Google Calendar
Encyclopedia
Google Calendar is a free time-management web application
offered by Google
. It became available on April 13, 2006, and exited the beta stage in July 2009. Users are required to have a Google Account
in order to use the software.
and the second version of Google Reader
), is similar to desktop calendar applications such as Microsoft Outlook
or iCal
on Mac OS X
. The Ajax
-driven interface enables users to view, add, and drag-and-drop
events from one date to another without reloading the page. It supports view modes such as weekly, monthly, and agenda. Users can "quick add" calendar events by typing standard English phrases, such as "Dinner with Michael 7pm tomorrow". Users can also set the number of days to show in their custom view mode.
calendar files (.csv) and iCalendar
files (.ics, the de facto
open calendaring file format). Multiple calendars can be added and shared, allowing various levels of permissions for the users. This enables collaboration and sharing of schedules between groups. General calendars available for importing into one's account include those containing national holidays of various countries. Users can also add "live" iCalendar URLs that update regularly.
In February 2009, Google discontinued the option of searching for public calendars from the search field by removing the "Search Public Events" button. It also disabled its public calendar gallery, citing maintenance and usability issues. The company suggests adding calendars via the "Interesting Calendars" feature, known calendar URLs, or via email requests to friends. Daily "To Do" tasks cannot currently be shared between users.
to synchronize with many mobile devices (e.g., BlackBerry
, Palm
, iPhone
, Pocket PC
) or with PC applications (e.g., Microsoft Outlook
) via third party software, and natively with Apple's iCal
(workarounds required for iCal 3.x, full functionality with iCal 4.x). Google Calendar is natively supported on Android-based mobile phones such as the T-Mobile G1 and the Motorola CLIQ
and on webOS-based mobile phones such as the Palm Pre
and Palm Pixi
. Event reminders can be sent via email, as well as via SMS
to mobile phones in more than eighty countries and regions.
Google Calendar is integrated with other web services:
.
, provided that the OS has a browser which supports the required web technologies. Since it uses recent browser features, browser compatibility includes Microsoft
Internet Explorer
6, 7, and 8; Mozilla Firefox
2.0+; Opera 9.5; Google Chrome
; and Safari
2.0.3.
Google Calendar supports exporting calendar data through a permanent HTTP URL containing iCalendar
data, either at a public or "private" (hard to guess) address. This bears resemblance to the Webcal
"protocol". Public calendars were searchable until February 2009. The data can be integrated with, among many others, Novell Evolution
, and Windows Calendar
in Windows Vista
(using the subscribe feature). The web link for the location of the calendar can be found in Google Calendar Settings in the Private Address section.
Google Calendar also supports CalDAV
using iCal
3.x.
applications, changes to Google Calendar are immediately visible to all users. This allows new features to be added without user action, but also makes it possible for new bugs to be rolled out to the entire user population, without users being able to refuse the update. On March 18, 2010, an update to add the Smart Rescheduler feature caused problems such as automatic invitations to nonexistent users being generated for events that were edited in secondary calendars. Despite negative user feedback, Google chose not to roll back the update, concentrating instead on providing a fix. According to user reports, the fix took effect five days later, on March 23, 2010.
s to be handled correctly in the application, as well as Google's unwillingness to resolve the issue. Until December 2010, there was no way to associate a time zone with the start/end times of a particular event. Because of this, users experienced problems when attempting to schedule events outside of their current time zone. Google implemented a fix to allow events to be associated with time zones in early December 2010.
Google Calendar does not support "tentative" dates and times for events, which may cause synchronization problems with Microsoft Outlook
.
Month view is designed to fit on a single printed page. The downside to this is that it lacks text wrapping to see the full appointment title. Many users have complained about this. A workaround is to use another application to convert Google Calendar data to a format with full support for text wrapping.
Web application
A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. The term may also mean a computer software application that is coded in a browser-supported language and reliant on a common web browser to render the application executable.Web applications are...
offered by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. It became available on April 13, 2006, and exited the beta stage in July 2009. Users are required to have a Google Account
Google Account
A Google Account is a user account that provides access to Google-owned services such as Blogger, YouTube, and Google Groups. A Google Account can be identified either by the username or by their unique permanent ID...
in order to use the software.
Interface
The interface of Google Calendar, designed by Kevin Fox (who also designed GmailGmail
Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though...
and the second version of Google Reader
Google Reader
Google Reader is a Web-based aggregator, capable of reading Atom and RSS feeds online or offline. It was released by Google on October 7, 2005 through Google Labs. Reader was graduated from beta status on September 17, 2007.-Interface:...
), is similar to desktop calendar applications such as Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
or iCal
ICal
iCal is a personal calendar application made by Apple Inc. that runs on the Mac OS X operating system. iCal was the first calendar application for Mac OS X to offer support for multiple calendars and the ability to publish/subscribe calendars to WebDAV server....
on Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. The Ajax
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
-driven interface enables users to view, add, and drag-and-drop
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of selecting a virtual object by "grabbing" it and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object...
events from one date to another without reloading the page. It supports view modes such as weekly, monthly, and agenda. Users can "quick add" calendar events by typing standard English phrases, such as "Dinner with Michael 7pm tomorrow". Users can also set the number of days to show in their custom view mode.
