Google Mobile Apps - access your Google apps on mobile web browsers

  

Google has a huge number of apps and resources available (for free). Many of the apps sync or work natively on smartphones (like Calendar), but many do not work on all smartphones or mobile browsers.

Google does have a good number of their apps that are made for mobile access so that you can access them on your phone.

To access these apps, just use your phone's browser and visit m.google.com to see what apps are available for your phone make and model. If you go to this site, you can even send the link to your phone. I even made the mobile apps site link a permanent "app" on my HP/Palm Pre+ for easy access.

These mobile apps don't all have the full functionality of the full app (for instance, you can't create or edit Docs on many of the mobile devices). But, you can still access your files and data using these mobile apps.

Google's Mobile Apps extends the usability of Google's many applications so that you can use them anywhere.

(I've written a lot about Google's apps. I do not get paid or compensated by Google for this. I have found their apps to be well designed and easy to use.)

Google Calendar - get organized for free - great for education too

Google Calendar is a great, free resource from Google. Everyone needs a calendar to stay organized and on schedule. Google calendar is free, easy to use, and accessible from any web browser and is also available on mobile browsers on smartphones. Many smartphones, like Android, iPhone and HP/Palm webOS, automatically sync the device calendar with Google Calendar and there is syncing available for other phones too.  It can also sync events with Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal and Mozilla Sunbird.


You can easily create new events, set up reminders (pop up, SMS, or email), set up repeating events and more. One of the features of Google Calendar that makes it very useful is the ability to share calendars with other people. You can share the calendar with read only access, or grant someone else the ability to edit your calendar too. You can share your classroom or school calendar with others for easy viewing and a team (or family) can share their calendars with each other or even use one calendar.


You can set up your calendar to see other shared calendars on it. For instance, my wife and I share our calendars so we know when the other has an appointment or schedule change. You can even display set calendars, such as US Holidays or team schedules on your calendar. Each will have a different color so you can tell things apart.


It also allows you to send invites for events to others and they can RSVP via email or via Google Calendar.


You can also display your Google Task list on your calendar page and if you set a due date for a task item, that task will show up on your calendar for that day.


Google Calendar is a great resource for anyone looking to stay organized and on schedule and is also great for schools, teachers, and teams to use.







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Google Calendar Icon now displays actual date

Google Calendar's favicon (the icon in your tab on your browser) used to just display "31". Starting today, Google is rolling out a new feature: the favicon will now display the actual current date. Not a huge change, but one that makes it a little more useful. Just look at the browser tab and you can check the date.

It will be rolling out over the next few days, so don't worry if you don't have it yet.

This is the second update to Google products this week, with Google Docs now having Pagination and native printing from the browser.