Google Docs, Sheets and Slides have been given a significant update with collaboration features the centrepiece of the update. The updates include improved versioning tools, the ability to quickly preview a clean version of a document, accepting or rejecting all edits in one go, and an option where Google can suggest document changes.
Android: When you install a custom ROM on your phone, it probably doesn't come with Google's suite of apps. OpenGApps helps make it easier to get all the apps you need quickly.
Chrome: Whether you're new to Google Docs, Sheets, Drive or any other tool under the "G Suite" umbrella, or you're an old hand, Google's G Suite Training add-on for Chrome will teach you useful tips and tricks while you actually use the tools you work with every day.
Being able to sign into Google Apps from multiple accounts is handy, but also creates a security risk. A new dashboard for Google Apps users tracks which devices have accessed your account.
Good news for Google Apps for Business users: Google's well-regarded Hangouts video chat service no longer requires you to have a Google+ profile, making it a more viable option for business users.
Good and bad news for enthusiastic Google Apps For Business users. Google is introducing a referral program that will pay $15 per user when new customers sign up -- but it's restricting those payments to customers in the US and Canada.
iOS: Want to manage Google Apps for Business from an iPad? Now you can.
Internet censorship rules mean that accessing Google services when travelling in China can be something of a hit-and-miss affair. One tactic that can help, especially if you're using Google Apps for Business? Access those services on your mobile rather than a notebook or desktop machine.
Google Hangouts are very handy for video chat, but much of the development has been aimed at individual users. One recent enhancement is much more firmly centred on corporate use: you can now look up names from the Global Address List to start a hangout.
Using Google Apps in your enterprise? If you're running Internet Explorer as the main corporate browser, then you're potentially in for a world of pain if you are running IE9 or earlier.
Google+ is the red-headed stepchild of social networking, but like any good parent, Google keeps plugging away. Along with the upgrades to the Google+ Android client we reported on earlier, Google has also opened up the Google+ API, which enables integration of Google+ with Google Apps environments and with other third-party apps.
Following on from its recent web interface revamp, Google has launched an Android app for managing Google Apps accounts. Handy if you're managing a large Apps installation.
Running Google Apps across the enterprise? A recent update lets you drag and drop controls so you can eliminate the ones you don't use regularly.
Moving data from one Google Apps account to another usually requires manual migration, which can be a time-consuming process. Some data can't even be migrated. Backupify's new Migrator tool solves the problem by automating the entire process.
There's no longer a free option; if you want to use Google Apps for Business, you have to pay for it. Under those circumstances, it seems only reasonable that Google has improved its support options by redesigning its support site.
It's harder these days to avoid paying if you want to use Google Apps, but the news isn't all bad. Google is offering a free copy of QuickOffice for iPad to existing Apps customers.
Google rolled out its Vault secure email archiving service back in May, but at that time only new and very recent sign-ups to Google Apps could access the service. Now the Vault has been opened up and is available to all existing Google Apps customers.
Even though Google is no longer officially offering free Google Apps for Business accounts, there is still a way to sign up for Google Apps and get it linked to your own domain. Just sign up for Google App Engine and add your domain to that account. You'll get Google Apps along with it for free.
Ouch. Google Apps has ditched its free version, meaning anyone who wants to use the business version of Google's mail, calendar and office suite will now have to pay $US50 a year per user for the privilege.
One big advantage of using Google Apps is that you can take advantage of Gmail and Google Drive while keeping your own company domain for email. Google has expanded the range of domains it offers for new sign-ups to include 22 new country-specific options. Unfortunately, Australia isn't on the list.
