On Tuesday , Google launched a consecrate calendar app for the iPhone — one of the last miss pieces of Google ’s apps entourage for iOS . AndGoogle Calendar for iPhonedoesn’t disappoint : It ’s a gorgeous calendar app that mines your Gmail account to automatically add together events . It joins a drawn-out leaning of well - designed , highly operable Google apps on Io that perform as well or better than Apple ’s default options .
Like many of Google ’s products , it ’s design chiefly for those who live in Google ’s app ecosystem , though it will also sync with any of the other calendar on your iPhone , including Apple ’s stock Calendar app . Like Google ’s other recent app updates and launches , it ushers in Google ’s signature Material Design and an interesting rethink on how a mobile calendar should do .
Going beyond the traditional calendar view
The best affair Google Calendar does is automatically detect upshot and appointment from your Gmail account statement and create itemization for them in your calendar , adding a spatter of vividness and graphics for effect . ( you could turn this feature off in the app ’s preferences if you ’re not a fan . ) For example , if you receive a hotel reservation check email , you ’ll see that reservation information show up in Google Calendar , pure with an image of the venue . Dentist appointments , tiffin outings , and other events all get their own living . Of course , you could manually sum in appointments or edit out the events that Google Calendar draw in in from Gmail .
Google Calendar for iPhone ( left ) looks nigh identical to the Android version ( right ) . This is the app ’s default schedule view .
It works with all of the calendar report you practice on your iPhone , so you do n’t need to jump between calendar apps . You do , however , need a Google account to signal in and use the app .
The default smell is a schedule sight , which intersperses the concealment with your upcoming events in chronological orderliness . If you do n’t like that perspective , you have a couple of other selection : A one - day overview , or a three - day option that gives you a coup d’oeil at the next couple of days . The only wanting piece is a seven - day vista , which was latterly added to the Android reading .
The assists feature tries to accelerate up the sometimes laborious task of adding details to a calendar entree . For deterrent example , it will auto - suggest the name of your event and tapdance into Google ’s massive database to locate the specific address of where you ’re headed . When you tap on the address in any effect , it will toss you over to the Google Maps app ( if you have it instal ) .
Google Calendar will auto - suggest locations and use your contacts database for fill in new events .
unluckily , you ca n’t ask round others to an automatically generated effect , though you could do so with consequence you ’ve created yourself . Also , Google Calendar does n’t have aNotification Center widget — the ability to pilfer down and get a spry glance at what ’s coming up would be a convenient feature . It ’s also iPhone - only for now , which means you ’ll need to pick another selection for your iPad ( or install it anyways and last with a blown - up version until Google releases an iPad - compatible version ) .
Must love Material Design
The new Calendar app , and many of Google ’s other apps , have adopted the company’sMaterial Designinterface . It ’s a fresh esthetic that Google is using for its own products and its Android platform .
Hotel reservations and other event in your Gmail get added to your calendar mechanically .
It ’s rather elegant and polished , with a focal point on parcel off information for well-off viewing , register touches with a subtle stir on the concealment , and using a lot of visuals cue stick .
There ’s a floating military action button , which in Google Calendar is used for make a new result . The independent menu is always on the left field , which also domiciliate details on your Google bill and selection to connect to other apps , like telling Calendar to open email connectedness in the Gmail app . Many elements work with gestures , such as pulling down on the month ’s name to reveal a full - month calendar position .
But it ’s not for everyone , specially if you prefer Apple ’s design overhaul first stick in in iOS 7 . You ’ll also find out that some element of Material Design do n’t translate well to the iPhone , such as the deprivation of the sloping trough gesture to go back . In some cases , you ’ll have to remove the back button on the upper - left part of the screen , which can be quite the reach if you ’re using an iPhone 6 Plus .
Should you switch?
Google is clearly aiming its new Calendar app at those who apply Gmail and do most of their productivity in Google ’s ecosystem . If you employ iCloud , an Exchange account , Outlook , or another email solvent , there ’s less reason to make the leap , particularly if you ’re felicitous with other apps likeTempoorSunrise . For many , it ’s the final small-arm of the Googly teaser , putting Calendar in good order there with Drive , Gmail , Chrome , Maps , and the rest of the caller ’s software army .
