Google has evolved into much more than a search site. Gmail started out as an invite-only experiment, and has now enrolled over a billion active users. Today, a Google Account will give you unlimited power, storage, and versatility. You can automatically access Drive, Documents, Calendar, YouTube, Google+, and more.
But that is just scratching the surface. Google has more free features that you’ll love to use. Tap or click here for 20 incredibly useful Google products and services you didn’t know about.
Still, most Google users are not aware of the full extent of its powers. To fully appreciate the (free) faculties at your fingertips, let’s dive into some of this service’s overlooked capabilities. We’ll be focusing mostly on Google Docs, but we’ll also look at some fun extras from elsewhere in the Googleverse.
1. Go Beyond Text Documents
Google Docs is much more than just a word processor; It’s a whole suite of programs that have become more powerful over the years in development.
The elephant in the room is this: Microsoft Office has long been the standard for a basic desktop workflow. Microsoft Office is not free, and some would argue that it is overpriced. Google Docs has almost all of these essential features—word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software—for free, and you can access your files from almost any computer, from anywhere.
To be clear: Google Docs doesn’t offer a superior desktop experience to Microsoft Office, but this free virtual program is a fierce competitor. Many users love its simple, malleable interface. Cloud-based programs are what make Chromebooks so practical and affordable. Any place with a WiFi signal can become your office, and you don’t need to save a kilobyte on your laptop’s hard drive.
There are many practical reasons to get yourself a Chromebook. One is to use a dedicated Chromebook to take care of your finances. This way, hackers do not have access to your online accounts. want to know more? Tap or click here for the best Chromebooks under $200.
2. Dictate Google Docs
It may sound dramatic, but it’s true: dictating your computer is one of the most underrated powers of the modern age. Part of the reason is medical; Years of typing can exacerbate arthritis. People with visual impairments or missing limbs have difficulty using keyboards. Voice recognition software has empowered countless people to write their thoughts.
Meanwhile, some people express themselves best through speaking. Dictation is slow and uncluttered, yet you’ll do a surprisingly well job if you take the time to speak clearly and don’t rush. You can add basic punctuation by saying “period,” “comma,” “exclamation point,” “question mark,” “new line,” or “new paragraph.” If you want to use voice typing a lot, it’s wise to brush up on some of its more advanced capabilities with Google’s voice-command guide.
Google Docs will take dictation as long as you have a microphone connected to your computer and you are using the Chrome browser. Go to the Tools menu and select “Voice Typing” to get started. Your browser may ask for permission to use your mic.
3. Collaborate with Others
Working in Google Docs doesn’t mean you have to fly alone. It offers some powerful collaboration options that let you share documents. Check out the “Share” option and you can either invite people directly or get a shareable link for your document. You can specify whether collaborators can only read, comment on a document, or if they can even edit it.
To help keep track of changes, you can go to the File menu and select “Version History.” From here, you can choose the name of the version you’re working on or view the history to see who did what and when. Collaboration is great for working teams, but you can also use it in your personal life. You can bring the whole family together to plan a birthday party or work on a holiday dinner menu via Google Docs.
4. Translate Entire Document
“Universal translation” has long been the realm of science fiction. Google has shown an intense interest in languages since its inception, and Google Translate is the most powerful mainstream translation technology in use today.
However, even if you used Google for basic phrases, instantly translating an entire document is a staggering ability. Go to the Tools menu, select “Translate Document” and choose which language you want. Google will create the translation in a separate document. Just keep in mind that machine translation is not perfect and some languages translate more fluently than others.
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