If you Google "can't mark an appointment private on iPhone/iPad/iOS" you will find that there are thousands and thousands of people that are asking for this feature since 2008, and Apple seems resolved to ignore the outcry.
The point of the feature, and the reason calendar collaboration actually *works* as a practical matter, is to allow people who you share your calendar with to see that you're busy at a certain time of day. In plenty of cases, the details are private (a doctor's appointment, travel reservation details, a romantic getaway with your spouse, your mom's birthday, your anniversary, etc.)
Why won't Apple add this incredibly important and useful feature to the calendar? Is there some strategic decision at work here? If so, it's above my pay grade; iOS is beloved and adopted by millions of people.
Millions of people use MS Exchange at work. iOS, in fact, integrates beautifully with Exchange in almost every other way. Apple does not have a corporate groupware product that competes with Exchange. So why not remove one of the last barriers holding people back from ditching BlackBerries, or for that matter, using their iPads at work n a more meaningful way? It's really puzzling.
There are dozens of other forums with this exact same sentiment. We know that Apple loves the user and values the quality of their experience.
Please, we, the users, implore you, Finish this last mile for us. Add the "Private" checkbox to calendar appointments for Exchange calendars. Or at least do us the courtest of responding with an answer as to why you won't.
Respectfully,
Seth Miller
Founder & CEO
Miller Systems, Inc.
Boston, MA