From today, using 3rd-party services on your mobile device in conjunction with Google's office programs became that much easier. Google Docs and Sheets now have available Android add-ons within the Google Play web storefront or directly via GoogleSheets and Docs. Simply download them and instantly have the capability to do a whole range of extra jobs such as preparing a contract for e-signing or importing CRM data.

The first batch of add-ons have been produced with several partners. For example, CRM data is incorporated into Google Sheets via ProsperWorks. A signing process is completed in Docs or Sheets via DocuSign's add-on, while one can use data in Sheets to create mobile apps through AppSheet. Finally, Scanbot uses OCR to first scan business documents and then recreate them as editable text within Docs.

Google wishes to encourage people to master programming -- particularly for its' Android interface. Although the firm has already provided several courses on programming, they were usually aimed at people with at a bit of basic programming knowledge.

From today, Google's Android Basics Nanodegree course is offered on Udacity - the web educational platform. It is the first time Google has promoted an Android nanodegree class intended for those with no knowledge of programming.

Shanea King-Roberson, Google's program manager, said that Google wanted to make Android development understandable and accessible to all, so that irrespective of your circumstances, you can master app building and enhance the lives of others.

English: Wikipedia Android app (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Google Keep: What It Brings To The Table

Google Keep is a very simple app used for recording notes, checklists, images and audio, but many people are curious as to what makes this app different than others, what it has to offer that others don't. There are a few key things in particular to realize about this app. Many people think the app will be dead and gone in just a few years, while others think it could be around for a long time, depending on how Google chooses to play it out and what consumers think in return.

Image by closari via Flickr

Smartphones running Google's Android operating system have been growing in popularity since first being introduced in 2005, and that means that Android's app market has been growing as well. With the growing popularity of the mobile app industry, the ease at which developers can add a product to Android's Market, and the relatively simple process of generating revenue, Android development has virtually exploded. So much so that many Android developers are beginning to embrace smaller niche markets such as gay consumers.