Is Never Good for You?
October 16, 2014 7:08 AM   Subscribe

I recently moved to Copenhagen, while Mr. Nat is in Phoenix. Help us find software so we can more easily schedule skype calls. Must be multi-platform (Mac, Iphone, Android tablet, Windows, and Linux are all involved) and sync easily.

Now that I'm 9 hrs from Mr. Nat, we're finding scheduling skype calls a little harder than when it was only 3 hrs. We both have semi-irregular schedules (we're academics, so a few things repeat, but many meetings move around) so we are spending an inordinate amount of time when we do talk figuring out when we should next talk (ugh).

Ideally we'd have a calendar that we each sync to our own meeting schedules. It would need to have a week-long view, and to keep track of time zones well- he needs to view it in AZ time, and I need Europe time.

Right now I keep my personal calendar on Google Calendar, which seems to work ok for me, but he uses Apple's calendar solution (which won't work on most of my machines). Also Google Calendar doesn't have a good Iphone solution, and (as far as I know) doesn't have a good week-long view with hourly slots. Additionally it'd be nice to be able to highlight the few hours each day that are good for both time zones, so we can see at glance what works.

Any suggestions?
posted by nat to Computers & Internet (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
There's doodle. I don't think it'll do anything like time zone overlaps, but it's pretty simple if you have a minute to sit and customize it.
posted by phunniemee at 7:13 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]


The Apple calendar app can store appointments in a Google calendar. This could be shared and viewed in your local time zone.

The Time and Date meeting planner shows time zone overlaps and can be useful for finding convenient or, at least, not-too-inconvenient slots.
posted by paulash at 7:40 AM on October 16, 2014


You can sync the two calendars (some instructions for your end). You could add in your sleeping schedules, and then use the 'find a time' feature. I call Copenhagen fairly often from California...in my case, early morning my time/late afternoon CPH time usually works best, but someone who stays up late in the U.S. could also call you early morning your time.
posted by three_red_balloons at 8:52 AM on October 16, 2014


Best answer: Here's what I do: I have separate calendars for each of us (me, MsRoG, kid 1, kid 2). For historical reasons, these are Google calendars, but iCloud will also do this. I subscribe to each of them via my Mac Calendar, as well as on my phone, and so does MsRoG. We both have edit access, so each of can enter appointments on the go, and we can all see what's up when.

Google Calendar -> New calendar -> Share this calendar -> Invite by email. Make sure the permissions are set correctly (See, Make Changes, or Make Changes and Share).

The important bit is to not try to sync and edit the same calendar - that way lies madness (or at least, latency and lag issues). Use separate calendars for each of you and just subscribe to each other.

For my too-often teleconferences, I've been happy with Doodle. (Turn on time zone support, people! Don't do it in your head.) But for what you're suggesting, the calendar suggestion is probably better.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:14 AM on October 16, 2014


It's not precisely a scheduling tool but you might want to take a look at the Couples app for iOS or Android. It's meant to be sort of a long-distance relationship manager.

Here's a review that sort of gets at the real point of it.
posted by Naberius at 12:07 PM on October 16, 2014


My wife and I use couple all the time for chatting, sharing links and making lists but it's not much for calendars and scheduling...
posted by noloveforned at 12:25 PM on October 18, 2014


Response by poster: For future readers, Google Calendar actually turns out to be quite good for this purpose.

Also of use: there's a Google Labs that lets you add a world clock to Calendar. (it's currently under the gear icon, then under labs, then at the bottom of the list). It shows you what time it currently is in a customizable set of cities, and if you click on an event, shows you what time the event is starting in those same cities.

Pretty handy. (Especially because this week he's flying to Tasmania).
posted by nat at 4:16 PM on October 29, 2014


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