en Facebook Foursquare recently split up their respective apps, they were met with intense backlash. y would you require users to download install two separate apps in order to connect to one overarching service? It’s particularly absurd, not to mention a little maddening for those of us who expected technology to simplify our lives—not complicate them.

And when split up its documents editing services into three separate apps, we wondered if the technology giant was going down the same path. It now technically offers four Android iOS apps (including Drive) for the purpose of document editing curation, with each app serving a different purpose.

asked Tabone, the product manager for Docs, Sheets, Slides, to explain what the changes mean for these separate apps, why they were split up in the first place, why feels its docs suite is different from the others.

: y split Drive into separate apps? How will it affect Docs’ cross-platform users? at exactly does hope that users will gain from it?

Tabone: en most people use an application, they have a single task or function in mind. However, in the former version of the Drive app, people were able to do any number of activities—organize files, upload something, create a new spreadsheet, edit an existing document—the list goes on. en we surveyed our users, it turns out that most didn’t know all of this functionality existed! By creating stalone apps for each of the three core file editors Drive, we made this functionality more discoverable— ultimately made it easier for people to do what they intend: go to Docs for documents, Sheets for spreadsheets, Slides for slideshows. It’s that simple.

The new apps are designed to work seamlessly with the Drive app. For example, when you click to edit a Doc on your phone from the Drive app, it will automatically open the Docs app without having to return to the home screen.

’re already seeing the positive impact of this change. ople who’d previously never used Drive are now using the Docs, Sheets, Slides apps— they can use them whether they’re at their computer, on a tablet, or on their phone. 

: Are there any plans to bring QuickOffice integration into Drive on Android, just as it’s been done on the web?

Tabone: This has already been done! The new mobile apps on Android (with iOS coming soon!) offer Office Compatibility Mode, which lets you edit save Microsoft Office files in their original format all from within Docs, Sheets, Slides. Ultimately, we want you to be able to create edit files regardless of where you are or what device you’re using.

: at does feel it has left to do to win over those businesses that won’t give up their other office suites, like Microsoft’s in particular?

Tabone: ’re focused on building products that solve people’s needs. en you get a file, you shouldn’t have to spend time figuring out which application to use depending on the file type or the device you’re on. It should just work. Technology should help people quickly, easily beautifully express  share their ideas—not get in the way of that.

One of the things that sets Docs, Sheets,  Slides apart is the fact that these tools were optimized for the cloud from day one. As a result, we’re able to build features like collaborative editing (meaning multiple people can all be editing a document at once see each other’s changes in real-time)  making your files instantly available across all your devices.

: y can’t a user add trend lines to most chart types in Sheets, when Charts (the web plugin) has had it for ages?

Tabone: So glad you asked, as we just announced the addition of trend lines!

: How long have you been an Android user?

Tabone: I’ve been using Android since the G1, although I use both Android & iOS devices to ensure that our apps work for all our users.

: at kind of Android phone do you use why?

Tabone: I rotate both through unreleased phones  the most-used phones on the market to make sure I’m seeing our users’ experiences issues firsth.

Currently I’m testing Android One, the sub-$100 phone we announced at I/O. I want to make sure that all of our apps are running smoothly for the next billion people to get access to computing.

: at’s one favorite app you just can’t live without?

Tabone: Sonos. I love waking up to a new daily song, listening to N, then walking out the door to ay Music’s “I’m feeling lucky” selections.