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Yahoo Calendar Beta On Track To Challenge Google Cal
Posted by Gina Trapani at 6:51 AM on October 11, 2008
Tester invites started going out to the dramatically-overhauled new Yahoo Calendar beta, and we were one of the lucky ones to give it a spin. The new look and feel brings YCal into 2008 (finally!) with a dynamic interface including drag and drop events, Flickr integration, multiple calendar subscriptions and—gasp!—a built-in to-do list. For too long, YCal has looked like it was stuck in 1998, even though it launched way earlier than Google Calendar or other flashy web-based calendar tools, so we're thrilled to see it get back in the game. Let's take a look at the new YCal beta in action; a full screenshot and a quick screencast are yours below.
As Webware reports, the YCal beta is based on Zimbra, the open source email, contacts, and calendaring solution Yahoo acquired last year. Here's a full-sized screenshot a monthly view, with the default Flickr calendar enabled, which right now shows you random photos on certain days (but will eventually integrate your photos by date):
Here's what the beta looks like in action as I click around it a bit:
As you can see, you can subscribe to multiple calendars in YCal, and you can also share calendars with other users, set reminders for events via IM, SMS, or email, and set up repeating events (like weekly meetings and yearly birthdays). The beta isn't complete yet; if you do get chosen to check it out you'll get a list of what you'll give up by using the beta (including syncing capabilities, Yahoo Groups calendar access, event search, and prefab time guides, all of which are "coming soon.")
Here's a narrated screencast of the new overhaul by a Yahoo employee.
To opt into the YCal beta, hit up this page to throw your hat in the ring.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
joeny1980
Posted 8:00 AM 11/10/08
I love my Google Calendar ... but maybe its just that I love an online calendar. I'm a big google fan, but google calendar isnt all that impressive. The interface works well but its just not sleek. It should be a good looking product. A company like google ... I dont expect that they would make a calendar that just copies a paper calendar format - I expect them to make a calendar that changes the way we see and use calendars.
joeny1980
Rogue
Posted 8:42 AM 11/10/08
Very sweet! :-) Just one more reason for me to love my Yahoo account even more. ;-)
Rogue
Asian Angel
Posted 8:53 AM 11/10/08
That looks great...especially with the built in to-do list and Flickr photos. ^__^
Asian Angel
transient
Posted 9:12 AM 11/10/08
I'll pass on the Flickr photos, but a To-Do list in Gcal would be nice.
transient
qrius
Posted 9:11 AM 11/10/08
I like google calendar not just b/c of the interface, but b/c of it's usability. I can add via my phone by texting. I can do quick add through the quick add link. I can easy enter a weekly appt by saying something like "take out trash 7pm every monday". I can use launchy to do it.
It works very well for me especially with the text reminders (I have unlimited texting) and I find no reason to go explore another method. Yahoo lost me a long time ago b/c I was getting sick of all the loud ads they were throwing at my face.
qrius
tarch
Posted 9:08 AM 11/10/08
I've tried it out and I am very impressed. It is currently missing some functionality, but it still has a some great use. I currently use Airset, but if Yahoo's syncing capabilities prove to work well, I'll be switching.
tarch
Quine
Posted 9:42 AM 11/10/08
@canadianco: it's really easy, I did it in 5 mins a couple months ago.
Yahoo Calendar and Mail 2 have totally* surpassed google's tools in both usability and core functionality in my opinion. I'm really proud to see Yahoo ushering in a great new set of webapps now. I switched to gmail/gcal/igoogle a few years back because they were new and had lots of features...but they've REALLY stagnated. Google's 'put out cool software then never finish it' approach is really tiring, and I'm ready for all my friends to join me in switching to services that actually GO PAST BETA.
Full disclosure: I've used both companies' services for 3+ years each when they were new. Google's lack of customer service has really pissed me off and made me like them less. Plus they're kind of evil in my opinion.
*yahoo mail really really really really needs threading though.
Quine
canadianco
Posted 9:35 AM 11/10/08
I wish they had done this 2 years ago. I gave up on Yahoo! Calendar and migrated to Google back then. I wonder how much of a pain it'll be to switch back...
canadianco
XianZhuXuande
Posted 9:56 AM 11/10/08
Beta web app, huh?
Is that going to lead to a trademark issue with Google?
XianZhuXuande
Quine
Posted 10:12 AM 11/10/08
@XianZhuXuande: Naw it'll actually leave beta within a reasonable timeframe :P Hopefully before they get sued for using google's favorite word.
Quine
dougaitken
Posted 10:12 AM 11/10/08
I can see why some people may like it but I've loved G Cal for far too long now. I'm such an effing Google app fan boy!
dougaitken
dougaitken
Posted 10:11 AM 11/10/08
@XianZhuXuande: LOL! I totally agree!
dougaitken
pinkskittles
Posted 10:37 AM 11/10/08
@canadianco: yeah just export your calendar from gcal and import it into ycal. it'll possibly be a *.ics file (that's what they do for ical exports anyway, and gcal supports it so i don't see why ycal wouldn't). like the above user said, takes maybe 5 minutes max!