Content access
Events are stored online, meaning that the calendar can be viewed from any location that has Internet access. In the case of a user experiencing a hard drive failure, it also means that no data is lost. The application can import Microsoft OutlookMicrosoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
calendar files (.csv) and iCalendar
ICalendar
iCalendar is a computer file format which allows Internet users to send meeting requests and tasks to other Internet users, via email, or sharing files with an extension of .ics...
files (.ics, the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
open calendaring file format). Multiple calendars can be added and shared, allowing various levels of permissions for the users. This enables collaboration and sharing of schedules between groups. General calendars available for importing into one's account include those containing national holidays of various countries. Users can also add "live" iCalendar URLs that update regularly.
Sharing calendars
Google Calendar allows multiple calendars to be created and shown in the same view. Each can be shared, either read-only or with full edit control, and either with specified people or with everyone (public calendars).In February 2009, Google discontinued the option of searching for public calendars from the search field by removing the "Search Public Events" button. It also disabled its public calendar gallery, citing maintenance and usability issues. The company suggests adding calendars via the "Interesting Calendars" feature, known calendar URLs, or via email requests to friends. Daily "To Do" tasks cannot currently be shared between users.
Device synchronization
Currently, Google Calendar can use Google SyncGoogle Sync
Google Sync is a service from Google that provides over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar with PC and mobile device Mail, Calendar and Address Book applications. As you switch phones, tablets, and computers, your Gmail, address book, and calendar are synched to...
to synchronize with many mobile devices (e.g., BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
, Palm
Palm (PDA)
Palm handhelds were Personal Digital Assistants which ran the Palm OS. Palm devices have evolved from handhelds to smartphones which run Palm OS, WebOS, and Windows Mobile...
, iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, Pocket PC
Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is also known by Microsoft as a 'Windows Mobile Classic device'. It is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer, personal digital assistant , that runs the Microsoft 'Windows Mobile Classic' operating system...
) or with PC applications (e.g., Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
) via third party software, and natively with Apple's iCal
ICalendar
iCalendar is a computer file format which allows Internet users to send meeting requests and tasks to other Internet users, via email, or sharing files with an extension of .ics...
(workarounds required for iCal 3.x, full functionality with iCal 4.x). Google Calendar is natively supported on Android-based mobile phones such as the T-Mobile G1 and the Motorola CLIQ
Motorola CLIQ
The Motorola Cliq is an Android-based mobile phone by Motorola.The Cliq/Dext has 3G/HSDPA ; in the US, it is only compatible with T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network. It also has Wi-Fi ability, a 5-megapixel camera and video recording , a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, an HTML browser, and a QWERTY keyboard...
and on webOS-based mobile phones such as the Palm Pre
Palm Pre
The Palm Pre is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The smartphone was the first to use Palm's Linux based mobile operating system, webOS...
and Palm Pixi
Palm Pixi
The Palm Pixi and Pixi Plus are multimedia smartphones, developed by Palm, which was purchased in 2010 by HP. The device is viewed as a successor to the Palm Centro smartphone and was Palm's second webOS device, after the Palm Pre....
. Event reminders can be sent via email, as well as via SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
to mobile phones in more than eighty countries and regions.
Google integration
Google Calendar is integrated with various other Google services:- GmailGmailGmail is a free, advertising-supported email service provided by Google. Users may access Gmail as secure webmail, as well via POP3 or IMAP protocols. Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though...
, Google's webmail service. When an e-mail that contains trigger words (such as "meeting", or dates and times) arrives, an "add to calendar" button is automatically displayed alongside it. - iGoogleIGoogleiGoogle , a service of Google, is a customizable Ajax-based startpage or personal web portal . Google originally launched the service in May 2005...
, the user-designed Google homepage, in which users can choose and organize content in the form of "gadgets". The calendar is shown as a module on your homepage. This "gadget" offers options to edit how the time is displayed, which day the week starts on, and a link to "Add Event". - Google DesktopGoogle DesktopGoogle Desktop is desktop search software made by Google for Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows. The program allows text searches of a user's e-mails, computer files, music, photos, chats, Web pages viewed, and other "Google Gadgets"....
, Google's desktop searchDesktop searchDesktop search is the name for the field of search tools which search the contents of a user's own computer files, rather than searching the Internet...
software for Windows or Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. The mini-calendar gadget allows you view your agenda without having to open your browser. You can place it on your desktop or leave it docked in the sidebar.
Google Calendar is integrated with other web services:
- Bookeo, 2 way synchronization with Google Calendar. The booking system allows you to view your Google Calendar appointments in Bookeo Calendar and to export your Bookeo bookings to your Google Calendar.
SMS updating via GVENT codes
For supported mobile carriers in the United States, the GVENT feature of Google Calendar allows users to create new events and check calendar information via SMSSMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
.
