We knew it was coming, and it’s here. Google Docs has finally integrated Google Gears to provide offline viewing and editing of word processing documents in Firefox or IE, without requiring an active internet connection.
You can’t create a new document while working offline, nor will you be able to collaborate with others in real time. Any changes made to the document will locally be saved and automatically synced with Google Docs whenever you connect to the internet. This video explains how offline access works:
This move comes several months after rival Zoho introduced offline version of their Writer web application. Offline capability will slowly be rolled out to users over the next few weeks. Users will notice "offline" link at the upper right corner of Google Docs, once the capability has been added to their account.
Currently, the offline view and editing ability is limited to word processor only, once this roll-out is complete, presentation and spreadsheet application should follow. Offline support is definitely an axe at Microsoft’s Office Suite.
[via: Webware, Google Blog]
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