New Google Docs editor is now the default editor for Google Apps users

Google Docs new editor is now the default editor for all Google Apps users. This impressive new interface has been an opt-in feature of Google Apps since April 2010.

With Google Docs you shouldn’t have to give up any routine features when you switch to web-based applications, and Google has been addressing many longstanding requests across Google Docs with this release that were not feasible with older browser technology. Documents support better formatting options like a margin ruler, better numbering and bullets, and more flexible image placement. Spreadsheets now have a familiar formula editing bar, cell auto-complete, drag-and-drop columns and more.

Higher fidelity document import

It should be easy to move files saved on your computer to the cloud, so Google made document upload feature much stronger. Imported documents keep their original structure more accurately, so you can spend less time adjusting files you move to the cloud.

Speed and responsiveness

Browser-based applications shouldn’t force you to compromise on performance either, and the new architecture is much faster than before. Working with very large spreadsheets is even snappy now. Web apps really can feel just as fluid as traditional software.

Faster collaboration

Collaboration has always been Google Docs’ forte, and the new codebase is a leap forward here, too. The applications support up to 50 simultaneous editors, and documents let you see other people’s changes character-by-character as they type. Finally, there is multi-user editing to drawings too, so now you can build flow charts, schematics, and other kinds of diagrams collaboratively.