Earlier this month, Google declared that Chrome version 119 for Android will be the final version supported for smartphones running on Android 7 (Nougat) and below.

The announcement affected both Chrome desktop and Chrome for Android. As a result, Chrome 120 does not support Android Nougat or a lower version of Android. Now, the company has decided to do the same with Google Calendar, which is a popular software that millions of people use to organize their daily lives. Users may plan meetings, make notes, and organize events with them.

Google Calendar Privacy Concern

It is most likely because of security reasons that support for previous versions of Android has been discontinued. Google wants to ensure its customers are safe since older versions of Android are more susceptible to hacking and data theft.

The latest version of the Google Calendar app (v2023.46.0-581792699-release) has a new flag called “UnsupportedOperatingSystem__enabled,” which is used to display a message to users who are running an unsupported operating system.

This flag contains a specific message informing users that in order to continue using Google Calendar, their device must be updated to Android 8 (Oreo) or above.

Furthermore, a lot of new features and enhancements that were unavailable on earlier versions of Android are offered by more recent iterations of the software. Google is urging consumers to update to the most recent version of Android on their devices as a result.

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(Via)

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Google is actively extending support of its primary services on the Wear OS platform. Following the Gmail Wear OS support a few days ago, the Google Calendar app is now available on Wear OS. The app with the name “Calendar” is now available for Smart Watches running WearOS 3.5 or later. In addition, it made a brief appearance online last November.

Must See: Pixel Watch and Other WearOS Devices Might Get Support for Gmail and Google Calendar Soon

Following the phone UX, the Calendar App offers a “Schedule” view which allows one to open events and see details like notes, location, etc. You can also select whether you’re attending any event or not. At the bottom, the user gets open to “Open on Phone” and “Delete event”.

Further, we can see some background images for the holiday events or birthdays (if you’ve added images). Along with the events, the users will see Google Tasks in the list along with the ability to mark them as complete. Unfortunately, the users won’t be able to add new events or tasks using the Wear OS app.

The Calendar App brings two new tiles offering to view “Next Events ” and “Next Tasks”.

The app is available from the Play Store.

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Google has announced new scheduling features for Gmail, integrating Google Calendar functions directly into the platform. The objective is to simplify and improve the process of scheduling events and sharing users’ availability.

Google Streamlines Scheduling: New Features in Gmail

The latest features can be accessed via a new calendar icon located at the bottom of the email conversation view. Here, users are provided with two options – “Create an event” and “Offer times you’re free.”

By choosing “Create an event,” a Google Calendar event is generated immediately, using the email’s subject line as the event title and the recipients as participants. Furthermore, an event summary is added to the email’s body for easy sharing. Prior to this update, users could only access this feature via Gmail’s three-dot menu.

The second feature, “Offer times you’re free,” gives users the ability to share their available times. By selecting time slots on their sidebar calendar, users can conveniently share these with email recipients. This functionality aims to eliminate the often time-consuming back-and-forth communication during 1:1 meetings scheduling. However, for emails that include multiple recipients, the invite will only be sent to the first person who confirms the suggested time.

The new features are now accessible to all Google Workspace clients as well as personal Google account holders. Although these tools were initially exclusive to premium Workspace subscribers, Google has broadened access to include personal account users. The roll-out of these tools has started with the Rapid Release domains and is anticipated to be available in the Scheduled Release domains by July’s end. Alongside these enhancements, Google recently introduced Google Calendar’s improved working location feature which marks another step towards more efficient productivity and streamlined work processes.

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(Source, Via)

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Google Calendar has been continuously evolving to meet the needs of its users, and today, it is introducing a new enhancement to the working location feature. Since 2021, users have been able to indicate their working location directly in Google Calendar, providing better context for collaboration and planning. Now, Google is taking it a step further by allowing users to set working locations for specific portions of the day, enabling them to accurately reflect their availability based on their physical location throughout the day.

Most Domains will start receiving the update from July 14 onwards

This update comes as hybrid work environments become increasingly common, with employees working from home, offices, specific buildings, or a combination of these locations. By allowing users to specify their working location for different times of the day, Google Calendar enables them to effectively manage their schedules and optimize their productivity.

Moreover, for those with delegate access to someone’s Google Calendar, the new update allows full editing of working locations for the entire day or specific portions of the day. This feature proves particularly beneficial for individuals such as executive assistants who manage multiple calendars.

