(March 14, 2022 – Update! I saw a note in the MacPoweUser forum that Flexibits was having a 75% off sale. Instead of paying $40 for a year, it’s only $10. So I went ahead and am giving it a try. But I’d be surprised if I continue next year at full price …)
New Features Introduced and Enhanced
This past week Flexibits, the publisher of the calendar app Fantastical, released version 3.6 with several new and enhanced features.
This version introduces the new “Openings” feature, a scheduling tool that allows others to schedule a meeting with you when you have open time. They’ve also enhanced the “Proposals” feature, which allows you to offer several specific times to invitees.
With this version comes the new “Quarter View.” This allows you to see three months at a time on your calendar, which would be a useful feature for those who plan by the quarter. In addition, this version brings several improvements in the sidebar on the Mac and iPad, and the DayTicker and Calendar views on the iPhone.
MacSparky Calendar Deep Dive
Many Mac power users and productivity pros are fans of Fantastical. Last month, David Sparks, a.k.a. MacSparky, did a “Calendars Deep Dive” video for the Early Access members of his subscription program, MacSparky Labs.
In his Deep Dive, David explained and illustrated the large number of ways he uses Fantastical to keep track of his busy calendar. He uses it in his planning, hyper-scheduling (block scheduling), and time-tracking to keep up with his podcasts, blogging, membership program content, field guide development and production, etc. My impression is that he wrings nearly every possible benefit out of the app for keeping on top of his work and that for him, it’s a great fit.
I watched the Calendar Deep Dive with the hope that I would be convinced that I needed a subscription to Fantastical. After all, I wanted to use the same app all the cool people use, since that would make me feel like a cool person as well!
Apple Calendar Does Everything I Need, Free
But alas, I was to be disappointed, as I realized I had almost no need for any of the great features offered by Fantastical. Presently, everything I require is in Apple Calendar.
With minimal hassle (not quite as easy as Fantastical) I can enter events on my calendar and revise them as necessary. I have several separately colored calendars for me, my wife, the two of us, time blocking, etc. Everything syncs between my Macs, my iPads, and my iPhone. That’s really all I require for now, and I’m guessing that’s all most users need.
And the best thing about Apple Calendar is that it’s free. It comes gratis with all Apple devices. On the other hand, a Premium Subscription to Fantastical costs a hefty $40 per year plus tax. I guess I just don’t value the missed “coolness” factor at $40 a year.
I’m sure there are people (like MacSparky) who find great value and benefit in a Fantastical subscription. Maybe I will someday as my schedule continues to add activities. I’ll remain open to a Fantastical subscription sometime in the future, but not now. Apple Calendars does the job for me.