Google Docs and Sites 2011: A Year in Review

This year, we introduced over 100 new features to Google Docs to make creating, sharing, and collaborating in the cloud an even better experience.

In addition to the features you asked for the most, like page numbers and vertical merge, here are our team’s favorite improvements of 2011:

• A new version of Google presentations with character-by-character collaboration - plus new transitions, animations, and themes 
• Comments in Google documents, followed by improvements including collapsible discussions, better email notifications, and a more detailed discussion pane
• A Google Docs Android app available in 48 languages for searching, viewing, and sharing Google Docs on the go in 48 languages
• Comment-only access in documents that allows others to view and comment on your doc without editing
• Offline viewing for your documents and spreadsheets
• Pivot tables in spreadsheets to process and summarize large data sets in seconds 
• Pagination in documents that provide visual page breaks on the screen 
• New printing options such as one-click CloudPrint from your mobile device 
• Page-level permissions in Google Sites for better control over who can view and edit your pages
• Improved accessibility including new screen reader support and shortcuts that makes Google Docs more accessible and navigable for blind users
• A new look across Google Docs and Sites for a more consistent web experience

Our team also loved hearing from you throughout the year: We had you ask us anything in a Reddit AMA, met our Docs and Sites Top Contributors, and held our first Docs Office Hours Google+ Hangout. Our interactions with you were constant reminders of why we build these products.

Let us know in the comments what your favorite features of 2011 were -- and what you’re wishing for in the new year. Thanks for following along -- we look forward to bringing you more in 2012.

Happy holidays from the Google Docs team!

Posted by: Jonathan Rochelle, Product Management Director