Time to start using a calendar
April 14, 2013 5:34 PM Subscribe
I've finally lost track of my plans enough times where I need to start keeping a calendar. I'd like something that's easy to update on my phone and syncs with wherever else I'd use it (iPhone, iPad, Macbook). The entries will be pretty simple ("birthday party at Bob's house, 9pm on Wednesday", for example…don't really care if there's features beyond that). What do you use?
Best answer: Google Calendar. There may be better options, but it syncs pretty beautifully.
posted by BungaDunga at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I use the same calendar I use at work. It used to be Outlook and we then switched to a Gmail -managed account. If there are others who see your calendar, you can set private appointments as, well, private, so others can't see the name or details.
I like using the same calendar for work and personal appointments because I get reminder notices on my smart phone and my desk top in advance of the event from just one sources.
posted by michellenoel at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013
I like using the same calendar for work and personal appointments because I get reminder notices on my smart phone and my desk top in advance of the event from just one sources.
posted by michellenoel at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013
Best answer: iCal works great for me. Its never not had an option that I needed. Syncs with all Mac stuff, obviously.
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by blaneyphoto at 5:37 PM on April 14, 2013
Best answer: Google calendar syncs with everything, it's the best.
posted by amaire at 5:41 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by amaire at 5:41 PM on April 14, 2013
Best answer: I use Google Calendar - a fun tip if you are making simple entries like the one you mentioned is the Quick Add feature when you're viewing your calendar on the computer. Just hit the Q key and type your sentence (like "birthday party at Bob's house, 9pm on Wednesday"). Hit enter and it'll show up on your calendar.
posted by beyond_pink at 5:48 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by beyond_pink at 5:48 PM on April 14, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks guys - Google Calendar it is!
posted by rastapasta at 5:53 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by rastapasta at 5:53 PM on April 14, 2013
Google recently announced that they are deprecating support for CalDEV, the open standard for exchanging calendar information. They will be replacing it with a proprietary API. Some apps will be allowed to continue accessing Google Calendars with CalDEV, at least for the time being. The moral, though, is that the era of "Google Calendar syncs with everything" may be going the way of Google Reader.
posted by alms at 7:41 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by alms at 7:41 PM on April 14, 2013
Calendars+ by Readdle is a great front end for Google Calendar and will hopefully survive after Google switches Calendar to a prorprietary API. Well worth the cost; buy once for both iPhone and iPad.
posted by Joleta at 7:49 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by Joleta at 7:49 PM on April 14, 2013
Calendar + iCloud sync + Fantasical for easier event entry on both Mac and iOS
posted by nicwolff at 8:23 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by nicwolff at 8:23 PM on April 14, 2013
I use Kerio Connect, which is a Mac friendly Exchange alternative that uses CardDAV (and is 10.6 compatible). While running a server is a big deal, you can also pay a few dollars monthly for an account at Getsyncd. While it is an exchange mail / contacts / calendar solution you can us it for just calendars.
iCloud requires 10.7+ and has not been reliable in my experience.
Google has limitations and are moving away from CardDAV. Who knows how long it will exist. I also prefer paying versus using google.
Busycal and Fantastical (Mac and iOS) are not necessary, but are excellent clients instead of he built in iCal / Calendar.
posted by ridogi at 9:46 PM on April 14, 2013
iCloud requires 10.7+ and has not been reliable in my experience.
Google has limitations and are moving away from CardDAV. Who knows how long it will exist. I also prefer paying versus using google.
Busycal and Fantastical (Mac and iOS) are not necessary, but are excellent clients instead of he built in iCal / Calendar.
posted by ridogi at 9:46 PM on April 14, 2013
I also want to say that I love Fantastical. I could never stick to using a calendar app before it.
posted by theuninvitedguest at 11:17 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by theuninvitedguest at 11:17 PM on April 14, 2013
Yeah, I've gotta also voice my support for Fantastical. I use Daylite now for most everything, but for your needs, you'd seriously be doing yourself a big favor by at least trying out Fantastical on both your MacBook and iPhone. Set up and get to know the keyboard shortcut, and you'll find you're entering practically everything into your calendar. And it's compatible with iCal/Calendar, iCloud and Google Calendar as well.
posted by ferdinandcc at 11:45 PM on April 14, 2013
posted by ferdinandcc at 11:45 PM on April 14, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Etrigan at 5:36 PM on April 14, 2013 [1 favorite]