31Squares Review

I love going out to concerts and events when they come to my area, but it’s hard to keep track of everything and scoring tickets in time. 31Squares is a new free calendar app that helps iOS users get to where they need to be and helps them to discover events, places, performers, and activities in their area.

31Squares requires access to the user's current location to get started. It’s not required to sign up to use the app, but it’s encouraged if users wish to take advantage of the calendar feature. The app didn’t initially recognize my current location, but I was able to go in and enter the desired city into it. While users can search for a specific event, it’s also possible to browse by category such as Sports, Concerts, Performing Arts, Nightlife, and More. Tapping on the event shows the date, time, summary, and location. iOS users can then purchase tickets, share the event, or add it to their calendar. Events can be viewed all at once or users can see what’s happening today, tomorrow, this week or within a certain date range. While this makes it great to see what’s happening locally, this is also a wonderful idea for those on vacation or anyone who travels often.

31Squares features its own calendar, but iOS users can import iCal, GCal, and Outlook calendars as well so everything is in one convenient location. What’s also great about the calendar feature is that if the venue or event changes, the app promises to immediately notify users and update the information.

31Squares is perfect for iPhone users who are always trying to find something to do, but there are a few bugs that need to be worked out to make the app even better. For instance, after I tapped on the import calendar button the app crashed. After opening it back up, I didn’t see any of my information imported into the calendar. Additionally, the calendar looks tiny on the iPhone so it's hard to see all the events at first glance. Tapping on a specific date allows users to see more information, but it would be easier to zoom into the calendar or provide a large viewing area.

All in all, 31Squares is off to a great start. It’s not only ideal for iOS users to find events, but it’s a great way for businesses to promote their events and activities. The interface is easy-to-use and it didn’t take long for me to find events in my area with just a few taps. Since 31Squares is completely free, it’s worth adding to the home screen to have on-hand the next time boredom strikes.