Administrators have the flexibility to enable or disable the working location feature at the domain or organizational unit level, providing control over its implementation. End users will find that the feature is enabled by default, allowing them to seamlessly set sub-day working locations within their calendars. To do so, they simply need to select “Working Location” as an event type in Calendar, choose the desired location, and optionally modify the time, date, or recurrence.

The rollout of this enhanced working location feature is already underway, with rapid-release domains gaining immediate access and scheduled release domains receiving the update starting on July 14, 2023. It is available to users of Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits.

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Google is known for its free and open-source products and services. The search giant has a never-ending list of services that are used by users globally in order to get information, manage businesses, and host personal content. Similarly, Google Calendar helps users to manage their time, schedule tasks, and remember things with reminders. There are various benefits of using the Google calendar as the sole schedule maker for your day-to-day tasks. However, some privacy concerned users are looking for alternatives to Google Calendar.

Editor’s Pick: Best CamScanner alternatives for smartphones you should try in 2019

Google Calendar offers seamless sync of reminders, scheduled tasks, and other details across various devices. The user only needs to sign-in the Google account to get access to all the information on another device. Moreover, it supports voice commands over Google Assistant-powered devices like Google Nest, Nest Mini, and others. On the other hand, there are some privacy concerns, along with some other issues that are making users move towards alternatives.

We have concluded a list of some best Google Calendar alternatives below.

List of best Google Calendar Alternatives

Simple Calendar 

Price: Free – $1.19

It is an open-source calendar app offering highly customizable features with a simple yet beautiful interface. The app is ad-free and does not need unnecessary permissions. It is the product of Simple Mobile Tools, which is known for its competitive open-source tools that stand neck-to-neck with the professional tools from Google and Microsoft.

Simple Calendar carries all the necessary features without any advertisements and annoying popups. The privacy, security, and stability of the app is ensured by the fact that it does not need internet access. It supports 29 languages, export, and import events utility via .ics files, multiple event reminders, handy snooze option, and much more.

The users can quickly switch between daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly views for easy accessibility. The flexible event creation is possible with the support for powerful repetition rules, and reminders. Simple Calendar offers customizable themes and also carries widgets for better integration. Users can flawlessly sync events from other apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Exchange, etc. There’s also support for location via Google Maps, proper notification channels, customizable reminders, and more.

Simple Calendar Pro version is also available at a negligible cost $1.19.

Download

Android

TimeTree

TimeTree is a shared calendar platform, with over 18 million users globally. It’s is awarded as the Best App of 2015 on Apple’s App Store. The main feature of teh TimeTree is its shared calendar feature that allows multiple users to access and maintain the same calendar. It has the flexibility to remind every user within the group for reminders. The roles such as admin, members can be assigned to users for better maintenance.

The user can form different groups and can add members of his/her choice. This feature is quite helpful while sharing Calendars with family, friends, and the workplace.

TimeTree can also be used to jot down notes and then share it with the users, groups. The Shared Notes feature is quite useful in planning events, organizing to-do lists, and creating small notes.

TIMETree includes all the Multinational Holidays of 13 countries and 13 languages. It offers heavy dynamicity for the users residing in different countries. It helps organize events, manage work, and becoming more productive. The app supports Widget and also works on PC, iOS, and Android smartphones. The calendars can be easily shared with anyone via any social media platform.

Download

Web | Android | iOS

Digi Calendar Agenda

It is regarded as the best calendar app for Android by several renowned media houses. Digi Calendar Agenda is the most flexible and customizable calendars. Its clean and elegant User Interface makes scheduling quick and easy.

It easily sync with major apps such as Google Calendar, Outlook, and Exchange. Digi Calendar Agenda app offers great accessibility within the app with seven intuitive views, including day, week, agenda, month, next month, list, and year. The users can also use six different widgets for viewing the schedule at a glance.

Digi Calendar supports more than 560K+ public holidays, sports, and TV schedules. Planning something for travelling or hosting a party in your backyard? Then the app will make you aware of the Weather conditions of that particular day. It can give you an accurate weather display, including metrics like temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, cloud, wind, and sunrise.

There’s support for 42 different colors for better organizing along with a built-in location search. Other features include, Notifications maps navigation support, local calendar without sync, combines date and time picker, Invitation management, even image matching, etc.

The app is available for free on the Play Store with in-app purchases.

