Google Spreadsheets gets software-inspired face lift

Over the weekend, Google rolled out a brand-new look for its Spreadsheets tool by adding a simplified toolbar to the top of the page, much like the one Google Docs received back in late March. The change is twofold: one to better organize all the various bits and pieces that had turned the tool into something resembling an airplane cockpit, as well as ready it for additional features.

All this isn't just cosmetic ,though; Google says overall speed has been improved, too. One of the things that's kept me away from using it all these years is that Excel absolutely kills it on larger spreadsheets. In a quick test on some older, large spreadsheets I really did notice a big difference, although it still has to stream in all your cells, whereas Excel is ready to go as soon as you open it.

Google Spreadsheets users now have a similar menu to the one in Google Docs, which compacts many of the options into menus for the sake of organization.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Something small, but really important is the inclusion of a full screen mode. Hitting Ctrl+Shift+F lets you cycle through two additional views, one that gets rid of the menu bar, and another that gets rid of both the menu bar and toolbar. If you're working on a laptop with a small vertical resolution this gives you an additional seven rows(!).

Google has also more deeply integrated its Calendaring tool and handling of URLs within its forms tool. You can now plan a meeting with people you're collaborating on a spreadsheet with right from the share menu. This simply opens up a Google Calendar event with the participants, subject, and link to the spreadsheet automatically filled in for you. Likewise, any URL you drop in forms or the form confirmation messages will get converted into links automatically. Previously users would have to copy and paste it into their address bar.

All these changes may be small, but like the change to Docs back in March, it's a fascinating shift. Considering Google's Chrome browser lets you run tools like Docs and Spreadsheets as standalone Web applications, the closer it gets to feeling like software people are used to, the more willing they'll be to try it out. The big question is how far Google is willing to go with this new interface to make it better.

[rjpotts]

Looks kind of nice. The other apps are following this Model as well. It would be nice if they would come up with a database app, project management app, and visio type app to comeplete my office suite.

[Mr. Dee]

What are Googles core values? I can understand core markets like Search and Ad-Sense. But the Company has spread itself out into areas I believe are pre-requisites for the 'do evil' status quo. They obviously want to control information or at least build the tools that control information. I don't see Google Docs, Spreadsheet or their Presentation app near competing with Office 97 or even 95. The usability factor improves 10 fold when used with Chrome, but with more dominant and flexible browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox, using it is clunky and unproductive. Its hard to resist Microsoft Office because its entrenched, I know how to use and I know how to manipulate and share my data across the various apps in the suite, because Office is built with integration in mind. Google is just realizing that, they only were just saying, lets create or buy a couple web based productivity apps throw it at users and they will move from Office. With Microsoft realizing this, suppose they do release a full functionality web based version of Office, especially with on premise support as Outlook Web Access? We need to take a serious look at Googles intentions here?

[jeremypp]

"Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." (http://www.google.com/corporate/)

Ad revenue off searching is the main source of income for Google, so they need to make all information "searchable" so that they can make more money off the search results. The web isn't just web pages anymore, it also includes spatial data (KML) and documents which need to be indexed and searchable. Google has introduced KML, Google Apps, Picasa and other applications to help people get their data, whatever it might be, on the web, which leads to more Google results and more ad money.

[skiracer712]

Nice to see google actually update some of their products, dosent happen to often.

Even with these improvements it nowhere meets the functionality of MS Office or free apps like OpenOffice. Unless you really need to share your files with someone else and email or a fileshare will not work, I dont see these updates gaining them anymore users. Especially if you have used Office 2007. Using it now for a few months, I am planning on purchasing the full edition pretty soon of Office 2007 and no longer using OpenOffice. But both are far better than google docs for students and professionals. If you only find your self opening up an office suite once a month or so, than this would probably work for you.

FYI though, just like all google things be sure to check out the terms of service on google docs. just like the EULA for chrome, it is very "interesting". that and the fact that all google seems to release now is beta's. with beta's they can log the use of the product, and are not responsbile if any of their stuff damages your system.

I agree with Mr. Dee, to me Google is becoming the computer world's "evil beast" that MS once was.

[gregspira]

Don't know why everyone feels the need to compare Google Docs + with Microsoft Excel - obviously, the two products are not competitive. The product that Google Docs competes with is Microsoft Works; it is not aimed at people who need to make use of any advanced features of Microsoft Office.

And Google's motivations are quite clear - they want to encourage cloud computing. The more cloud computing computer users do, the more places Google can show advertising. Google spreads itself into areas like document production and open-source mobile phone operating systems this because it wants to make sure somebody does these things successfully. These aren't core Google products, but Google pursues them because they don't feel they can count on other companies to do so..

If another company (other than Microsoft) came out with a significantly better free online office product, captured much of the market, and let Google deal with selling advertising on it, Google would happily retire Docs.

Note that Google pursues many cloud projects that currently feature no advertising because they hope to figure out a way to monetize those services in the future and, for now, those services encourage the use of other Google and cloud projects that Google does sell ads for.