Microsoft Weblog

What day is it?

by Jason Bean on April 20th, 2006

If you have been disconnected for the past couple of weeks, you’re probably not aware that Google released a new calendar tool. I’ve been quite impressed with the Google Calendar. I like the layout, it’s simple to use and the look and feel is great. The standard “user friendly” Google stuff is there too.

What I can’t believe is that there’s not a simple way to synchronize between Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook or other calendars.

However, Microsoft of course isn’t just sitting around and waiting for everyone to move over to Google Calendar, not exactly a profitable business move to make it easy for people to export their current activities from Outlook and merge it over into a competitor’s offering.

So, Microsoft will be releasing some new calendar functionality with Hotmail (the Hotmail replacement, Windows Live Mail to be exact), and Windows Vista. But, maybe that’s going to change…

“Windows Calendar is fully compatible with the popular .iCalendar format, which lets you import and export calendar information to and from other applications and websites,” according to Microsoft’s Vista Web site.

“Windows Calendar used in conjunction with Windows Live Calendar will probably offer some unique benefits,” said Matt Rosoff, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft. “For example, you will probably be be able to store all your appointments in the local Windows Calendar, then automatically upload them to the Live Calendar site so you can access them from anywhere, and share them with others.

As normal, let the online battles and tech wars continue.

Source: WXP News site and Microsoft Watch

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