Google Launches Powerpoint Competition, Web Ads for Mobile Devices

fullstop writes "Google has finally launched their online presentation tool to complete its office offerings at Google Docs." Relatedly several users have also mentioned that Google plans to start selling ads for cell phone-targeted websites. "The company said that its new product, AdSense for Mobile, would establish a cellphone advertising network in which Google would match ads with the content of mobile Web pages, much as it does online. Other Internet giants, including Yahoo and AOLTime Warner, as well as some start-ups, have also created advertising networks tailored for mobile phones."

Re:Not shabby

[GIL_Dude]

I personally do a lot of presentations before live audiences. One of the things that I have to deal with is that many places (hotel conference areas in say Singapore, London, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, Kazakhstan, etc.) that I show up at to speak don't have network connections available anywhere near where the speaker podium is. Sometimes their wireless works, sometimes it doesn't. In places where the wireless does work, it often goes down in the middle of the presentation either due to load or some other issue. I would never feel comfortable using an online presentation tool to do something like this. Now, it would be different if I was doing the classic "Web Ex" or "Live Meeting" type of thing from my office. This tool could possibly replace those. But for folks doing their presenting on the road you must have a presentation tool running on your notebook. Online just won't cut it for that at this point in time.

Google Microsoft

[fatnicky]

This is a great utility because it allows true ultra-portability. As an admin, I can tell you that roughly 1 of 2 executives leave without a presentation. Having this available is great!

Thumbs up!

[pato101]

It is interesting that the firefox integrated spellchecker works just fine in the dynamically placeable text boxes.

Re:Not so sure...

[AKAImBatman]

It doesn't actually have to dethrone powerpoint to be useful. I was extremely critical of Google Spreadsheet when it was first introduced. And for a lot of good reasons. But Google worked hard to improve it to the point where it was a usable platform. It still fails to replace Excel for all uses, but I've found that it makes a good collaboration tool over large distances. If there's some sort of project information, for example, that needs to be tracked, Google Spreadsheets works in a pinch.

I can see Google Presenter working the same. Have a phone meeting with important clients? Upload the Powerpoint presentation and email them the link. The remote office should be able to follow along with you. Possibly from their individual desks or from conference rooms with projectors.

That being said, I hope that Google takes this beyond PowerPoint's level of competence. Powerpoint is not that great of a tool to begin with and could stand quite a bit of improvement. Especially in the area of conveying information in a more elegant fashion.