Google Calendar has become more fantastic. We'll show you what's new and how to access the new version..
There is much more to the app than meets the eye. For example, did you know that it integrates with various email clients? Or you can sync it with the Windows 10 taskbar How to sync your Google calendar with the Windows 10 taskbar How to sync your Google calendar with the Windows 10 taskbar It wasn't always possible to sync your Google calendar with the Windows Calendar application. Since the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can even manage your Google, iCloud, and Outlook calendars from the taskbar. We show you how. Read more ?
However, the app always had one major flaw:the design. Google Calendar felt like it was stuck in the 2000s. And while apps like News, Keep, and Drive have been overhauled in recent years, Calendar fell behind.
Now, in October 2017, Google has finally managed to update the calendar interface. But was it worth the wait? Here's an overview of the new features and a look at the new design.
Before we discuss the redesign, let's take a moment to explain how to upgrade to the new version of the app.
For some people, the new version of the app might load automatically. The old interface could load for others.
If you see the old interface, look for the Use new calendar Button in the upper right corner. It should be available to everyone:Google kicked off a worldwide rollout on October 18.
A new box will appear. Click Update Now to confirm your decision.
You can revert the update by clicking gear icon and choice Back to the classic calendar .
Note: G Suite users will only be able to access the new app if their system administrator enables it.
The update marks the first Google Calendar redesign since 2011. With millions of users logging into the app every day, the redesign is long overdue.
The update takes its design cues from Material Design. The philosophy has underpinned everything Google has done in recent years. It first came to public awareness on the Android operating system in 2014, and Google has been slowly updating its web apps to adhere to the same principles.
Although the design of the new app is quite similar to the previous version, there are many small changes that make it easier on the eyes.
When loading the calendar for the first time, users will immediately notice the expanded date bar. The numbers are now larger, so it's quicker to know what you're seeing at a glance.
The event text has been inverted from black to white (although black is still available if you prefer), and Google has introduced more pops of color. The left panel has also been enlarged to take advantage of the main real estate of a screen.
There are some other smaller changes. For example, the day, week and month views are now accessible via a drop-down menu rather than each having their own button, and the famous "hamburger icon" has been introduced in the top left corner to allow you to switch the calendar to full screen mode.
Finally, both the Event view and Google Calendar settings menu How to Optimize Google Calendar with Custom Settings How to Optimize Google Calendar with Custom Settings Have you adjusted the default Google Calendar settings to meet your needs? Just a few clicks can help you be more organized and save time. Read more have been renewed. They are now much easier to navigate.
Along with the redesign, Google has introduced a number of new features. 9 Google Calendar Features You Should Use. 9 Google Calendar Features You Should Use. Google Calendar has more tricks up its sleeve than you can imagine. Our tips will help you organize events and reduce the time you spend managing your calendar. Read More They help make the app more useful than ever.
Google Calendar is one of the best ways for people to organize events and meetings. How to create meeting templates in Google and Outlook calendars. How to create meeting templates in Google and Outlook calendars. Do you regularly use your Google or Outlook calendar to manage events and invite people? ? Create a template to set up your next meeting in record time. Learn more (and some of the templates available are even better than free Microsoft Office calendar templates) The Best Free Microsoft Office Calendar Templates to Stay Organized The Best Free Microsoft Office Calendar Templates to Stay Organized Whether you need a weekly, monthly, or yearly calendar, these free printable calendar templates for Microsoft Office can help you stay organized this year (Read More). However, there was always one glaring problem:the lack of rich formatting and hyperlinks.
If you needed to link to a document or a web page, it was problematic. Asking people to copy and paste the links into their browser was a recipe for overlooked information. All the links you include now open in the redesigned one. Detail of the event window.
Plus, the introduction of rich formatting also means you can add a “wow factor” to your invite How to Share Your Google Calendar with Anyone How to Share Your Google Calendar with Anyone We show you three options for sharing your Google Calendar. Using iCal, even Apple Calendar and Outlook users can see their schedule. We also explain how to revoke access to your Google calendar. Read More
Google Calendar has always supported multiple calendars. Rather than cram a lot of information into a single timeline, using multiple calendars allows users to compartmentalize their schedules. For example, you can have a calendar for personal commitments, one for work tasks, one to keep track of your children's events, etc.
In theory, it's a great idea. But in practice, Google's implementation of the concept left much to be desired. Viewing multiple calendars at the same time led to a messy and confusing situation. Using the Day vista led to a lot of wasted space.
Thanks to the redesign, you can now view multiple calendars side by side, making use of the previously underused area.
To see the feature in action, select the Day view from the dropdown window and use the panel on the left to choose the calendars you want to compare.
Given the prevalence of the Android operating system, millions of people use Google Contacts as their primary address book.
Unfortunately, the contacts never played well with the calendar. Sure, the app could recognize email addresses and you could send invites to your saved contacts, but that was almost the limit of functionality.
The new Calendar app now allows you to view other users' contact information within events. Just hover over the person's name and a new box will appear.
If you accidentally delete an event and miss everything brief Undo link that appears at the bottom of the screen, your event is no longer lost forever.
The new calendar app has a container. You can find it by going to Gear> Trash . Click the little arrow on the right side of the event listing, and you'll immediately be taken back to your agenda.
It's clear that Google wanted to make more use of screen real estate within the app. A new feature that helps the company achieve its goal is the response screen.
When you turn on the app for the first time, it is enabled by default. You can disable it immediately by clicking Customize , or by going to Equipment> Density and color> Information density> Compact .
It's hard to find too many faults with the redesign, and you have to assume that Google will continue to update the app with more new features in the coming weeks and months.
Do you prefer the old version of the application? What is missing in the new app? Whatever your thoughts, be sure to let us know about them in the comments below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
