Project management applications that integrate with Google Apps

http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2011/04/23/project-management-with-google-apps

Project Management with Google Apps

April
23rd, 2011

Software Comparisons

Project management software with Google Apps is the next big thing right? But does the Docsintegration hype measure up? Will it actually help you or your team to be more productive?

More than a few project management tools are quick to announce “integration” with Google Apps – but what does that actually mean?

Project management applications that integrate with Google Apps

The the most popular project management apps on the Google Apps marketplace are:
Manymoon, Zoho Projects, Freshbooks,Smartsheet, Deskaway, Ace Project,Huddle, Comindwork, Wrike, Mavenlink,Teambox, Harvest Glasscubes and Jira.

How do project management apps typically ‘integrate’ with Google Apps?

• User can create tasks from emails. A button at the bottom of the email that allows you to create a task. Used in; Manymoon, Zoho Projects.
• Attach Google docs to tasks, messages and projects. This is available in most of the apps.
• One click sign in with a Gmail account. This is pretty much a given for all apps that integrate with Google.
• Exporting reports to Google Docs
• Importing Google contacts into your project management app. A great way to expand your user base.
• Integration with Google Calendar. For example, adding milestones or due dates on tasks to the calendar.

There are also some other more unique integrations:

• Smartsheet allows you to attach a Google doc within a row on your Smartsheet. An interesting the approach when you consider that Google might be seen as their main competitor.
• Jira which is primarily for software development also has some unique features. You can embed a Google Doc within a wiki on Jira. Also you can access Google Talk within Jira as well as Gmail and Google Calendar.

Which project management software offer the best Google Apps workflow?

It really depends on the way that you work and the type of tool you are looking for. Manymoonhas perhaps the most comprehensive Google Apps feature set. However if you need other project management features such as invoicing or Gantt charts you should choose look around…

We’ve compiled a list of the top project management software solutions that integrate with Google Apps to help illustrate exactly what type of integration each service offers:

http://www.timedoctor.com/google-apps-project-management

How to make a Gantt Chart with Google Docs

Google Docs - Add Support for Offline Mode

Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs Add Support for Offline Mode

Chrome: Google's adding offline support to Gmail, Calendar, and Docs. The offline support comes via the Offline Google Mail extension, available now in the Chrome Web Store.

Offline Gmail

To get started with Offline Gmail, install the Offline Google Mail extension. Once installed, Chrome should open a new tab; click the newly installed Gmail Offline button, select Allow offline mail, and click Continue. Once everything's up and running, you'll be able to read, respond to, and search your email when you don't have an internet connection. When an internet connection is available again, the extension will sync your messages and other "queued actions" with Gmail.

The other thing you'll notice off the bat is that the offline version of Gmail uses the attractive, two-paned tablet version of Gmail (similar to the one you can enable in your inbox using Gmail Labs). Some of your muscle-memory will still work there—for example, the j and k shortcuts still navigate between messages—but beyond that it's mostly a point-and-click affair. (Hopefully they'll add more shortcuts in time.)

Offline Calendar

To enable Offline Calendar, visit Google Calendar, click the settings cog in the upper right corner, and click Offline. You'll be prompted to install the Google Calendar extension for Chrome. Currently, when you're offline in Gcal, you can view events and RSVP to appointments. Not bad, but that doesn't appear to include creating events, which seems like an important option. Look for that improvement in time.

Offline Docs

To enable Offline Docs, visit Docs and, likewise, enable Offline from inside the settings cog. You'll be asked if you want to enable offline mode, then you'll be prompted to install the Google Docs extension for Chrome. Like Gcal, the offline options are limited. You can only view docs and spreadsheets when you don't have a connection. But Google says they know editing is an important feature, and they're working on adding it.

This Is New?

If you previously used the now-defunct Google Gears to get offline access for Google Apps, this may seem like we took one step back, then another forward. The difference, as far as I can tell, is that the new offline support uses local storage features added in the HTML5 spec. So it's in many ways the same as a feature we had and then lost, but it's a little more future proof.

It's unclear whether or not other browsers (like Firefox) will get these features via extensions, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say probably not. At least not from an official Google extension.

Using Gmail, Calendar and Docs without an Internet connection | Gmail Blog

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Quickly Look Up the Definition of Any Word in Google Docs

Quickly Look Up the Definition of Any Word in Google Docs

When you're in Google Docs and want to check the definition of a word, all you need to do is type the word (or select an existing one) and perform a quick keyboard shortcut. For Windows users, that shortcut is Control+Shift+Y. For Mac users, it's Command+Shift+Y. That'll bring up the definition and provide you with the ability to look up more words if you like. It's simple and can be a really useful tool when you're writing.