Hot-screensaver

Google has recently launched yet another useful service called the Google Calendar. As always, this tool from Google is FREE

For existing Gmail users, you can just sign in to the Google Calendar by using your existing Gmail id. Once you sign in for the very first time, you will be asked to provide the time zone details about yourself so that Google can better customize the calendar to your specific needs.

The calendar’s interface is clean, uncluttered and straight forward. The buttons and links are very fast and responsive.

Google Calendar – Month view.

Click on the “Week” link at the top, and almost instantly you are presented with the week view of the calendar. Click on a time slot, and you can add an event to that slot.

Week view.

Drag and drop is also nicely supported. For example, you can relocate an event you have created earlier by simply dragging it to another time slot. How nice is that?

Amazing drag and drop feature. Works amazingly like a desktop application.

Of course the calendar will not be useful if there is no reminder.

Detailed options where you can set the reminder.

There are several types of reminder options which you can set. This include email, sms and popup. Now, the cool thing is of course the reminder that is being sent via SMS. In order to use this feature, you will have to setup your mobile phone number but the carrier list currently on Google Calendar doesn’t seems to have Maxis, Celcom, Digi and Telekom. This is not unexpected. But, when do you think Malaysian telco will get to the list?

Another cool feature of Google Calendar is its ability to import your calendar from Microsoft Outlook or Apple iCal. For more information on this, you can visit this page.

After doing a quick test drive of Google Calendar, I personally find this to be a very useful online scheduler and calendar, especially for busy people and people on the move. You can access your schedule anywhere and anytime provided you have a computer and Internet access. Check out this nice features it provide:

Features at a glance:

Calendar Sharing: Doing a project? Setup a calendar for your project, and share it with the rest of the team members. This will make sure the project tasks are completed on schedule.

Invitations: Create event invitations, send them to friends, and keep track of people’s responses and comments, all in one place. Your friends can receive your invitation and post responses even if they don’t use Google Calendar themselves.

Quick Add: Click anywhere on your calendar where an event belongs (or use the Quick Add link), and start typing. Google Calendar understands whole phrases like “Brunch with mom at Java Cafe 11am on Saturday,” and will pop new events right into your agenda.

Gmail Integration: Add your friend’s Super Bowl party to your calendar without ever leaving your Gmail inbox. Gmail now recognizes events mentioned in emails.

Search: Find the date of the Baxter family BBQ (you knew it was sometime this summer). Or, search public calendars to discover new events you’re interested in and add them to your own calendar.

Mobile Access: Receive event reminders and notifications on your mobile phone.

Event Publishing: Share your organization’s events with the world.

For further information, please visit Google’s page.

Tagged: online calendar, scheduler, google, google calendar, event planner, organizer

Bookmark to

 Email This Post