Laptop: Google Docs adds TV and film sources to its citations tool. “Google Docs added a citation tool last year that has been a huge help to many, making citing source material far easier. Recently the good folks at Google updated the citation tool to include film, TV series, and TV episodes resources.”
Make Tech Easier: How to Use Subscript and Superscript in Google Docs. “For most of your day-to-day writing, your text will sit on one line. This seems so obvious, it’s not worth noting. Though, there are many times you’ll use text either above or below the line. These are ‘subscript’ and ‘superscript’ characters, and through a quick couple of button presses, you can add these in Google Docs. We show you here how to use subscript and superscript in Google Docs. First, let’s talk more about what both are.”
I don’t usually cover outages but this one is so large I think it merits a mention. TechCrunch: Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs and other services go down simultaneously in multiple countries. “Not much more to update yet but we’re seeing and getting word from others that multiple Google services have gone down. Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and Google Docs are all experiencing outages, with dozens, even hundreds, of reports we’ve seen so far coming in from across Europe, the US, Canada, India, South Africa, countries in Central and South America, Australia and likely more.”
Android Police: PDFs imported to Google Docs will soon look better than ever. “Google Docs might be the collaboration tool of choice these days, but PDF is still a wildly popular format for sharing documents. Now Google is making the conversion process between PDF and DOC better than ever thanks to a slew of new improvements, including better formatting and image importing.”
Chrome Unboxed: Google Docs rolls out built-in citation and bibliography tool for all users. “I’m pleased to announce today that Google Docs finally has their own built-in tool for quickly adding citations and bibliographies to your research papers! Also, it’s free.”
Make Tech Easier: Google Docs Update Includes Improved Braille Integration. “If you have never had to use the accessibility features on your computer or your device, you may not know how visually-impaired users read information on their computer or how they navigate around the screen. If you are someone who needs that assistance, Google Docs has just stepped it up with an update that brings improved braille integration.”
Neowin: Grammarly expands support for Google Docs, brings premium features and more. “Grammarly is expanding the features available for users of the Chrome extension on Google Docs, bringing some premium features to the search giant’s online service. The company launched the service in beta form for Google docs back in 2018. Now, the extension is getting new additions such as a dedicated sidebar for suggestions, and premium features that include feedback on ‘clarity, engagement, and delivery’, and more.”
Protocol: Google Docs is being used as a protest tool. That could put the company in a tight spot.. “A multitude of Google Docs and Sheets have sprung up coordinating donations to the cause and ways to demonstrate solidarity. Some are chaotically created lists of email addresses, links and other information, compiled in a hurry by those wanting to help support the protests and raise awareness. Others are carefully formatted Google Sheets that provide a checklist of actions people can take — a to-do list of dozens of steps to combat systemic racism. All have been viewed by hundreds of people simultaneously at their peak. In many cases, documents have been populated by using Google Forms — for instance, to collect data on donations to bail funds so organizations can match funding, or to collect signatures for a petition against Harvard University police.”
TechRadar: Forget Google Docs – Microsoft Word’s new re-writing feature is a game-changer. “Smart Compose is a tool for Google Docs that predicts which words and phrases you’ll type and offers to finish them off for you. It’s handy, and can be a real time-saver as it ‘learns’ your writing habits, but Microsoft has now gone one better with a feature for Microsoft Word that can re-write whole sentences for you.”
Digital Inspiration: Simple URL Tricks for Google Drive You Should Know. “With Google Drive, you can store files in the cloud and share them easily with anyone. Open any file in Google Drive, click the Share button and you’ll get a URL (link) that others can use to access your file. This is common knowledge but Google Drive has plenty of URL tricks up its sleeve that will make these simple Drive links even more powerful.”
Screen Shot: Google Docs is becoming the best entertainment of the coronavirus pandemic. “Apparently, keeping people under lockdown makes them go back to simpler digital pleasures. A few days ago, the MIT Technology Review questioned its readers: Why does it suddenly feel like 1999 on the internet? It seems like extreme loneliness and boredom have a way of forcing us to get out of our digital comfort zone. Just like those students who used Google Docs as a way to pass notes in class in 2019, adults all around the globe have started using the document authoring tool in very inventive ways, to say the least. Here’s how Google Docs is slowly becoming our new entertainment during self-isolation.”
9to5Google: Google Docs autocorrect widely rolling out as Smart Compose exits G Suite beta. “Last November, Google Docs started testing autocorrect and Smart Compose as part of leveraging machine learning to improve user productivity. Those two features are now widely rolling out, though availability is tiered.”
[Update: Statement] PSA: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides comments being abused to send spam emails (9to5 Google)
9to5 Google: [Update: Statement] PSA: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides comments being abused to send spam emails. “Have you received an email about a new comment in a Google Docs or other Google Workspace file you don’t recognize? Do not click the included link, as it’s likely part of a new source of spam emails that are abusing comments in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.”