Google Docs may not be the first choice of writing and editing software for all authors, especially compared to venerable Microsoft Word, but Google’s free text productivity solution has a lot going for it – not least integration with Google Drive for cloud-based backups, and its privileged position on the ever-more-popular Chrome OS devices. Now thanks to a scoop on Android Police, it looks like we could have a headsup on template solutions in the offing for Google Docs.

These speculations are based on teardowns – essentially forensic decompiling of a particular piece of software – of the APK packages for the latest update to Google Docs and its sister apps in the Google productivity suite. Hence, extrapolations from the code are not definitive. But it does look as if Google Docs is due templates for options such as brochures, flyers, and resumes. This could be a boon for writers who have hoped for something like a standard manuscript format for their Google Docs creations, or anything approaching the vast range of off-the-shelf and homebrewed templates for MS Word. This could definitely help Google Docs to take that last step and grow up as a series platform for writing.

There are a number of other tweaks and goodies for Google Slides and Sheets, but for writers, the Google Docs templates look to be the star attraction. Now just wait for Google to get around to implementing them.

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