Update to Google Calendar app heralds a new day for users

Monday, November 3, 2014

Update to Google Calendar app heralds a new day for users

In the lead-up to the official launch of the Nexus 9 today, and be extension Android 5.0 Lollipop, we have seen several leaks regarding updates to Google’s stock apps. One of those was the calendar app which was getting a Material Design overhaul of the interface. Google has announced today that the updated calendar app includes more than just an update of the interface, it includes some new features as well.

One of the new features included in the Calendar app is the ability to turn an email containing information about events into a calendar entry. In the past this involved a lot of copying and pasting of information. The new app not only enables users to skip over all that work, they will not even have to do anything like forward an email to the calendar or share an email – the calendar app will just automatically create the event using the details from the email. Google even says the resulting calendar entry will stay updated in real-time if it is for something like a flight.

Should users receive an event via email that does not include all the needed information or if they want to enter something manually themselves, they will find the Calendar app will try to autocomplete an entry as the user is typing, showing relevant suggestions similar to how Google search works when typing in the omnibar.

As far as the interface, the Calendar app does get the Material Design updates. However, the improvements don’t stop there. Google also includes a new Schedule view in the app that enhances the entries with pictures, icons or avatars to help liven things up.

The new Calendar app is coming preloaded on all Android 5.0 Lollipop devices. The update will be available for download from Google Play in “coming weeks” for devices running at least Android 4.1 or higher.

What do you think of this update from Google?

Click here to view the embedded video.