Android Quick App: DocumentsToGo Full

DocumentsToGo is the stalwart champion of on-the-go file editing. It's been around for a number of years and on a number of handsets and operating systems, be it RIM's BlackBerry or Palm's Palm OS, and as of the inception of our operating system, Android.

DocumentsToGo has a very clean, metallic interface that's easy on the eyes. From the main menu, everything is clearly laid out in front of you. Want to view your starred files? Not a problem. Prefer to be synced with Google Docs? DocumentsToGo supports it.

The plus sign on the bottom left is your one-stop shop for creating a new file. A simple tap on the plus sign brings up a new menu with the options to create a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. The gear on the bottom right brings up the settings menu, which is also accessible by hitting the menu button on your phone.

Editing a file is a breeze, requiring you only to select it and wait for it to load. I really appreciate how the file editors look in DocumentsToGo, as well. There's a definitely Windows 95 look going on, but it isn't bad at all. It's familiar, which is great. It's also great that when you open a file, it defaults to being zoomed out, so you're able to find what you want to edit it, then zoom in on it, instead of having to zoom out, find, and then zoom in again.

Starred files are a pretty cool, defining characteristic of DocumentsToGo as well, especially if you have a quagmire of files to sort through. If that is you, I'd recommend a laptop or a netbook (or maybe even a tablet!), but know that there's something to help you be better organized than having to sort through long lists of files or go into deeply structured folders on your microSD. This is definitely one of those features I wouldn't mind being ported to the other office products out there.

As mentioned previously, DocumentsToGo supports syncing up with Google Docs, but unfortunately, nothing else. There's no Dropbox integration, no SugarSync, no Box or MobileMe. What Dataviz does give you instead, though, is an actual desktop sync. While it's not as cool as giving you more cloud options (and actually kind of limiting, forcing you to sync with machines the client has been installed on), it's better than nothing. To enable it, you download a Dataviz.exe onto your desktop and set up syncing from there. If Dataviz set up their own cloud syncing between multiple devices, it wouldn't be so bad, but I think to really propel this app to new heights, they should at least add in Dropbox.

At $14.99, Dataviz is asking a bit of a premium for their app. But with its arguably better interface and a more experienced history with mobile editing, this might be the app for you. I do also think if you're going to charge more for a product, you should at least have the same cloud syncing options, but that's just me. As a whole, though, DocumentsToGo offers most (if not all) of the options some will need on the go.

Download links and more pictures are after the break.