iCal replacement
May 1, 2012 7:45 PM Subscribe
I need an iCal replacement for Mac OS 10.6...
I’m not upgrading to 10.7, I’m not interested in any Google or Microsoft stuff. I’m trying to figure out what to do now that MobileMe is shutting down. I’m just ditching most of it, but I need to replace iCal. I only use it for very simple tasks, but I’d like it to sync between my computers. I don’t use any mobile devices.
This seems so simple, but I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. I’ve seen a couple of things that were $50 and up, but I don’t really do anything that complicated, so that seems a little much.
I’m not upgrading to 10.7, I’m not interested in any Google or Microsoft stuff. I’m trying to figure out what to do now that MobileMe is shutting down. I’m just ditching most of it, but I need to replace iCal. I only use it for very simple tasks, but I’d like it to sync between my computers. I don’t use any mobile devices.
This seems so simple, but I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. I’ve seen a couple of things that were $50 and up, but I don’t really do anything that complicated, so that seems a little much.
So, can you say what it is that makes you not-interested in Google? There are tons of totally-valid reasons for not wanting to use google calendar, but my gut reaction for "I want to ditch iCal but still sync across systems" is to suggest Google's solution instead, and more clarity around your specific requirements would help.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:02 PM on May 1, 2012
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:02 PM on May 1, 2012
Fantastical works with iCloud, among other things.
posted by ignignokt at 8:12 PM on May 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ignignokt at 8:12 PM on May 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Fantastical is cool, but it still requires a calendar app as a backend - iCal, gCal, Outlook, etc.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:14 PM on May 1, 2012
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:14 PM on May 1, 2012
I too am interested in why you might not want to use google.
I switched to Google years ago, syncing calendars/contacts/mail between several computers, my phone, ipad is simple, painless, and has worked flawlessly for me. I'm a mac geek and I seriously don't think there is a better solution than google.
posted by HuronBob at 8:15 PM on May 1, 2012
I switched to Google years ago, syncing calendars/contacts/mail between several computers, my phone, ipad is simple, painless, and has worked flawlessly for me. I'm a mac geek and I seriously don't think there is a better solution than google.
posted by HuronBob at 8:15 PM on May 1, 2012
FWIW, I use Google Calendar with a throw-away account to sync iCal calendars & Address Book entries between multiple machines (all 10.6), and I also have a shared calendar between my gf's machine (10.7) & mine. Everything is done in iCal / Address Book; I haven't even used a browser on that Google account since I set it up.
It's not quite as visually seamless as using MobileMe for syncing, but it's certainly better than anything else I've tried. If you've got a philosophical objection to Google, then fair enough - but if you're only concerned about the practical aspects, then I'd suggest giving it a go.
posted by Pinback at 8:18 PM on May 1, 2012
It's not quite as visually seamless as using MobileMe for syncing, but it's certainly better than anything else I've tried. If you've got a philosophical objection to Google, then fair enough - but if you're only concerned about the practical aspects, then I'd suggest giving it a go.
posted by Pinback at 8:18 PM on May 1, 2012
Response by poster: I’m just generally not interested in Google. I suppose if I have to…or maybe I’ll just say screw it and keep the info on only one computer.
To clarify; I just want the information to sync with computers in the same house, 2009 style. I don’t need or want any "cloud" services (I wasn’t even thrilled with iCal switch a while back), when I’m out of town I only have the laptop and don’t need a sync until I get home. I just want things to work like they have for years. I keep very simple records of exercise, work, meetings, etc. sometimes not even an entry every day. A to do list and address book would complete the package.
I don’t want to sound like I’m looking only for free, I’m willing to pay $50 or so, but only need a very simple app.
