Get calendar updates on the desktop with Windows Live Calendar Gadget

Online calendars are very useful but remembering to keep a browser window open for them is sometimes easily overlooked. The Windows Live Calendar Gadget can display your calendars on the Desktop making sure that you never forget to check them.

Installation is very simple; it should be possible to select Open or Run when your browser asks what to do with the download. This will add it to the Desktop right away.

Setting up calendars is also straightforward, although there can be several steps to follow depending on the calendars being displayed. As the name suggests, this Gadget supports calendars from a Windows Live account but it can also be used with Google calendars. It can combine the events on more than one calendar. This is particulary useful if you have a shared family or work calendar.

Move the mouse over the Gadget and four small icons should appear. Click on the Spanner to show the Settings window. This can be used to set the calendars included in the Gadget, how often it should check for new events, the appearance and the sound to use for reminders.

The URL for your Google Calendars should be the Private link. To find this start a web browser, go to calendar.google.com and log in. Move the mouse over the calendar you want to include in the gadget and click on the down arrow that appears. Click on Calendar Settings.

Click on the green iCal button in the Private address section to reveal the private URL. Copy and paste this into the Windows Live Calendar Gadget settings window. Repeat for as many calendars as you want to include and click on OK.

Gadgets like this make it a shame that Microsoft has given up on Gadgets.