Author: gordon

March 16, 2011

The right office apps for the Android at work

If your company allows employees to use Android smartphones, here are the productivity apps you should install

By JR Raphael | InfoWorld

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In the mobile world, it used to be that “BlackBerry” was synonymous with “business.” These days, though, more workers are trading in their RIM smartphones for more modern alternatives — and given the shifting state of the smartphone market, that means devices based on Google’s Android OS are increasingly suiting up for the job.

Android phones saw the largest jump in enterprise adoption among all smartphone platforms last year, according to a recent study released by Forrester Research. The report, which revolves around a survey of business executives in the United States and Europe, finds business use of Android growing by 550 percent from 2009 to 2010. Although Android’s total is still relatively small, at 13 percent of the overall pie, its climbing figure shows the platform is no longer just for pleasure.

[ Also on InfoWorld.com: Android innovators — see the devices that are leading the new generation. | Discover the best specialty Android business apps, and see how the iPhone’s business apps and iPad’s business apps compare. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with InfoWorld’s Mobilize newsletter. ]

Of course, an Android smartphone straight out of the box doesn’t have everything you need to stay productive on the road, and finding the right suite of Office-like applications can take some time-consuming trial and error. That’s why I delved into the various options: to help find the best productivity suite for your Android smartphone.

I tested four Android office suites: DataViz’s Documents to Go, which costs $15 for the full premium version (needed for most features), MobiSystems’ $15 OfficeSuite Professional, Quickoffice’s $10 QuickOffice Connect Mobile Suite, and ThinkFree Mobile’s $15 ThinkFree Office Mobile. Note that prices are subject to change, and often do.

I also compared these suites to the Google Docs mobile Web app (Google has thus far not made Docs available as a native Android application). Microsoft’s Office Web Apps suite doesn’t support mobile-based editing of documents, so I didn’t include it in this comparison.

For each tool, I broke down how each contender handled word processing, spreadsheet editing, and presentation management. I then considered what you’d need to accomplish other basic office tasks, such as dealing with PDF documents and Photoshop files. Finally, I put it all together to recommend the best overall package for your Android smartphone.

• The best Android word processor
• The best Android spreadsheet editor
• The best Android presentation app
• The best Android PDF markup tool
• The best specialty Android business utilities

Three years ago, I had lunch with Jeff Dachis to discuss an idea he had for a new type of business. At the time I was living in Boston and had just completed construction on a new house, a cul-de-sac met by the ocean at the street’s end. As we started construction on a new project, Dachis Group, it became obvious to me that it was necessary to leave that house and relocate to Austin, the social business capital of the world.

Why do I use that specific phrase to describe Austin, Texas or ATX? Because of the concentration of people and their companies that focus on social business. San Francisco has social technology. New York has social media. Austin has all of that and more.

Austin Ventures supports a portfolio of leading social businesses including Bazaarvoice, Spredfast, Spiceworks, and Dachis Group. Other service providers include frog design, Fleishman-Hillard, Ogilvy, WCG, Ants Eye View, Ipsos, and T3. Industry leaders operate here including IBM and Dell. The Social Media Business Council is headquartered here. And of course Austin hosts the largest social/digital annual industry event in the world, South By Southwest Interactive.

It’s people that make the companies special, of course. The Austin social business community is large and welcoming. I’d like to share some perspectives from our local leaders on why Austin is such a great place to work and live:

• [Aaron Strout] There’s something unusual going on the universe. I’m not sure what force is behind it but about 3-4 years ago, a new set of “railroad” tracks of sorts — that of the virtual variety — were laid down coming from locales north, east and northeast to a little old town in Texas called Austin. Well, Austin’s actually not that little. And it happens to be the capitol of Texas. But that’s besides the point. The key here is that some of the smartest social business minds in the country are flocking in droves to the live music capital of the world. 
• [Spike Jones] Like a lot of us on this post, I get asked a lot about what it’s like to live in Austin. Where do I begin? I think my favorite thing is the vibe here. You can walk into just about any establishment and witness a cross-culture of individuals who just accept one another. Seriously. Go to the corner restaurant and you’ll see people completely covered ink sitting next to a few guys in suits over next to a young family wearing shorts and flip-flops with their kids running around the table. It just feels like everyone that’s here BELONGS here. No judgment. No snarky comments about non-native Texas (as they say, the only thing wrong with Austin is that it’s surrounded by Texas). No BS.
• [Greg Matthews] Whatever the reason, it’s clear that there has been a steady-and-growing influx of people (and companies) who thrive on innovation, creativity and technology – into Austin. There’s something about the city that’s at once edgy but unpretentious; passionate but relaxed; reflective but action-oriented. And it’s incredibly exciting to be a part of its ascendancy as a destination for innovators and entrepreneurs – the kind of people who create energy.
• [Virginia Miracle] Ogilvy doesn’t have a current physical office here and yet, you could say the whole city is our office. We hold meetings at Shady Grove, Texas Honey Ham, learn about new companies at Dominican Joe’s and I can learn more about what is cracking in town at a barbecue or a shopping trip than I could in a month of conference calls. Beyond the individuals who work for your company alone, we are part of a thriving community of like-minded social professionals who have chosen for one of a host of reasons to make Austin home.
• [Kat Mandelstein] The people of Austin are amazingly open, friendly and welcoming regardless of economic stature or age. Over the last several years a strong community has sprung up here around Social Media and that is now my extended family. In fact, the Austin chapter of Social Media Club is the second largest chapter only behind the founding chapter in San Francisco. Social Media Breakfasts, Twestivals, and Tweetups galore happen on a regular basis too. There is never a shortage of things to do or people to do them with. Many of us have started using the hashtag #whyaustin on twitter to explain why we are so in love with this place we now call home. It’s hard to explain until you have experienced it first hand.
• [Kate Niederhoffer] Quality of life in Austin is simply higher than in the more fast-paced, cut-throat, nail-biting enclaves of the US. Austin is the perfect mix of intellect, athleticism, family-friendliness, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. And like attracts like: this unique combination makes us the most ripe breeding ground for social business – thinkers and doers. You won’t believe the people you run into at Whole Foods headquarters… People often dream of moving to NYC. Living in today’s Austin makes me wonder whether people will soon dream of someday making it in Austin with the same tenacity.

Our town will soon welcome 15,000+ visitors for SXSWi. You might be one of them. If so, while you’re here I encourage you to think about the nice people, great weather, low cost of living, live music, nationally recognized public schools, BBQ and breakfast tacos, and the growing community of your peers that call this town home. I know all of the people on this post are seeking great talent to join their firms and you might want to drop an inquiry or two while you’re here. (Click here for Dachis Group’s open positions.)

I have no regrets about leaving that brand new house behind in Boston, because we’re building the social business capital of the world.

Any interest in joining us?

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Next Social Media for Social Good #ed4good #AUS

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Good! Some tablets should die. I relish the hurricane of tablets coming in 2011 Q3…User Experience (UX) design in terms of the productivity gains from a portable CREATION device will make or break the market. In terms of success: Apps are good, devices are good. Networks are good. Bit the sweet spot is where they all intersect. Android honeycomb and a as yet unseen device may win out. How about Android on HP hardware. I see many partnerships a la Microsoft, Nokia but ones that will work 😉 Folks, it may be soon. It will be sudden.

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