Google Drive now supports opening and viewing password-protected Microsoft Office files.

Today Google Drive for Android has been updated with Google's cloud storage service now supporting opening and viewing password-protected Microsoft office files. This is a great addition for all of us using Microsoft Office. The latter remains the gold standard as productivity tools with users and enterprises alike and it's great to see Google adding more support to the world's number one productivity tool.

Now, no matter how useful this feature is to Google Drive users, I have a word of advice. Password-protecting an Excel, Word or PowerPoint file prevent others from accessing these files and that is good. However, Microsoft cannot help you retrieve the password should you forget it. There is no official tool from Microsoft. So make sure that you use a password that is memorable, otherwise, you'll have to resort to third-party solutions, some of which are free and some not. In either case, that implies making your files and content available to whichever solution you choose. Definitely not a secure way to retrieve your password and protect your content.

This update also includes the usual bug fixes and performance improvements and is available in Google Play Store for download.

Microsoft reduces install size of its Office products on Android by 40% & makes them compliant with Android for Work.

Microsoft has updated its Office suite of products for Android today and made it compliant with Android in the enterprise. This update is inline with Satya Nadella's vision to bring Microsoft technologies across all platforms. The products affected by this update are Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Microsoft's most popular productivity apps. Microsoft has also made these apps lighter by reducing the app install size by 40% and making it possible for users to download their favorite fonts off the cloud. Isn't that awesome? Check out the change log below for all three Microsoft products:

Microsoft Word:

• Reduced app size:40-percent reduction in app size so the Word app is lighter and faster to install.

• Compliance in the enterprise: Word complies with Android for Work and supports Android M for Enterprise.

• Sign-in simplification: Selecting your sign-in details is easier than ever before.

• Cloud font support: Download your favorite font from the cloud so you can write with the fonts you like.

Microsoft Excel:

• Reduced app size: 40-percent reduction in app size so the Excel app is lighter and faster to install.

• Improved file compatibility: Now you can open files with Read-only recommended and Formula view.

• Compliance in the enterprise: Excel complies with Android for Work and supports Android M for Enterprise.

• Sign-in simplification: Selecting your sign-in details is easier than ever before.

• Cloud font support: Download your favorite font from cloud so you can write with the fonts you like.

Microsoft PowerPoint:

• Presenter view (Office 365 subscription required): Present like a professional! Check speaker notes on your phone/tablet, but control what the audience sees when you project to a large screen

• Compliance in the enterprise: PowerPoint complies with Android for Work and supports Android M for Enterprise

• Sign-in simplification: Selecting your sign-in details is easier than ever before

• Cloud font support: Download your favorite font from the cloud so you can write with the fonts you like.

All three products update are available for download free in Google Play store for end and enterprise users.

Microsoft updates Office Lens for Android to help you get rid of that pile of business cards.

I haven't seen a business card in ages and with Microsoft updating it's Office Lens app today to support scanning those same business cards not only reminded me that they are still out there, but that some humans are still contributing in bringing down trees so they can exchange business cards. But Microsoft wants that to change with its Office Lens app now capable of scanning that pile of business card in your Rolodex and have them in your pocket wherever you go, as the app adds them to OneNote or your address book. 

Microsoft also added the ability the open Word and PowerPoint from within Office Lens. The update is available for download in Google Play Store. The same features have been added to the iOS version of the app. Check it out in the App store if you own an iOS device. 

Google Sheets finally lets you hide rows and columns.

Google Sheets just got better today with the ability to hide rows and columns. A feature Microsoft Office users are accustomed to for years on their PCs, tablets and phones. The "hide" feature comes in handy if you need to keep focus in a small part of your worksheet. The update also makes it easier to insert a link. Google also worked out some bugs and improved performance.

Google Sheet is available free in Google Play store.

Yammer speaks 11 additional languages and does on-the-fly translation.

Yammer, the enterprise social network, was acquired two years ago by Microsoft for $1.2 billion when Steve Ballmer was then the Software giant CEO. "The acquisition of Yammer underscores our commitment to deliver technology that businesses need and people love," said Steve Ballmer. Today Yammer is integrated into SharePoint and Office 365. It is also a multi-platform app.

The Android version of Yammer received an update today that adds 11 languages to it. The available languages are: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian and Spanish. In addition, Yammer also gets the ability to do on-the-fly translation.

Finally, there is the usual bug fixes. I like the wording used to describe the bug fixes which is very unlike the traditional "Bug fixes" we see in every app update. It reads: "Bugs have been terminated. They will not be back." Like :-)

Source: Google Play Store