pinkskittles
pinkskittles
Posted 10:34 AM 11/10/08
this is sexier than google calendar, for sure. i used to love google calendar when i was away. i mainly synced my iCal to it... but i find that calDAV is not very dependable so i no longer do that. plaxo no longer works for google calendar for some reason. i just sync iCal to plaxo and use plaxo if i need to see my calendar when i'm not near my phone or computer. the plaxo sync to their server has deemed to be the most impressive, without "accidentally" deleting all of my events *cough* gcal's calDAV *cough* ... so plaxo isn't the sexiest calendar, but i just need a dependable calendar to sync with my iCal (that isn't in some $99/year cloud).
plaxo for me for these reasons! although if i were to go back to an online calendar as my main one, i'd probably check out ycal. i think plaxo may offer sync with ycal, i don't remember.. that could be good if i for some reason got tired of the plaxo calendar. i don't mind it though, it's still good!
pinkskittles
markaduffy
Posted 10:24 AM 11/10/08
sorry meant 5 years of mail with hotmail.
markaduffy
markaduffy
Posted 10:23 AM 11/10/08
looks great. I would love to start using yahoo but have 5 years of mail with yahoo that i cant lose.
markaduffy
mac-phisto
Posted 11:21 AM 11/10/08
awesome. i HATE outlook, but until now, i haven't found a suitable competing calendar program mainly b/c they all lack the to-do-list. FINALLY someone realized why so many people still chain themselves to that crippled software.
mac-phisto
bhageman
Posted 1:58 PM 11/10/08
One updated "beta" web app in a sea of useless crapware isn't going to regain my business...
bhageman
pschroeter
Posted 2:21 PM 11/10/08
Are there any changes planned for that little calendar widget I have on my MyYahoo front page?
pschroeter
Twodeadpoets
Posted 3:35 PM 11/10/08
I love my gCal and have never really been an Y fan but maybe it's time to take another look at that relationship.
I REALLY like the ToDo function and adding images to the calendar is pretty cool as well. Can't understand why g hasn't done any of this yet.
Twodeadpoets
gpzbc
Posted 3:29 PM 11/10/08
oooohhhhhh, I wish gcal would get a to do list.
gpzbc
Twodeadpoets
Posted 3:47 PM 11/10/08
Funny, I just tired signing up for ycal but it said, "The new Yahoo! Calendar Beta doesn't work in your language yet. The team is working around the clock to translate everything in your language.
By the way, did you know there are over 6,000 languages in the world?"
I guess it must only be in Swahili because I speak English.
Twodeadpoets
Amethyst02
Posted 12:17 AM 12/10/08
@XianZhuXuande:
Best Post Ever!
Amethyst02
tamoriel
Posted 2:17 AM 12/10/08
@mac-phisto: Google Calendar + RememberTheMilk = Win.
tamoriel
DangerousLiberal
Posted 2:39 AM 12/10/08
@undefined: Yes. In fact, I'd like to see Google or yahoo give us something really integrated--mail, calendar, tasks, contacts--that works and plays well together and that provides some level of Palm sync (for when I am out of the country and cannot use the Treo). Having to flip between browser windows is a drag. I know we can pull together lots of stuff into a window with various greasemonkey scripts, but this seems kind of kludgy to me.
DangerousLiberal
mjschmidt
Posted 2:48 AM 12/10/08
@Twodeadpoets: I got the same error message (Ontario, Canada). So apparently Canadian English is so different from US English that we have to wait for a translation. Must be all the extra "eh"s. ;-)
mjschmidt
haydenphb
Posted 3:17 AM 12/10/08
Finally...this is the first reason I've had to be glad I went with my Yahoo account in years. I hope it lives up to what ya'll said it would be!
haydenphb
Lil-ndn
Posted 11:51 AM 12/10/08
Well, dare i say it, but i'm not that big on "google." Anybody comp this against Sunbird? Been using it just a short, but always looking for somethin' better...FTW, Freedom Thru Wisdom, RIDE SAFE RIDE FREE!!!
Lil-ndn
beeJ
Posted 4:23 PM 12/10/08
I don't really feel like switching from using mostly Google Account linked services to Yahoo! Services, or even mixing it up. But hey, I might give it a try if it turns out to be a lot better!
beeJ
J-Mac
Posted 4:20 PM 12/10/08
Ahhh, I went and tried to view it but was redirected to a page that says the beta is filled. Oh well...
Jim
J-Mac
vor0nwe
Posted 9:23 PM 12/10/08
@XianZhuXuande: ROTFL!
vor0nwe
metalmarious
Posted 10:41 PM 12/10/08
@qrius: same goes for me
I quick add events through launchy you would need to make something similar
I think I removed those stupid adds with RIP or No script add on...
metalmarious
ibgap
Posted 6:01 AM 13/10/08
I look forward to this upgrade; however, I wish Yahoo would spend time on problems that plague their current e-mail system. Like the inability to search for e-mail prior to the current year. This alone is making me consider jumping ship.
ibgap
damiththa
Posted 2:51 AM 14/10/08
i don't know, hope this will keep my attaintion with yahoo, coz right now, i'm losing it. Well, it does look thogh
damiththa
dannielo
Posted 3:26 AM 14/10/08
Nice they added to-do list.
However, until they add things like projects or checklists I'll stick with the calendar from [www.Gtdagenda.com]
dannielo
Saibot
Posted 7:10 AM 15/10/08
The question I want answered is will Yahoo finally open their calendars to any/all ical clients. That has always been a sore-spot for me. It's why I moved away from Yahoo Groups: you just can't get to their calendars from outside Yahoo. Unless they unlock that door, there's no way I'd switch back.
Saibot