Download

Android

Jorte

Jorte App is known for its ability to customize. The app can be tweaked not only based on appearance but also on its functionality. The users can select different types of events apart from color and font customization. It is a single app for writing notes, planning, and setting reminders and events.

Jorte is downloaded more than 30 million times and is termed as the most popular organizer app. Major publications have termed it as one of the best apps offering competitive calendar and event organizing features.

It can sync with Microsoft Office 365 and Evernote. It even supports a countdown feature to calculate the remaining days to an event.  Jorte helps in writing down notes. It also offers cross-platform sync via Jorte Cloud. Other features include different widgets, multiple calendar views, sync with Google calendar, and Cloud.

Jorte also offers some premium features, including Weather Forecast, Jorte Store for icons and themes, and others.

Download

Android | iOS

Business Calendar 2

It is the sequel of Business Calendar from Appgenix Software. It is a popular personal organizer with support for calendar, schedule planner, and task organizer within a single app. Business calendar 2 supports six different calendar views of the month, week, day, agenda, year, and tasks. There are a flexible daily and weekly planner with adjustable 1-14 days.

Business calendar 2 supports sync with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Exchange, and other popular services. The beautiful yet intuitive user interface eases the navigation between different views. There’s also an inbuilt appointment scheduler with drag and drop events feature. It provides hassle-free event details with convenient dialogs.

Support for status bar reminders and popup notification makes you never miss any event. Seven different native widgets are available for easy accessibility features. Along with online sync option with various services, the users can also use it locally without any internet connection.

It has inbuilt event management tools, including invitee management, heat map in a year view, live search, sharing, and initiations management. There are over 600+ emoticons support to make the calendar look for expressive. Business Calendar 2 Pro version offers several useful features without advertisements.

Download

Android

Fantastical 2

It is a convenient and flexible iOS app that can sync across your Mac calendar. It can easily take control of your events, reminders, and essential meetings by syncing across your iOS device. Fantastical 2 is an award-winning calendar app with several powerful features and an intuitive user interface.

It can sync across different calendar services such as iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, and more. Fantastical 2 supports English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages. It can show event details along with the map for actual locations. The background app allows events, reminders, and alerts notifications, even if the app is not opened for a while.

Fantastical 2 features significant new parser features. Along with reminders, the app also supports geofencing for some automation. The users can add URLs and locations to events, search within the calendar, and integrate other calendar services. Simple voice commands allow you to add calendar events.

It is available on iOS and Mac for $1.99 and $24.99.

Download

iOS | Mac

These are some best alternatives for Google Calendar. Each app mentioned above hosts different features and have their own merits and demerits. If you have any popular recommendations, then let us know via the comments below.

Related: Best AirDroid alternatives and similar softwares for your smartphone

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It took a decade for the tech giants to understand the impact of white screen on the human eyes. According to recent research, the time spent while viewing mobiles has surpassed the TV in 2019. Smartphones have become an essential part of everyone’s life. It has become difficult to survive without smartphones.

Dark Mode is the in-demand feature for smartphone users. It puts less strain eyes by just inverting the colors. Moreover, it even saves battery life on your AMOLED packed phone, improves readability, and looks beautiful.

At the Google IO 2019, the search giant announced system-wide dark mode availability in the Android Q. Since then, the company is facilitating its services with the dark mode. Google Chrome, Calendar, Photos, News, Discover, and Keep are some products and services which have received the Dark Mode capability. Half-baked Dark Mode on the Android 9.0 Pie will become fully furnished in the newer Android version.

In today’s write-up, we will guide you to turn on Dark Mode in Google Apps following the easiest way. Most of the apps have native Dark Mode support. Meanwhile, some need little tweaks. We’ve compiled a list of all the Google services that offer a dark mode with instructions. So let’s start without wasting any additional time.

Enable Dark Mode on Google Apps

Google provides various free-to-use services, such as Gmail, Maps, Search, etc. We use these services in our daily routines, either on desktop/laptops or on mobile devices.

Update: 28 October 2019

Google Play Store

Recently, Google silently rolled out Dark Mode for Google Play Store. A server-side upgrade has rolled out the Dark Mode support for Google Play Store. The dark mode carries gray color instead of black and works with Android 10 toggle. The new dark mode is also available on older Android versions.

Google Duo

The famous video calling app known for its quality video calling has also received the Dark Mode. The Dark mode is available within the contacts list, and users can toggle it by heading to the settings > Choose Theme. The dark grey colored UI does not affect the calling interface.

