Download Squad

The new Windows Calendar in Vista might fall a bit short for power users who need all the features Outlook has to offer, but that doesn't mean it can't hold its own for the rest of us. It's a basic, solid calendar and todo manager that allows users to set up multiple color-coded calendars, set alarms and add notes and URLs to items.

In addition to helping you keep track of appointments and things to do, however, Windows Calendar can also get social. Just like Google Calendar, Apple's iCal and many of the web-based calendaring tools available, Windows Calendar can subscribe to just about any public calendar feed. Want to see your favorite TV show's schedule right alongside your classes or client appointments? Or how about your favorite sports team or a local club? You can probably find these schedules at any of the public calendar repositories, and Microsoft just so happens to offer a small list of said repositories at their Windows Calendar product site. Included in the list is their own Microsoft Office site with public calendars (Outlook and Windows Calendar can apparently subscribe to the same calendar formats), Attendio.com, ClendarData.com and even the iCal-inspired iCalShare.

Chances are, if you're into something and need a schedule for it, you can probably find a calendar already waiting for you at one of these sites. Using Windows Calendar, you can easily subscribe to as many calendars as you want, and only toggle to view them when you want to check in on things.