How to export and download a copy of your Google Gmail and Calendar data

According to the Gmail blog, it is now possible to download and export a copy of your Gmail account and calendar data from Google.

To download a copy of your data:

• Click this link - https://www.google.com/settings/takeout/custom/gmail,calendar
• Choose your options

• Click Create Archive

How useful is this data? Meaning is it in an open format? Easy to import elsewhere?

Just a curiosity really.

When I tried it I got a zip file that had a standard .ics file compatible with Microsoft Outlook inside it.

Google also leaves the archive online, so technically this gives you a way to maintain a few backups and ability to "rollback" your calendar or use it to populate a new calendar.

Some users have the optoin to download a copy of their Gmail too, but my account doesn't seem to have that ability enabled yet.