The Googlesphere

Today Google (without a great deal of fanfare) launched Google Calendar (Beta). You must have a gmail account to use it. If you don't already have one, email me jaye@jayezero.com and I will send you an invite.

Google Calendar comes on the heals of several updates and releases to other applications. There has been the Updated version of Google Toolbar. There has been the updated mapping information to Google Earth. There has been the updated Gmail Notifier. Then there's been Google Talk/Chat. These are just a few of the fronts that Google has been moving on. Most of these project are very interesting and boggle the mind... But a Calendar application? I'm not sure that's the next killer app.

I have to say, I have tried various Calendar applications. They have spanned from Netscape Calendar to MSN Calendar to Microsoft Outlook. I even have a Calendar application in my iPod. I've been using Outlook and iCal for different reasons, but tend to think if I didn't have a calendar via the web or even on my lap-top, my life would not be blown. Actually come to think of it, I use the Calendar in my cell phone more that any other interface, simply because it's always, with me. All I have to do is flip the screen and press a single button and there it is. No fuss, no muss.

given all that I have stated in the above paragraph, I'm going to give Google Calendar a serious spin and see if they can get me excited about Calendars. Why would I say this? Because, Google actually got me excited about my email. Using Gmail has been the most effective method of digital communication for me. They put some great concepts on the table like conversations and searches that actually work. Let's see if they can dazzle us all again.

If you give Google Calendar a spin, feel free to post your experience. I'd (and I'm sure others) will be interested to hear what you think.

// Jaye Morris, Technologist