync.
- Google Drive/Docs: In Drive, go to the left-hand side of the screen and select More. Then select Offline Docs. This will start the install of the Drive app from the Chrome Web Store. Follow the instructions to add the app. Click on the Google Drive icon. Note that not everything is available offline. Here are the details by app:
- Google Documents: You can view and edit them. Hooray!
- Google Spreadsheets: You can view them only. Ugh. Let’s hope Google addresses this need. You can always use Excel…
- Google Presentations: You can view and now edit them (new feature). Hooray!
- Google Drawings: Sorry, nothing yet.
- Other Drive Files: Assuming that they reside in the Google Drive folder on your PC or Mac then you have full access via the installed app like Word or Excel.
On an Android Smartphone or Tablet
- Gmail: Use the Gmail app. Simple. It’s usually pre installed on most Android devices.
- Calendar: Use the Calendar app. Simple. It’s usually pre installed on most Android devices.
- Google Drive/Docs: Use the Drive app. You’ll likely have to download it from the Google Play Store. Note that everything is viewable offline (so long as you’ve flagged it as such) but nothing is editable offline.
On an iPhone or iPad
- Gmail: Use the Gmail app. You’ll have to download it from the App Store. You can also have your Gmail come in through the native Apple Mail app. Here’s how.
- Calendar: Use Calenmob. You’ll have to download it from the App Store. You can also have your calendar come in through the native Apple Calendar app. Here’s how.
- Google Drive/Docs: Use the Drive app. You’ll have to download it from the App Store. Note that everything is viewable offline (so long as you’ve flagged it as such) but nothing is editable offline. To edit spreadsheets offline, consider using QuickOffice for Google Apps on iPad.
Perpetual West is a Google Apps Consultant and Google Apps Authorized Reseller. To learn more about how your company can benefit from Google Apps for Business, call 1 (877) 388-6400 or click on the button to sign up today for a free consultation.