duncantho

Q: Workable syncable options to Calendars?

I have given up trying to get OS X Calendar and iOS Calendar to sync, either through iTunes or iCloud. Are there third-party options that avoid going through either iCloud or iTunes? My iPhone is on iOS 9.3.1 and OS X 10.8.5. It's impractical for me to upgrade beyond Mountain Lion for now, because I'm dependent on FireWire hard drives.

iPhone SE, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 13, 2016 10:51 AM

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Q: Workable syncable options to Calendars?

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  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz May 13, 2016 12:45 PM in response to duncantho
    Level 7 (20,819 points)
    iPhone
    May 13, 2016 12:45 PM in response to duncantho

    Most mail accounts support calendar syncing of their own and there are plenty of third party Cal apps. Just search.

     

    Your iOS is version 9.3.1. This requires iTunes 12.2 for compatibility.

     

    I'm confused on why you think updating Mountain Lion (software) will have issues with FireWire (hardware)? Tell us what mac you have and we'll tell you if you can upgrade OS X.

  • by duncantho,

    duncantho duncantho May 13, 2016 1:00 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 1:00 PM in response to Rysz

    Thanks for your reply Rysz. I realize there are lots of calendar apps. It's unclear to me though which ones rely on iTunes or iCloud for sync — those would be ones I want to avoid. Perhaps there's a DropBox work-around, or some other cloud service. By the way I have iTunes 12.3.3.17 and iOS 9.3.1. Contacts work fine but I've wasted far too much time trying to get Calendar to sync reliably.

     

    As regards FireWire, Apple stopped supporting it fully after Mountain Lion. On later OS versions, as I've found from experience, the HDDs work but they don't spin down. I have a mid-2007 iMac, which I know can be upgraded to El C. but would stick me with the FireWire problem.

  • by Rysz,Helpful

    Rysz Rysz May 13, 2016 1:18 PM in response to duncantho
    Level 7 (20,819 points)
    iPhone
    May 13, 2016 1:18 PM in response to duncantho

    Personally, I would be very reluctant to try anything from smaller companies that might not be around tomorrow. Did you try the calendar options from Google or Microsoft?

     

    Fantastical always had great reviews and people swear by it, but it's not cheap.

     

    CHeck the five suggestions here: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-best-mac-calendar-apps-add-ons/

     

    I can understand how constant issues with software might discourage someone, but many millions of users have no issues with Calendar syncing. If you have the strength, post specific issues that you're experiencing in separate posts and the Community might be able help.

  • by duncantho,

    duncantho duncantho May 13, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 2:00 PM in response to Rysz

    Thanks again Rysz.

     

    I'm now looking into the Google and Microsoft Sunrise options. I'm not generally thrilled with Google's approach to UI but gmail definitely works well. I'm checking out both the Google iOS app and Sunrise's use of Google Calendar (anything but Exchange). Anyway I'm checking them out now. I shall report back, but it may take me a while.

     

    Regards

  • by duncantho,

    duncantho duncantho May 13, 2016 2:02 PM in response to duncantho
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 2:02 PM in response to duncantho

    I've just seen that Microsoft is shutting down Sunrise in August, so that's one less.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root May 14, 2016 8:25 AM in response to duncantho
    Level 9 (72,417 points)
    iTunes
    May 14, 2016 8:25 AM in response to duncantho

    What problems are you having  syncing Calendar using iCloud?

     

    Calendar Troubleshooting

     

    Calendar and iCal Troubleshooting - Advanced

  • by duncantho,

    duncantho duncantho May 14, 2016 9:32 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 14, 2016 9:32 AM in response to Eric Root

    HI Eric, and thanks for the links.

     

    As it happens, I have tried most, if not all, of Apple's suggestions (and others'). I may have missed something but my hair is turning grey over the time I've spent. I did eventually get Calendar to the point where it would sync some stuff, some times, across my different devices. But I need reliability.

     

    I switched yesterday to Google Calendars and I have to say that, despite a less refined look, it was easy to import Calendar's calendars and get them all to sync. Perhaps one day when I get a newer Mac I shall try Calendar again. I do use Contacts, by the way, through iTunes.