A while back, Google launched a Tasks lab for Gmail. Now they have added a new tasks feature for Google Calendar after many requests for one.
There is now a "tasks" link in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Calendar page. Once you click on it, a box will come up on the opposite side of the screen, where you can add tasks in list form. They come with checkboxes so you can check them off as you accomplish them, and a form to enter a due date. The task will then appear on your calendar on the day it is due.
Google has recently launched a standalone contacts manager, which lets you manage your contacts outside of Gmail. This would be particularly useful for those who don't use Gmail, but use other Google products that offer sharing capabilities.
If you use Google Docs, Picasa, or Google Calendar for example, you can now update people's contact information without having to use Gmail. This was not an option before.
You can now install desktop icons for Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Gmail on your computer for quick access. These icons are now an option of Google Pack.
If you are unfamiliar with Google Pack,it's a free collection of software from Google and other companies. The software in the Google Pack helps you browse the web faster, remove spyware and viruses, organize your photos, and more. Learn more about each of the programs in the Google Pack.
It looks like Google Calendar is taking another run at its paper and ink predecessors. Don't expect to see people celebrating in the streets, but certain Google Calendar users can now access their schedules while offline.
Last month Google released a Gmail gadget for Google Desktop after "countless" requests for one over the years. Today they have released a Google Calendar gadget for Google Desktop.
Today Google is touting the reliability of Gmail, and comparing the service to several "on-premises" solutions in terms of downtime and lost productivity. In a post on the Official Google Blog, Google Enterprise Product Director Matthew Glotzbach writes:
Google is continuing on its roll of cranking out new features for Gmail. This time, it is a few projects from Gmail Labs that let you add gadgets to Gmail. So far, you can add the Google Calendar and Docs gadgets.
In the days of dialup, accessing the Internet was a nuisance. Now, not so much. Still, users of Gmail and Google Calendar should be pleased to hear that the programs may support offline use in about six weeks' time.
Isn't it always fun stumbling across some new feature to enhance your overall Google Experience? Just the little things that can add so much convenience to your daily web use like the definition or movies web search features.
Back in October, we shared news that Google Calendar was requesting permission to use Google Gears to provide offline access. We’re still waiting on that. Now it appears Google Blogoscoped is seeing something similar with Google Docs.