God, Apple is being a pain in the ass about this.
posted by bongo_x at 8:59 PM on May 1, 2012
To clarify; I just want the information to sync with computers in the same house, 2009 style. I don’t need or want any "cloud" services (I wasn’t even thrilled with iCal switch a while back), when I’m out of town I only have the laptop and don’t need a sync until I get home. I just want things to work like they have for years. I keep very simple records of exercise, work, meetings, etc. sometimes not even an entry every day. A to do list and address book would complete the package.
I don’t want to sound like I’m looking only for free, I’m willing to pay $50 or so, but only need a very simple app.
God, Apple is being a pain in the ass about this.
posted by bongo_x at 8:59 PM on May 1, 2012
Google is really your answer here.. mail/contacts/calendar/todo lists are all integrated. And, although you're not looking for a cloud service, consider it a great backup and transition tool when you upgrade computers/phones/etc.
posted by HuronBob at 9:25 PM on May 1, 2012
posted by HuronBob at 9:25 PM on May 1, 2012
Well, in practice, using iCal / Address Book with Google is exactly the same as using it with MobileMe. The only differences are (a) it's slightly more difficult to set it up (i.e. not automatic, but nearly so), and (b) you see your Google account name rather than your MobileMe account name in the left-hand pane.
I happen to be at one of my computers that isn't sync'd through Google at the moment, but I'll check back later when I'm in front of one and see if I can add anything.
posted by Pinback at 9:28 PM on May 1, 2012
I happen to be at one of my computers that isn't sync'd through Google at the moment, but I'll check back later when I'm in front of one and see if I can add anything.
posted by Pinback at 9:28 PM on May 1, 2012
Technically, syncing iCal.app and Address Book.app via MobileMe (and before that .Mac) is over "the cloud" but it was before "the cloud" became a thing.
I was thinking could cobble something together to sync your addresses and appointments by cobbling something together with dropbox but that is cloud-based.
Moving to Google would be pretty much the exact experience you had in 2009. I guess you can do the same thing with Yahoo if you want to live dangerously.
posted by birdherder at 9:38 PM on May 1, 2012
I was thinking could cobble something together to sync your addresses and appointments by cobbling something together with dropbox but that is cloud-based.
Moving to Google would be pretty much the exact experience you had in 2009. I guess you can do the same thing with Yahoo if you want to live dangerously.
posted by birdherder at 9:38 PM on May 1, 2012
A lot, if not all, vendors are doing the sync with servers ('the cloud') instead of between multiple machines because it's so much simpler.
I know you're not interested in Google, so I won't recommend it here (uh, but, boy is a certain on-line Calendar and Address Book solution handy, and it works on my phone and all my computers and is no fuss at all)
posted by zippy at 9:42 PM on May 1, 2012
I know you're not interested in Google, so I won't recommend it here (uh, but, boy is a certain on-line Calendar and Address Book solution handy, and it works on my phone and all my computers and is no fuss at all)
posted by zippy at 9:42 PM on May 1, 2012
Best answer: SyncTogether does what you're looking for, and works with Mac OS 10.6, but I'd beware - it's incompatible with 10.7, so if you're forced into upgrading (which you may well be someday - for example, if you need to buy a new Mac) you'll have to find yet another solution.
BusyCal is an iCal-like calendar app that can sync its calendars with other instances of BusyCal on other machines over a home network. Alternatively, the same developer offers BusySync, which adds that local sync functionality to iCal. However, neither BusyCal or BusySync syncs Address Book.
Zimbra is an open-source mail, calendaring and contacts server that supports CalDAV sync (for iCal) and CardDAV sync (for Address Book), as well as providing slick web interface for all three. If you're averse to Google the corporation even if Google's functionality is desirable, Zimbra provides a similar experience to Google's mail, calendar and contacts functions.
While the best bet with Zimbra is probably just to purchase a Zimbra account from a provider - which will give you not just synchronization with your desktop machines, but also your phone - but if you truly want a full featured sync server in your home away from the cloud, you can download the community edition and run it on your own server. It's quite a bit more work than setting up MobileMe, SyncTogether or BusyCal, though.
