1. Google Presentation SlideShare.net
Feature
Works on Windows and Mac; Works on Windows and Mac;
No significant browser No significant browser
Platforms limitations limitations
Supported
ppt, pps, ppx, doc, docx, rtf, txt, ppt, pps, pot, pptx, potx, ppsx,
html, xls, xlsx, pdf doc, docs, xls, xlsx, rtf, txt, odp,
File Apple Keynote: key, zip, pdf;
iWorks Pages
Formats
Supported
Content can be updated inside Only allows file uploads; any
the application, with any content changes must be made
changes being rolled out within offline
45 seconds of the change. In
Content addition, content can be
Editing developed directly online,
rather than relying on offline
applications.
Google makes sharing and Slideshare's approach makes
collaboration over files very access to presentations, even
easy to manage. In addition, ones not maintained or
since the only access to the file controlled by the author, very
Content is based on URL access, easy. In addition, Slideshare
Control control over the content being does offer restricted access to
presented is quite easy to sensitive presentations.
maintain.
2. Google provides independent Slideshare content can be
hosting of the presentation, as hosted on the Slideshare site,
well as providing the code as well as distributed out in
needed to embed the embedded or emailed format.
presentation in a website or In addition, Slideshare
blog. simplifies the process of adding
content to popular online sites,
How is the including social networks and
File blogging sites.
Posted?
Google Presentations use both Slideshare allows users to
menu buttons at the bottom of advance both slide by slide, as
the window, as well as well as from the beginning to
embedded arrows on the left the end with one click. A small
and right hand sides fo the window also allows users to
screen to allow users to enter a slide number to
advance through the advance directly to desired
Embedde presentation. Full screen content. Full screen display is
displays are also provided. also a clear option. In addition,
d users are presented with the
Appearan option to directly email the
presentation to other users,
ce making the content much more
accessible, though I personally
struggle a bit with the idea of
making it so easy for one user
to distribute my content to
others without any control on
my part.
Free Free
Cost
3. Not available. Not only does Slideshare allow
users to link presentations
with .mp3 files to create
Audio webinar-type presentations,
Slideshare now hosts those
Support audio files on their own site,
simplifying the process of
connecting the two.
Speaker Notes are embedded Speaker Notes are embedded
along with the presentation. along with the presentation.
Speaker They can be accessed by They can be accessed by
clicking on the icon during the clicking on the icon during the
Notes? presentation. presentation.
Google has a built in chat Slideshare allows users to post
feature that allows users to comments regarding any
backchannel (or post live particular slide or the
comments) during the presentation as a whole.
presentation.
Audience
Interaction
Google Presentations are Slideshare prides itself on the
stand-alone products; they are communities it builds through
not linked to other content, nor its groups and file tags. Each
do they give viewers ideas of presentation is tagged and
other related subjects. While linked to similar presentations
this limits the utility of the posted by other users. These
Links to presentation somewhat, it also links are displayed on the
helps to avoid distractions and Slideshare site, but are also
Other improves content control. connected to embedded
Content versions of the document.
Personally, I find it a bit
distracting, especially if
students move onto other
presentations that contradict
content I am presenting.
4. Outcome
This one is a tie right now; both
services support multiple
operating systems and browser
options.
Slideshare easily wins this one;
not only does it support more
traditional Windows and Office
formats, it also breaks into the
Mac market, supporting
Keynote and iWork applications
Google Doc's ability to allow
direct editing of content that has
been upload significantly cuts
down on the work needed to
support content that has been
distributed.
Both services offer similar
content protections. Slideshare
does allow users to indicate
what kind of licensing relates to
the presentation, though
Google gives the user more
control over who can access
the presentation and how.
5. This one is a close tie, though
Slideshare might take the
advantage at the end of the
day. Google's option to host
the presentation independently
adds a touch of
professionalism, while
Slideshare's use of groups to
connect similar content can
improve the recognition and
dispersion of a presentation.
Both provide source code,
though Slideshare makes the
linking of presentations to other
sites easier than Google.
The default setting allowing
viewers to distribute content is a
little disturbing; hence, my vote
to give this one to Google. With
the increased levels of
plagiarism that take place on
the internet, anything that
simplifies or supports this kind
of practice is not something I
like to promote.
This is what makes the choice
all the easier for users. Since
both sites offer free hosting
space and services, there is no
challenge that might make other
features more compelling.
6. Adding audio makes
presentations much more
interactive and compelling. As
Google offers no such options,
this is a clear advantage to
Slideshare.
This is a feature that is to be
expected in this kind of service.
This is a tie, though I think
Google's Chat approach makes
for a more useful classroom
tool. By allowing students to
engage in a live format with the
content, teachers can avoid the
"death by PowerPoint"
syndrome. Admittedly,
Slideshare's comment option
allows discussions to take place
over long periods of time, most
teaching takes place in
synchronous settings - hence,
advantage to Google.
Since this is a very subjective
comparison that relies primarily
on the reader's preference, I am
going to mark this one a tie and
leave it up to users to decide
which one they like most.