Google Calendar Gets An Update
Originally published at Civin.org. Please leave any comments there.
Google Calendar Changed To Match Google+
So Google is on a massive design makeover spree. While I have a feeling it’s going to spread across all of Google’s applications in the near future so far both Google and now Google Calendar have been giving mini-face lifts to better match the look of Google+. In the already changing world of Google it appears that, while Google+ is still only a ‘project’ that it is infiltrating every other aspect of the organization. It’s something Google is betting big on even if it’s not being touted that way. I’m extremely curious to see how the new Google is going to continue to expand and interact with itself. For a long time now I’ve been under the full belief that being able to tie everything together would be what will be the next big change in computers, even if done subtly, and only Google and Microsoft are in the real position with a built in infrastructure to do it. Apple has an infrastructure but no real base for it and Facebook has a glimmer of the idea but no real platform aside from Facebook itself. These are all small steps in the direction and I really think that at this point Google is the only company primed to truly revolutionize computing. Regardless of the platform it is on.
What’s changing
Right now, the changes are just cosmetic and have not affected the way Calendar works. You can choose to turn off the new look by clicking the gear icon and choosing Use the classic look (you can turn it back on by going to the gear icon and choosing Try the new look).
A summary of the current changes are:
- The Quick add function is now under the down arrow next to the Create button
- Calendars selected for viewing in your My calendars and Other calendars lists will no longer display with a colored background; instead, only the arrows next to them will be colored.
- The Print and Refresh buttons are now icons rather than text links. The Print button shows a printer, and the Refresh icon is a circular arrow.
- Visual indicator icons (alarm clock icon for events with reminders, person icon for events with guests, etc.) will only show when the event is hovered over.
- The My calendars and Other calendars lists on the left are now collapsed by default and may be expanded using the small gray arrow. Once expanded, they will remain expanded on refresh or open.
- The mini month view calendar under the Create button is collapsible using the small gray arrow.
- The Save and Discard buttons and Back to calendar link are only available at the top of the event page, not the bottom.
Over the course of the summer and fall, we’ll make more changes to the look and functionality of Google Calendar. You’ll see these changes in your account in a variety of products, and we’ll make sure to keep you updated as we introduce these changes.
Why we made these changes
The way people use and experience the web is evolving, and our goal is to give you a more seamless and consistent online experience - one that works no matter which Google product you’re using or what device you’re using it on. The new Google experience that we’re working toward is founded on three key design principles:
- Focus: With the design changes in the coming weeks and months, we’re bringing forward the stuff that matters to you and getting all the other clutter out of your way.
- Elasticity: The new design will soon allow you to seamlessly transition from your desktop computer to your mobile phone to your tablet, while keeping a consistent visual experience. We aim to bring you this flexibility without sacrificing style or usefulness.
- Effortlessness: Our design philosophy is to combine power with simplicity. We want to keep our look simple and clean. But behind the seemingly simple design, the changes use new technologies to make sure you have all the power of the web behind you.