Apple Invites is a great idea, but Google Photos and Calendar could make it even better – 9to5Google

Earlier this week Apple released its latest app, Apple Invites, as a clever combination of iCloud services for digital event invitations. Apple Invites is a great idea, but one that I can’t help but feel like, with products like Calendar, Gmail, and Photos at the ready, Google could have done better.This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of 9to5Google’s rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox early!Digital invites are something we’ve all used in recent years. The simple idea saves a lot of time and effort sending out physical “save-the-date” cards, and there are a variety of options out there. Apple Invites isn’t breaking new ground, really, but it is delivering a product that better integrates with many of the services its users already have. You and your guests can add photos from the event to a shard iCloud album. Everyone can collaborate on an Apple Music playlist. When it comes time to get to the event, Apple Maps is right there ready to provide navigation.It’s a well-done service, and, to Apple’s credit, it works surprisingly well for Android users, too.But I can’t stop wondering why Google hasn’t already done this. In hindsight, it’s so obvious.Google Calendar is already the go-to planner for so many people. Having a dedicated invite setup like this that’s specific to in-person events would go a long way in simplifying planning, and with Gmail, messaging would be a breeze. YouTube Music integration, and standard YouTube beyond that, would make things even more powerful. The huge userbase of Google Photos would also make shared albums super nice here, and perhaps without the restrictions that Apple has in place for users without an iCloud account.That’s really the key piece to the puzzle here. While Apple’s barrier to entry for Invites is remarkably low, it’d be even lower for Google since the vast majority of people have a Google account. Even if you’re an iPhone user, you probably have a Google account, something that’s not true of iCloud for anyone who’s not invested in Apple’s ecosystem.I think baking the functionality of Apple Invites into Google Calendar would be awesome. But with Google’s focus all-in on AI features, I doubt this will be a priority, even if Apple’s version takes off in popularity.What do you think?February 2025 Pixel updates are hereRight on schedule, Google released the first Pixel updates for February 2025 this week. The main security patch delivers fixes for Bluetooth and Android Auto while the latest Google Play System Update includes Quick Share improvements among other changes.Samsung ends monthly updates for Galaxy S21After four years, Samsung has pulled the plug on monthly updates for the Galaxy S21 series. The S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are now relegated to a quarterly schedule. Android 15 will likely be the last major updates for these devices ahead of their end of life in 2026.9to5Mac: No, Apple didn’t just ‘install’ Elon Musk’s Starlink on everyone’s iPhone9to5Toys: Nintendo has now officially confirmed the date and time for the upcoming Switch 2 Direct showcaseElectrek: Is this our first look at the next-gen Chevy Bolt EV? [Video]Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and InstagramFTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google.Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com.
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Source: http://9to5google.com/2025/02/09/google-calendar-photos-apple-invites/