The new reading mode is especially helpful on a smartphone screen, as it eliminates the clutter so you can focus on writing.
If you still have work to finish off before the holidays start, some new updates to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides could help you bust it out more quickly.
Both the Android and iOS versions of Google’s productivity apps now give you one-tap access to the company’s growing catalog of templates. To access them, tap the red floating action button and select choose template.
This way you can launch a new letter, résumé, or project proposal without the need to design one from scratch. There are a number of different templates targeted specifically for Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Another helpful update for Docs is the new reading mode. When you enable this, all the toolbars go away so you can focus in on writing.
The updates are rolling out for Google Docs (Android, iOS) Sheets (Android, iOS) and Slides (Android, iOS).
Why this matters: These new features come as Google’s suite and Microsoft Office continue to add similar features to their mobile apps. Word had a reading mode and templates for a while, so now Docs can claim feature parity. The best choice really comes down to which ecosystem you prefer to work in as Google and Microsoft are constantly rushing to match what the other company’s features.