BusyCal 1.5.4
BusyMac has released BusyCal 1.5.4, an update to its calendaring app. The latest release focuses primarily on compatibility with Apple’s upcoming Mac OS X Lion, including Lion’s full-screen mode, trackpad gestures, new scrollbar schemes, and year-less birthday reminders. In addition, BusyCal now supports interaction with the Fantastical calendaring app, and provides better interaction with Google Calendar and other WebDAV servers. Several fixes and improvements round out the update. ($49.99 new, free update, 6.7 MB, release notes)
I've been using BusyCal for about a year on my home computers and work computers. Link it via Google Calendar and the thing really works with awesomeness. It's the Dropbox of Calendars. Sounds like I work for them, I don't.
First, I live in my calendar. I'm in it all day, everyday and could not get things done without it.
Next, I've seen Lion's iCal and its skin is so INCREDIBLY UGLY, I cannot and will not use it. So - unless Apple pulls a last minute switch and changes its current skin - that was going to be another reason I plan to wait to adopt Lion (Quicken 2007 incompatibility being the first).
I had not thought of replacing iCal w/ BusyCal, because I tried it a while back and it couldn't two way sync Google calendars. Since I share a Google cal w/ my wife, that was a deal killer for me.
When I saw the latest version of BusyCal was updated to sync w/ Google calendars, I decided to give it a whirl. After only 10 mins or so of use, the clouds parted and the angels sang i.e. I liked it mucho!
I'm using the trail version, but its highly likely I'll buy this. It's good looking and has nice features iCal doesn't. If you hate Apple's Lionized iCal, give this program a hard look. It rocks!