Google adds in a new function to the Android and iOS versions of Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, allowing users to comment and easily include teammates through their devices.
It looks like the company is stepping up to provide an improved experience in collaborating across its mobile productivity apps, as the recent development is on the heels of the new Google Drive templates that also made their way to the aforementioned tools.
What the update entails is that users will now be able to comment and work on a project even when they only have their smartphones or tablets at hand.
"Whether you're on a tablet at the breakfast table, a phone on the train or a laptop at the office, it's important to have a suite of apps that allow you to be productive from wherever you are," Google says.
Sweet! Mobile comments are here in Docs, Sheets & Slides—just in time for #ChocolateCakeDay. https://t.co/G5hmPwqq18 https://t.co/vvK2AYImat
— Google Docs (@googledocs) January 27, 2016
While the Web version of Google Docs already had support for comments, the update brings in a more convenient way to do so. Users will now be able to instantly insert a comment via the comment bubble that'll pop up on the right side of the document when a section is highlighted.
Comment in fewer clicks. Just highlight text in Docs and the comment button will automatically appear. pic.twitter.com/Q1Yx8VbvoZ — Google Docs (@googledocs) January 27, 2016
Meanwhile, getting more people in on the action has become a cinch. Users will simply have to type in the first few characters of another member's name in a comment and select their profile from the suggestions menu that'll appear below.
In case the tagged person doesn't have permission to access the project yet, Google will ask the user whether or not to allow them to join in. It will then send the invited user a notification regarding his or her inclusion in the conversation.
To top them all off, Google continues to push the functionality of its mobile productivity tools by allowing the Docs mobile app to be set to fullscreen mode and adding the Research feature.
In related news, the Android versions just got a lot of new features, particularly additional support for file formats.
In Docs, users will now be able to import .txt, .rtf and .html files and export .docx, .rtf, .pdf, .txt. and .html files. Meanwhile, Sheets can now export .xlsx, .pdf, .html, .csv and .tsv, while Slides can also export .pptx, .pdf and .txt. Sheets can also open CSV and TSV files thanks to the update.
The updated Google Docs, Sheets and Slides for Android and iOS are already live. Don't forget to hit up Google's video demonstration of the new feature, where "commenting never tasted so good."
