Google Calendar

The web is awash with news that Google is apparently working on its own calendar (CL2) program to integrate with Gmail. The closed beta is ongoing with about 200 participants of which I am unfortunately not one. I am, however, very excited and interested by this news.

I have been looking, unsuccessfully, for some time for a collaborative calendar application that I can access from anywhere and sync with the many pieces of technology I carry with me. I must admit I was probably approaching the problem in the wrong way. I carry a mobile phone with me at all times (who doesn't), and it has a simple calendar function built in. In theory this synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook (a product I don't use unless I have to). I also have a Compaq Ipaq (which now mainly runs Tom Tom software), several computers running various operating systems (the main one running Linux), and a wife-to-be who needs to be able to access and input into the same calendar.

I tried synchronizing all these solutions. If you feel tempted to try the same thing, one word, don't! There are replacements for Microsoft's Activesync available for Linux, but they have varying degrees of success. Even staying proprietary and keeping everything Microsoft, the entries entered directly into the phone would be ignored or even wiped out by synchronizing with Outlook as would the entries in the Ipaq (which also wiped the phone if done that way). As for the Linux computer, forget it!

I then tried collaborative web solutions. Tiki Wiki seemed the way forward for the 3 days I wrestled with it. However, if I found it overly complicated, the my better half wouldn't have a hope!

I have long been a supported of Google. Their search is by far the best out there. I have transferred the majority of my mail needs to their Gmail application. I use Google desktop when I am on Windows machines (I wish they would produce a version for Linux). Picasa is a fantastic application for dealing with photos. The Google gateway software is my home page wherever I am. The ability to aggregate all my normal content into one page where I can get uptodate from one screen is fantastic. The accumulation of text based news-groups into an easily searchable format is by far one of the most used Google applications for me (even if they encourage top posting and not including the previous post by default)

So, when I heard that Google was doing a calendar, I was excited. Not only a calendar, but one tied into my mail application of choice. With luck, this is the application I have been waiting for. Something I can use from anywhere, can allow other people to view and access, and cross check everything with the e-mail or conversation it relates to.

So what does it look like? The main screen is below


The create event detail can be viewed in more detail here:

You can create events on your calendar in a number of ways. (The following is from the CL2 trusted Tester Guidelines:

Click 'Create Event'

• This brings you to the create event page, where you can enter information about your event.

Click on Quick Add (or type the letter Q)

• Quick Add gives you a text box where you can type all the information about your event in normal English, and we'’ll fill out the form for you. We'’re pretty excited about this feature, so please let us know how it works for you.

Drag-to-create

• If you'’re looking at the day where you want to create an event on your calendar, just click and drag your mouse from the desired start time to the end time. Once you've selected your time range, you can just choose a title for your new event.

Event Pages

• Whenever you create an event, we create a web page which you'’ll see when you click on the '“more details' link on any event. This web page is only visible to you, unless you'’ve invited other people to your event or made the event public, in which case you can use the page to share information about the event with people who are attending or the public at large. Note: you don'’t have to be a CL2 user to be able to see event pages, so you can use these pages to share information with anyone involved with the event, regardless of what online tools (if any) they use. (Ever wish your favorite local band would learn how to use HTML and publish their calendar? Once we get your feedback and open CL2 to the world you can help them do just that.)

The following are various setting pages for the application:







That's all the information for the moment. I for one will be watching this very carefully, and as more news is forthcoming, I'm sure to comment on it!