2009 introduction
On March 4, 2009, Google Calendar began offering offline support. On May 13, 2009, Google Calendar began offering to-do lists.Compatibility
Because Google Calendar is a web-based application, it runs on virtually any operating systemOperating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, provided that the OS has a browser which supports the required web technologies. Since it uses recent browser features, browser compatibility includes Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
6, 7, and 8; Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
2.0+; Opera 9.5; Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
; and Safari
Safari (web browser)
Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc. and included with the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems. First released as a public beta on January 7, 2003 on the company's Mac OS X operating system, it became Apple's default browser beginning with Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther". Safari is also the...
2.0.3.
Google Calendar supports exporting calendar data through a permanent HTTP URL containing iCalendar
ICalendar
iCalendar is a computer file format which allows Internet users to send meeting requests and tasks to other Internet users, via email, or sharing files with an extension of .ics...
data, either at a public or "private" (hard to guess) address. This bears resemblance to the Webcal
Webcal
webcal is an unofficial Uniform Resource Identifier scheme for accessing iCalendar files. It is also the name of two web calendar applications written in Perl....
"protocol". Public calendars were searchable until February 2009. The data can be integrated with, among many others, Novell Evolution
Novell Evolution
Evolution or Novell Evolution is the official personal information manager and workgroup information management tool for GNOME. It combines e-mail, calendar, address book, and task list management functions. It has been an official part of GNOME since version 2.8 in September 2004...
, and Windows Calendar
Windows Calendar
Windows Calendar is a calendar application that is included with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. It natively supports the iCalendar file format, and has the ability to publish and subscribe to web-based calendars by using HTTP and WebDAV...
in Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
(using the subscribe feature). The web link for the location of the calendar can be found in Google Calendar Settings in the Private Address section.
Google Calendar also supports CalDAV
CalDAV
Calendaring Extensions to WebDAV, or CalDAV, is an Internet standard allowing a client to access scheduling information on a remote server. It extends WebDAV specification and uses iCalendar format for the data. The protocol is defined by RFC 4791...
using iCal
ICal
iCal is a personal calendar application made by Apple Inc. that runs on the Mac OS X operating system. iCal was the first calendar application for Mac OS X to offer support for multiple calendars and the ability to publish/subscribe calendars to WebDAV server....
3.x.
Consistency and reliability
As in other cloud computingCloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
applications, changes to Google Calendar are immediately visible to all users. This allows new features to be added without user action, but also makes it possible for new bugs to be rolled out to the entire user population, without users being able to refuse the update. On March 18, 2010, an update to add the Smart Rescheduler feature caused problems such as automatic invitations to nonexistent users being generated for events that were edited in secondary calendars. Despite negative user feedback, Google chose not to roll back the update, concentrating instead on providing a fix. According to user reports, the fix took effect five days later, on March 23, 2010.
Other criticisms
Many users of Google Calendar criticized the inability for time zoneTime zone
A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
s to be handled correctly in the application, as well as Google's unwillingness to resolve the issue. Until December 2010, there was no way to associate a time zone with the start/end times of a particular event. Because of this, users experienced problems when attempting to schedule events outside of their current time zone. Google implemented a fix to allow events to be associated with time zones in early December 2010.
Google Calendar does not support "tentative" dates and times for events, which may cause synchronization problems with Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
.
Month view is designed to fit on a single printed page. The downside to this is that it lacks text wrapping to see the full appointment title. Many users have complained about this. A workaround is to use another application to convert Google Calendar data to a format with full support for text wrapping.
See also
- 30 Boxes30 Boxes-Features:The website supports drag-and-drop capabilities, one-click editing, plain-language event adding, as well as unique features aimed towards social networkers. Calendars can contain feeds from Twitter, Blogger, MySpace, Facebook, WordPress, Vox, and Upcoming.org, which generates a social...
- List of personal information managers
- Google SyncGoogle SyncGoogle Sync is a service from Google that provides over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar with PC and mobile device Mail, Calendar and Address Book applications. As you switch phones, tablets, and computers, your Gmail, address book, and calendar are synched to...
- iCalendarICalendariCalendar is a computer file format which allows Internet users to send meeting requests and tasks to other Internet users, via email, or sharing files with an extension of .ics...
- OpenSync
- Remember the MilkRemember The MilkRemember the Milk is an application service provider for web-based task- and time-management. It allows users to manage tasks from computer as well as offline. It is being developed by an Australian/international team.- Features :...
- Windows Live CalendarWindows Live CalendarWindows Live Hotmail Calendar is a time-management web application by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live services. It is integrated into Windows Live Hotmail, the way that MSN Calendar was integrated into the MSN Hotmail service...
- Yahoo! CalendarYahoo! CalendarYahoo! Calendar is a Web-based calendar service from Yahoo!. It can read calendar feeds and events syndicated from sites that make use of the published Yahoo! calendar programming interfaces. While users are not required to have a Yahoo! Mail account, they are required to have a free Yahoo! ID in...
- List of applications with iCalendar support
External links
- gcalcli - A Command Line Interface to Google Calendar
- gwt-cal - A component library to add Google Calendar functionality to your web application
- Windows Client - A Windows "Green software" client for Google Calendar
- Real Google Wall Calendar - A Google Wall Calendar from Google Japan
- Sync Google Calender with Microsoft Outlook