Recently Google added a new feature into Docs. They called it “Upload anything” and, as it says on the tin, you can just about upload any file you like, without the neccesity of waiting for Google to convert your files in to a Google Docs readable format (you can do that later though).
The best thing about it was, though, for a new Google feature you didn’t have to be a geek to understand it. (All modesty aside, I consider myself to have joined the elite ranks of the geek.)
Case Study
I had to get two PowerPoints to a colleague after a presentation, but their inbox didn’t want my large attachments and I couldn’t see them understanding a compressed folder. So I uploaded them, without converting them, made them public documents and bit.ly’d the links. The landing page for downloads is beautifully simple, with all of Google’s normal meta data tucked away and a big “Download” button centre stage.
My colleague was so impressed that I got an email back, thanking me for the presentations and explaining “that it actually worked”. Sure, you still have to be a geek to get the upload process right, but finally here’s a Google product (or element of) – other than Search – that mere mortals can use.