Google and Iphone: Proofing and Editing on the GO!

Recently, I discovered Google Docs. Yes, Google has created a web based document creation tool. Essentially, you can create text documents (ie MS Word Style), Spreadsheets with formulas and charts, and presentations (ie Power Point). Google has created a web based version of Microsoft Office Home Basic. You also have the ability to open up PDFs in Gmail without having a Reader. These features may not make a whole of difference to people with desktops or laptops, but with an Iphone, it changes the whole ball game. Now you can open up a PDF, (copy and paste text, if you have the new 3GS), and edit the text in Google Docs. You can view/proof PDFs, make comments in the text editor, create a spread sheet of terms and send it to your Desktop Publisher for corrections. If you need to create a presentation or add a new slide, simple create one.

Oh, and with the wireless printer app, you can print the PDF. You can upload a word, ppt, excel file from your computer, save it on your google account, edit it on your Iphone, and make the world go round. You can save the files as .doc, .xls, .ppt, or aPDF and open them up on computer later on, or send it to someone with a computer and they can open it up as well. Here's a video about Google Docs:

I'm Published! Multilingual Magazine

Hi readers, great news! for me at least. My article: "Internationalized desktop publishing difficulties" just came out in "Multilingual Computing Magazine" If you've read my previous blog posts, you'll know that I have written about the horrors of poorly constructed documents that still give me nightmares. This article highlights some basic tools and ideas that you should keep in mind when creating your next document. Check out the excerpt below:

Internationalized desktop publishing difficulties LIONEL LIM

The process of translating documents involves several specialized activities in addition to translating content from one language to another. A major step in the translation process is the desktop publishing (DTP) of translated content so that the final product closely matches its English counterpart. When you are ready to translate your document, provide your language service provider (LSP) with the name and version number of the DTP application and the platform (Mac or PC) you are using for the English document. You should include the source files for your English documents in the original application, and you should indicate ... To read this entire article you must be a MultiLingual subscriber. For immediate access to the current issue, subscribe to the digital version. Already a subscriber? Above excerpt taken from the March 2009 issue of MultiLingual published by MultiLingual Computing, Inc., 319 North First Avenue, Suite 2, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864-1495 USA, 208-263-8178, Fax: 208-263-6310. Subscribe

March, 2009