Google Calendar: First Impressions

News Type: Opinion — Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:56 AM EDT

technology, google, review, new, beta, release, calendar

So the google calendar is out. If you haven't seen it go to calendar.google.com.

So far I am pleasantly surprised. It is a halfway decent calendar, the interface is a boring white, but that is to be expected of google. I find many of the features to be unexpected, like the ability to put events into catagories, such as: work, school, home, ect. Each catagory is a different color, (the color of the text on the calendar), and you are about to change which catagories, you see at what time.

The notification feature is cool too. You can have Google Calendar send you an email at 5am with a plan of what you have to do that day, you can also have the Calendar alert you a specific amount of time before said event.

I also believe there is some sort of public and private calendar distinction, where you can make your calendar viewable (and searchable!) by anyone. However I have not tried this feature out, so I cannot attest to how well it works.

And of course, because it is google, you will have search. You can search your calendar, (or other peoples if they are public) it it works great.

All in all, I think it is a great web based calendar, and I believe I will be using it for quite some time.

11 Votes
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6.9

1.2

0.5

{"commentId":94935,"authorDomain":"spring"}

Corey Spring

I would never have noticed the calendar was live if I hadn't just glanced at the Newsvine tech section... I love it!!!

{"commentId":94935,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"spring"}

1 vote

#1 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":94936,"authorDomain":"goldrust"}

Gold Rust

Reminds me of the me of the mac calendar.

{"commentId":94936,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"goldrust"}

#2 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":94946,"authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

Acidhinge

yes, but the mac calendar is pretty, the google calendar is...google.

{"commentId":94946,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

1 vote

#3 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:59 AM EDT

{"commentId":94948,"authorDomain":"seitanguy"}

seitanguy

Why no export? I know it's supposed to replace iCal/Outlook (it does have import functions), but it would be nice to be able to export to iCal/Outlook too! What if it synced with them? I use Apple Mail with my gmail account, but I ALSO have access to my inbox on the go with the website. I would love to do something similar with this and iCal.

{"commentId":94948,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"seitanguy"}

2 votes

#4 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:03 AM EDT

{"commentId":94957,"authorDomain":"seitanguy"}

seitanguy

Upon further playing, you can VIEW the calendar in iCal, but not edit it. It's a start, I guess.

{"commentId":94957,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"seitanguy"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":94954,"authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

Acidhinge

hmm, I'm sure it's something they will add in later versions. Remember, it's "beta".

{"commentId":94954,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

#5 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:06 AM EDT

{"commentId":94956,"authorDomain":"spring"}

Corey Spring

Like everything else Google releases...

{"commentId":94956,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"spring"}

3 votes

#5.1 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:09 AM EDT

{"commentId":95295,"authorDomain":"DrJuice"}

Dr Juice

Is there really a need for this product? I would think that most people who use calendar apps already (iCal, Outlook) have that data synced with their palm or smartphone. I'm far from a busy executive, but I've got my work schedule programmed into my phone and my school schedule on my iPod via iSync (I can't seem to put my calendars onto my phone).

So if you've got your calendar info on your computer (probably two, home and work) and on your portable device, why do you need it on the Internet as well?

{"commentId":95295,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"DrJuice"}

#6 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:46 AM EDT

{"commentId":95663,"authorDomain":"spring"}

Corey Spring

I think a significant portion of the people who don't want to switch from their email provider using Outlook to Gmail is because of the calendar that outlook provides, and this is meant to fill that void.

{"commentId":95663,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"spring"}

#6.1 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":95851,"authorDomain":"wtfbrb"}

ZubinMadon

A calendar on the web will give you easy access anywhere you can get web access, and still provide the same functionality you described with other traditional calendar apps. Even if there is no other immediate benefit than easier access, there is no reason not to do it.

{"commentId":95851,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"wtfbrb"}

#6.2 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":95927,"authorDomain":"foolmanchoo"}

foolmanchoo

also... In our office we use iCal calendars to share between the Depts...
Before this, the windows users were stuck using Sunbird from Mozilla... lets just say, this product was very alpha.

My Windows brethren will be very happy to see this well implemented beta.
s.

{"commentId":95927,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"foolmanchoo"}

#6.3 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":95728,"authorDomain":"ethanbodnar"}

Ethan

its just a calendar with the same feature as 30boxes

{"commentId":95728,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"ethanbodnar"}

#7 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":95891,"authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

Acidhinge

but...it's google. Everyone loves google.

{"commentId":95891,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"acidhinge"}

#7.1 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":95923,"authorDomain":"bjtitus"}

Brandon Titus

I like 30Boxes, but so far this calendar seems a bit faster. (Or maybe it's just me)

{"commentId":95923,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"bjtitus"}

#7.2 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":95986,"authorDomain":"spring"}

Corey Spring

The integration with Gmail is also a nice plus 30Boxes doesn't have.

{"commentId":95986,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"spring"}

1 vote

#7.3 - Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":96098,"authorDomain":"w8in"}

w8in

I was very underimpressed with 30boxes when I tried it a couple of months ago. Yes, it looks slick. Yes, the smart event entry is cool. But in essence it doesn't do a lot more than that and the UI is not always very intuitive. I consider 30 Boxes to be an overblown hype.

{"commentId":96098,"threadId":"27565","contentId":"165067","authorDomain":"w8in"}

#7.4 - Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:18 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"27565","isPrivate":false}

Google Calendar Makes an Impressive Debut	searchenginewatch.com	Thu Apr 13	0
Google unveils Web-based calendar app	CNET	Thu Apr 13	0
Why I Won't Use Google Calendar	Ronald Heft	Thu Apr 13	10
Google Calendar: A Second Look	Acidhinge	Fri Apr 14	0
Google to Launch New Calendar Service	Associated Press	Thu Apr 13	6

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Google Calendar: First Impressions

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