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Synchronize alarms and booked appointments for your busy schedule

Synchronize alarms and booked appointments for your busy schedule

Vote: (113 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Google

Version: 4.3.53.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(113 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Google

4.3.53.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Get the best of features from Outlook and Google
  • Fast, reliable two-way calendar syncing
  • Syncs both calendars using a schedule
  • Lets you add appointments when and where you want them

Cons

  • Doesn't sync secondary or shared calendars
  • Wasn't tested with Outlook 2013

Google Calendar Sync is a free tool written by Google that lets you do a two-way sync between your Outlook and Google calendars. Now you can leverage the full power of Outlook with the power of Google. This can be especially helpful for Android users. Google Calendar Sync runs as a freestanding program rather than as a plug-in. This program only syncs your primary Google calendar and your default Outlook calendar. At the time of release, Google Calendar Sync was tested with Outlook 2007 and 2010. It may work with Outlook 2013.

When the program is installed, it's easy to see which direction is currently being synced by looking at the icon in the system tray. You can set the program to run on a schedule. This allows you to add appointments to either Google or Outlook and feel confident that they'll be synced properly.

Why would you want to sync your Outlook calendar with Google?

Google has several handy features Outlook doesn't have. It can send you a text message to remind you of an appointment. Android phones and tablets sync readily with Google Calendar, but not with Outlook.

If you use the Google Now personal assistant service either on Android or iOS, it will check your Google calendar to help provide the best service possible. If it sees that you have an appointment with your dentist and there's a traffic jam on the highway leading to his office, Google Now might suggest that you leave early or offer you an alternate route. This could save you time and make sure you get to your destination on time.

Google Calendar can also use information in your calendar events to find maps, phone numbers and driving directions when you have appointments. Outlook 2007 and 2010 don't have this feature.

You may be required to use Outlook at work. However, you may prefer to use Google Calendar from your phone or tablet when you're on personal time. Complicating matters, the organization where you volunteer uses Google Apps for everything they do. Using Google Calendar Sync takes the guesswork out of remembering which calendar has your appointment with your financial planner. You'll have the data you need in both places.

Pros

  • Get the best of features from Outlook and Google
  • Fast, reliable two-way calendar syncing
  • Syncs both calendars using a schedule
  • Lets you add appointments when and where you want them

Cons

  • Doesn't sync secondary or shared calendars
  • Wasn't tested with Outlook 2013