Like with Gmail, offline access to Calendar is performed via Gears, so Apps users first need to make sure they’re Gears-enabled. Once offline access is enabled, event syncs happen via the browser, and Lifehacker says its first synchronization took less than a minute, although its “shared staff calendar isn’t stuffed with events.”
The downside is that the synchronization seems to be only one way, in that users can’t make Calendar changes while offline–they simply can see events already slated. The beta tool also doesn’t make use of Gmail’s innovative flaky mode, for synching up in the background when network connections are less-than-optimal.
Still, some offline access is better than none. Google keeps incrementally improving Apps to the point where it’s becoming a real Office competitor, especially in the mobile space. Now that it’s providing key offline access in addition to feature-rich online tools, it’s truly giving Microsoft a run for its money.
* * *
Like this post? Visit the Google Subnet home page for more news, blogs and podcasts.
More blog posts from Google Subnet:
StreetView killed Bambi, but it fights crime too
Google’s new ‘Net neutrality toolbox
Offline Gmail brings Apps closer to the enterprise
Google GDrive and desktop virtualization
Quiz: Are you a Google expert?
Sign up for the weekly Google newsletter. (Click on News/Google News Alert.)