And, of course, what everyone else is saying about Google is true. A Google account provides the same calendar sync/contact sync services as MobileMe for free, and is accessible anywhere for desktop or phone, and works with both 10.6 and 10.7, so it really is hard to beat.
posted by eschatfische at 10:28 PM on May 1, 2012
BusyCal is an iCal-like calendar app that can sync its calendars with other instances of BusyCal on other machines over a home network. Alternatively, the same developer offers BusySync, which adds that local sync functionality to iCal. However, neither BusyCal or BusySync syncs Address Book.
Zimbra is an open-source mail, calendaring and contacts server that supports CalDAV sync (for iCal) and CardDAV sync (for Address Book), as well as providing slick web interface for all three. If you're averse to Google the corporation even if Google's functionality is desirable, Zimbra provides a similar experience to Google's mail, calendar and contacts functions.
While the best bet with Zimbra is probably just to purchase a Zimbra account from a provider - which will give you not just synchronization with your desktop machines, but also your phone - but if you truly want a full featured sync server in your home away from the cloud, you can download the community edition and run it on your own server. It's quite a bit more work than setting up MobileMe, SyncTogether or BusyCal, though.
And, of course, what everyone else is saying about Google is true. A Google account provides the same calendar sync/contact sync services as MobileMe for free, and is accessible anywhere for desktop or phone, and works with both 10.6 and 10.7, so it really is hard to beat.
posted by eschatfische at 10:28 PM on May 1, 2012
I'm just going to chime in and say that google calendar in tandem with iCal is great. No, not great, perfect. Everything is automatically updated to my android phone via Jorte, and also to my iPod touch. All of this is done through wifi! Once you set it up, it's anywhere you want it to be, just like that!
posted by oceanjesse at 10:46 PM on May 1, 2012
posted by oceanjesse at 10:46 PM on May 1, 2012
Also, if I add an event on one device, it shows up on all the others! It's free! I recommend "GooCal" for iOS.
I think I've covered all my bases, personally.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:54 PM on May 1, 2012
I think I've covered all my bases, personally.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:54 PM on May 1, 2012
Best answer: It's also possible to use iCal 4 (the version that comes with OS 10.6.8) to display and modify iCloud calendars. See here, for example. I've been doing this since the fall, and while it was a little finicky to set up, it's been ticking along quite nicely ever since.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:40 AM on May 2, 2012
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:40 AM on May 2, 2012
If you are absolutely allergic to anything "cloudy", BusySync will let you sync between instances of iCal on your LAN. I used it that way for a while (though in fact, I actually found it easier to sync via google calendar, which it can also do).
I know there are a number of tools for sharing or syncing address books. I have never used any, so I can't recommend any. In theory, you could run your own LDAP server.
But on 10.7, I just use iCloud and call it a day. It's easy and it works.
posted by adamrice at 8:28 AM on May 2, 2012
I know there are a number of tools for sharing or syncing address books. I have never used any, so I can't recommend any. In theory, you could run your own LDAP server.
But on 10.7, I just use iCloud and call it a day. It's easy and it works.
posted by adamrice at 8:28 AM on May 2, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers. I guess I’ll just wait until the shut the whole thing down and then see if I can either get this to work with iCloud, and/or set up Chronosync or Synk Pro to sync the files.
posted by bongo_x at 6:33 PM on May 2, 2012
posted by bongo_x at 6:33 PM on May 2, 2012
Be aware that google sync has it's own limitations. It also doesn't sync address book groups. The already mentioned BusyCal is excellent.
posted by ridogi at 10:01 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by ridogi at 10:01 AM on May 3, 2012
Response by poster: I finally followed Johnny Assay’s advice and got it syncing. Thanks. Still working on Address Book.
posted by bongo_x at 10:39 PM on July 7, 2012
posted by bongo_x at 10:39 PM on July 7, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bongo_x at 7:49 PM on May 1, 2012