Google is trying to sell an ultralight operating system running on inexpensive hardware in the form of Chromebooks, and not really doing a great job of it. But the basic premise is solid – sometimes all you need is the cloud-based editing power of Google Docs, and when that is all you’re after, a MacBook Pro can feel like overkill. But actually, so can a Chromebook, which is why Macedonia-based DoxOut wants to give you full-featured document editing tools on a smartphone or tablet.
Other apps bring desktop office suite products to mobile devices. Some stream, some run natively, but they all still feel like a lesser, derivative experience when compared to using desktop publishing tools. Which is why DoxOut is designed to use mobile devices as just a starting point, making the mobile Google Docs experience full-screen and more accessible via AV out capabilities over HDMI and offline/online access.
The idea is simple: you plug in your iPhone or iPad with DoxOut loaded, signed into your Google Docs account, and it’ll put it up on the big screen for easy use. The iPad or iPhone you have becomes a touch keyboard and touchpad, or you can use it with a Bluetooth hardware keyboard, too. It’s simple, but also plugs into a variety of sources to save and retrieve documents, including Google Drive, local storage, or to a secure on-site server for enterprise users who want greater control over privacy.
to DoxOut founder Gligor Dacevski at Disrupt, and he explained that what they wanted to do was in part answer criticisms levied at the iPad that it isn’t made for productivity, and also just provide a tool that’s easy to use, cloud-based, highly portable and easy to integrate with a number of different services.
The concept is simple but using the app makes it clear how much value there is in this idea. It makes a mobile office that much more of an office, and the tech behind can be used to develop even more full-featured home office functions in the future.
DoxOut is still in development, and in private beta, and will come to the App Store in the near future . The company has yet to take on any funding, but is looking around for investors and considering making the move to Silicon Valley if they find interest from investment firms located there.
