Writely

Writely is a web-based word processor currently in beta, and soon to be integrated into Google's suite of web applications (following a 2006 acquisition). It can be used as a collaborative text editing suite, and features access controls. Writely's user interface is a WYSIWYG word processor that appears within a web browser. Menus, keyboard shortcuts, and dialogue boxes show up in a way similar to what you would expect on a GUI-driven word processor, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org.

Features

There is no overall storage limit for files. However, text files cannot exceed 500KB and images cannot exceed 2MB.

An important feature is the ability to save all files made in Writely as the following formats: MS Word (.doc), Postscript (.ps), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and ODF (.odt), files that can be opened, edited, and printed in many office suites, making interoperability easier. Other output options for Writely files include basic HTML and PDF. However, Writely previously stated that PDF could actually become a premium feature once out of beta testing, and Google has not contradicted that.

Another feature is integration with blogging servers, including ones going beyond Google's own Blogger. After server configuration, users can simply press a button to upload their new post.

Writely uses Ajax. It has been described as an example of a "Web 2.0" system.

Writely developed a Writely module for the personalized homepage website, Netvibes.

Google acquisition

Writely is technically the product and Upstartle is the company that owned, developed, and maintained it. However, Writely has been used in reference to the company, and has been adopted as the de facto company name. On March 9 2006, Writely was acquired by Google. At the time it was acquired by Google, Upstartle had four employees.

Writely had closed down registrations to its service until the move to Google servers is complete.

Writely currently runs on Microsoft ASP.NET technology, however this is believed to be incompatible with Google's support of Linux based technologies. There has been speculation that Writely will be ported to run on Linux using the Mono project, which Google has supported. ^*

The "PDF Producer" field in PDF files produced by Writely is "OpenOffice.org 2.0", due to the fact that the OpenOffice.org engine is used to output Word, OpenDocument, and PDF files.

External links

Writely.com
Writely's Blog on Blogger
Writely in Ajax Projects
Writely Google Discussion Group This is where writely invitations can be obtained.

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Writely

Features

Google acquisition

See also

External links