<p>Workers who wish to connect their Windows machines to Google's calendar, contacts and email have some good news, and bad news: Google's Sync now supports Office 2013. But it doesn't really work.</p><p>Those who live entirely within Google's ecosystemsuch as ChromeOS, which taps into the Google ecosystem of Google's Gmail, Calendar, and other servicesaren't affected. Neither is a user who uses Outlook.com running on top of Windows and a Windows tablet.</p><p>But for those businesses who have adopted Google Apps on Windows machines, the ability to sync one's Gmail, Google Calendar, and contacts with their respective Windows apps is a virtual necessity. The connector between the two ecosystems was Google Sync - which, unfortunately, Google shut down for individuals last November, although previous users will still be supported. But Google also said it would continue to support Sync for customers of Google Apps indefinitely, leaving Sync's syncing capabilities a key enabler for small businesses.</p><p>(Meanwhile, Google said it would replace its proprietary Sync technology with open protocols: IMAP or POP protocols to access email, CalDAV to access calendars, and CardDAV to access contacts.)</p><p><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2040240/google-sync-quietly-launches-support-for-office-2013-but-it-doesnt-work.html">Keep reading...</a></p>