Google Fi Dark Mode

The Google Fi Dark Mode which is for Google’s own cellular service. It has also eloped into the Dark clothes with a recent update. It works with the native Android 10 Dark mode toggle. It also features dark grey color instead of black. Moreover, you can also manually toggle the Dark Mode by heading to the Settings > App theme.

Gallery Go

The app optimized for the Android Go device has also received the dark theme support. The version 1.0.2 delivers a dark theme that respects the Android 10 system theme, and also has a manual toggle in the settings menu.

Update: 6 August 2019

Google Fit

The dark grey mode for Google Fit was recently made available with v2.16. The Google Fit Dark Mode can be manually applied through the app’s settings. Enable the new way:

1. Update and open Google Fit App.
2. Tap the Profile icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Now, Select the Settings icon from the top-right corner and then tap Display settings.
4. Select Dark Mode from the pop-up menu and enjoy.

Google Files

An important app for Pixel devices to browse the files locally on the phone’s internal storage. In an announcement post to celebrate 100 million users for the Files App, Google revealed the Dark Mod and integrated media player. After a much delay, users can enjoy the dark mode for Google files after updating the app. The new theme carries pue black sections of content which can be a boon for OLED back. To get the Dark mode on Google Files:

1. Update the Google Files App.
2. Open the app and press the menu icon on the top right bar.
3. Now head over to Settings > Other Settings > Toggle Dark Theme and enjoy.

Gmail

The most widely used service of Google in every part of the world. The mailing service is providing service to users since its launch in 2004. The dark mode for Gmail was in line since a long time, but still, it hasn’t made it to the Android App. Unfortunately, Gmail or Google Mail Dark Mode is limited to the Web version only.

Steps to enable Dark Mode in Gmail

1. Open Gmail Web Interface
2. Now, hit the Settings Icon and Open “Themes” Menu.
3. Select “Dark” Theme and press “Save” on the pop-up console.
4. Enjoy the Dark Mode on Gmail

However, the dark Mode on Gmail for Android is in the pipeline and is currently available for the beta version. Interested users can download the Gmail V2019.06.09 for the Dark Mode. It is not stable and fluctuates automatically as per the beta users.

Google Chrome

The world’s most used browser also carries support for Dark Mode. Earlier the Dark Mode was used to be present in the beta, but now it is rolled out on the stable build for some Operating Sytems.

Windows:

Google Chrome for Windows has received the Dark Mode in its stable version. Notably, Chrome’s Dark mode runs in sync with the UI mode on Windows 10. Steps to enable Google Chrome’s Dark Mode on Windows 10:

1. Goto Settings>Personalisation and select Colors tab from sidebar.
2. Now, Scroll down and choose your default app mode to Dark.
3. Google Chrome will automatically switch to Dark Mode.

Android:

Google Chrome for Android also carries Dark Mode support in Beta builds. To enable the dark mode support, users need to toggle some settings. Follow the steps below to enable it:

1. Open chrome://flags/#enable-android-night-mode in Chrome for Android.
2. Select the dropdown menu below ‘Android Chrome UI dark mode‘ and enable it.
3. Relaunch the browser and go to the Settings page.
4. Toggle the ‘Dark Mode‘ option and enjoy.

MacOS:

Google Chrome is also present as the primary browser on Apple’s macOS. Surprisingly, Google Chrome’s Dark Mode also works in sync with the MacOS’ Dark mode as like of Windows 10.

1. Open Apple Settings and navigate to System Preferences.
2. Now, open “General” and locate the “Appearance” menu.
3. Tap the “Dark” option.
4. Google Chrome will automatically shift to dark mode.

Google Photos

It is Google’s free service to store unlimited photos and is being used by various Android users. It also carries some inbuilt AI features which can turn your simple photos into a full, lively video or can beautify with some filters automatically. It is a favorite choice among users who preserve their photos. Google has officially rolled out the Dark Mode support for Photos app. Users can easily enable the Dark Mode in photos on Android Q by enabling system-wide dark mode.

Note: On the Android Q, users need to enable the system-wide dark mode (Night Mode) by heading to the Developer Options. 

