Google Apps: The Missing Manual

Chapter 7. Tracking Schedules with Google Calendar

As you rush through your days, it can feel like the clock’s always ticking. Meetings, appointments, lunches, kids’ events, deadlines, errands—are you tearing out your hair yet? Google can’t make your schedule less busy, but it can help keep track of what’s going on, minimizing conflicts and giving you a heads-up when you’ve got to be somewhere.

Google Calendar is an online program that tracks the events in your life. Because it’s online, you can access it from anywhere you can get on the Web. Another perk: Since your calendar is, in effect, an easily editable Web page, it’s a snap to coordinate your schedule with other people. For instance, you can share calendars, so you can see when friends and colleagues are available, and vice versa. Similarly, when you schedule an event, you can send out invitations, keep track of the RSVPs, and even discuss the event with your guests—all right from your calendar. You can also synchronize your Google Calendar with BlackBerry’s built-in calendar, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Yahoo Calendar, or Apple iCal, so you’ve got multiple ways of working with your schedule.

This chapter teaches you everything you need to know to get going with Google Calendar. Just be sure to pencil in a half-hour here and there for a sanity break.

Getting Started with Google Calendar

Before you start using Google Calendar, make sure you have the right equipment. At this writing, Google Calendar works with these Web browsers: ...