Google’s Calendar App Updates: Manual Addition of Observances
Background
Google Calendar previously incorporated both Black History Month and Pride Month as observed commemorative months, alongside various public holidays and national observances. However, recent changes have removed these pre-added events, requiring users to manually input them and other important moments.
Reasons for the Change
Google cited feedback from users regarding the omission of certain events and countries, as well as the impracticality of manually maintaining hundreds of moments globally. The company has reverted to only displaying public holidays and national observances sourced from timeanddate.com, allowing users to customize their calendars with additional events.
Timeanddate.com Partnership
Timeanddate.com, a Norway-based company, provides Google Calendar with a database of over 7,600 holidays. Google emphasized that while commemorative months like Black History Month and Lunar New Year will no longer be automatically included, the company remains committed to promoting cultural moments through its products.
Customization Options
Users can modify their Google Calendar settings to show, hide, or unhide public holidays and national observances. Despite the removal of pre-added cultural moments, users retain the flexibility to tailor their calendars to reflect their individual needs.
Other Notable Changes
Google’s recent changes extend beyond the Calendar app. The company has also altered the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its Maps app, in accordance with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.
Google’s practice of updating names based on official government sources extends to geographical landmarks as well. The company has implemented changes such as reverting the name of Denali in Alaska to Mount McKinley, based on updates from the U.S. Geological Survey.
User Experience and Feedback
While Google has not provided specific details on user feedback regarding the removal of pre-added cultural moments, it is likely that some users may express concerns or disappointment. The customization options available in the Calendar app, however, allow users to accommodate their preferences and ensure that their calendars accurately reflect their interests and observances.
Broader Implications
Google’s decision to remove pre-added cultural moments may raise questions about the visibility and recognition of diverse cultural events within mainstream technology platforms. It remains to be seen whether other tech companies will follow suit or continue to offer automatic inclusion of such observances in their calendars and other services.
Conclusion
Google’s Calendar app updates reflect a shift towards user customization and provide increased flexibility in managing event reminders and observances. While cultural moments will no longer be automatically added, users have the option to manually include these events, ensuring their visibility within their calendars. The changes also highlight the evolving role of technology in balancing automation with user agency and personalization.