Google News

Google’s News app is a catalog of news curated by Google-approved publishers. Users can customize their preferences over the news topics and publishers. They can easily follow interests and publishers for news. Being a kind of newsreader app, Google has fully rolled out the dark mode for News App. Users can easily enjoy the new feature by following the instructions below:

1. Open the Google News App.
2. Tap your round profile icon on the top-left side.
3. Select “Settings” from the slide-up menu.
4. Browse the “Dark theme” option under the General listing.
5. After tapping, select “Always,” “Automatically (at night & Battery Saver),” “Battery Save only,” or “Never” option.
6. The app will automatically update itself with the select preference.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is an essential app to save important dates and add tasks. It recently received dark mode for Android Nougat+ devices. The primary dark grey colored UI of the Google Calendar is impressive. The Dark mode on Google Calendar can be enabled by following the instructions below:

1. Update your Google Calendar App.
2. Now, open the app and tap the “Menu” icon on the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings>General>and tap Theme option.
4. Choose theme style between “Light,” “Dark” or “Set by Battery Saver.“
5. The app will refresh with the selected option

Google Keep

Are you an avid user of note-keeping apps? Then the Google Keep might fit comfortably in your smartphone. It also carries a Dark theme scheme as similar to the other Google Apps. To enable the Google Keep dark mode to follow below:

1. Update Google Keep from the Play Store
2. Open the app, and now enter settings.
3. Tap ‘enable dark mode‘ to toggle the setting.

Google Maps

It is the world’s best maps service available on the digital platform. Google Maps already offers Dark Mode while navigating from one place to another.  However, the full-fledged Dark Mode for Maps is not yet available. Users can easily enable Google Maps Dark mode:

1. Open the Google Maps and tap menu icon on the top-right corner.
2. Now, head over to the Settings>Navigation settings>Map display.
3. Select the Color Scheme options between Automatic, Day, and Night.
4. Choose “Night” option to darken the Navigation window dark even during day time.

Android Messages

The default messaging app for devices based on vanilla Android or Android One Platform. It is the central console where users get simple text messages. The Dark mode on Android Messages is available from August 2018. It can be enabled easily:

1. Tap the hamburger icon on the top-left corner of the Android Messages UI.
2. Now, tap ‘enable dark mode‘ in the menu.
3. The UI will refresh into the dark mode.

YouTube

How anyone can forget about YouTube – the world’s largest online video streaming service. It is the house to most of the videos on the internet. Users spend a significant amount of time watching YouTube videos. To prevent excessive battery drain and save users’ eyes from strain, YouTube enabled Dark Mode on every OS platform. YouTube Dark Mode is available for Windows, Web, Android and iOS operating systems.

Web:

1. Browse to YouTube.com in the browser.
2. Click the Profile Icon, and select the Dark Theme option.
3. Now, turn the Dark theme option on by toggling it.

Android:

1. Update the YouTube Android app.
2. Launch the App, and tap Profile Icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings>General>Dark Theme and toggle it.
4. The app will refresh to dark mode.

iOS:

1. Launch the YouTube app on an iOS device.
2. Tap the Profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings and toggle Dark Theme option to ON position.
4. Exit settings, and enjoy dark mode on YouTube iOS App.

Gboard

It is the native keyboard for Pixel powered Android devices. It is one of the best Android Keyboards available till now on the Play Store. However, there’s nothing official Dark Mode available with Gboard. Users can choose any Dark theme to save eyes from strain and save some battery life.

Google Contacts

The full-fledged dark mode for Google Contacts recently rolled out via version 3.2 update. It carries fully-furnished dark style with the entire interface from the list to contact details turned dark. Follow the instructions below to enable dark mode on Google Contacts:

1. Update the app for Dark Mode.
2. Launch the app and tap the hamburger menu icon on the top-left corner.
3. Now tap ‘Turn dark theme on‘ option.

The option will freeze if the device is using system-wide dark mode.

Google Discover Feed

It is the home for personalized information to most of the Android users. The discover feed brings the information optimized from your activities and actions. It will give you customized news stories, weather, and other information. Google recently added a proper dark theme to the Discover feed. Unfortunately, the inbuilt dark theme is only seen if system-wide Dark Mode is enabled. There’s no manual option or way to turn the Google Discover Feed Dark.

Google Drive

The greate productivity tool for users has also come up with native Dark Mode capability. The users running Android Q can easily avail this facility by enabling system-wide dark mode. Otherwise, users have to wait for the App update to switch Light and Dark Mode on Google Drive app manually.

We hope you have successfully enabled Dark Theme on Google Apps using our guide.

Up Next: How to block system-wide ads on Android without root access?

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