Ondrej Holzman Fantastical has been my number one calendar since it hit the Mac App Store, well the App Store. I liked its simplicity on Mac, where it acts as a handy helper in the top menu bar, and then also on iOS, where its simplicity combined with the quick entry of new events is key for me. Plus, Flexibits haven't been caught off guard by the new iOS 7 and have just released an even better Fantastical for iPhone than ever before.
The iOS calendar field is fiercely contested because basic Kalendář not enough for many users, so they look for alternatives. In addition, as they say, a hundred people, a hundred tastes, so calendars with different functions and processing appear in the App Store. Two weeks ago we brought Calendars 5 review, calendars for more demanding users. Fantastical, on the other hand, focuses much more on simplicity and in the second version comes with a great interface that fits perfectly with iOS 7.
A year ago I really did wrote, that "Fantastical is a solution for relatively undemanding users", however, the current second version tries to elevate Fantastical and offer other features that were previously denied to users.
The core of the application has been preserved, so when you open Fantastical 2 for the first time, you will step into a familiar environment, but more modern, fully adapted for iOS 7. And this does not mean only removed textures and brighter colors, but also support for background updating, dynamic text and a 64-bit processor.
Fantastical 2 offers what users are used to from the first version, and adds support for reminders, an improved parser for inserting new events, a new light skin, and a weekly overview.
The basis of the entire application remained the monthly look at the calendar in the upper part, under which there is a list of upcoming events, and by dragging the finger to switch to the so-called DayTicker, which displays only those days that hide events. And in Fantastical 2, there are also reminders. Systemic Reminders they are now fully integrated into the app, meaning you can create and delete them in Fantastical, as well as organize them into different folders. All reminders are then displayed among regular events, so you always have an overview of them.
When creating a new event, use the toggle button to select whether it is an event or a reminder, and then fill in the details of the activity in the usual way. In addition, Fantastical 2 brings an improved parser, so you don't even have to use the toggle button, because you just type in the text field All, task whether reminder and a reminder will automatically start to be created. Fantastical can still "read" the entered text, so you don't have to go into advanced options at all and enter everything - date, venue, time, notification - directly in the text, the application will handle it by itself.
Although the Czech language is still not supported in this regard (in addition to English, Fantastical 2 also understands French, German, Italian and Spanish), however a very primitive English vocabulary should not be a problem for anyone. And to make entering new events even easier, Flexibits for four-inch displays added a special row with numbers, a dot and a colon above the classic keyboard.
When you rotate your iPhone, Fantastical 2 displays the classic weekly view that many users will welcome. And those who are not fans of the strong contrast between white and black can use the new light skin.
So Fantastical 2 definitely doesn't just come with a new look to appeal to iOS 7. Flexibits took the update responsibly and the new system-related functions like automatic background update, which significantly speeds up the work with the application, are a welcome novelty. Reminders may also be a tipping point for many users when deciding which calendar to get for iOS 7.
I stayed loyal to Fantastical even the month the "outdated" version was available on iOS 7, and I'll gladly pay the developers for the new one now. It's worth it for the quality. In addition, the promotional price of 2,69 euros will not last forever.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/fantastic-2/id718043190?mt=8″]
the native calendar is disastrous, however, the synchronization between my ipad, iphone, macbook and imac is something that I probably won't find elsewhere :( For this reason, I haven't switched to another app yet. If the synchronization between the devices was solved...
However, all non-Apple calendars access the same calendar that the native application works with and which you have synchronized across devices (iCloud, Google), they do not have any of their own. So it's been working the way you want for a long time.
Roman, so if I make an appointment via iPhone, does the evening appear on my iMac in the native calendar? :-)
Exactly. I have a calendar synchronized via Google, and if, for example, I create an event on my iPhone in Fantastical, it will of course also appear on my iPad (iOS calendar, Calvetica, ...) and in the Google Calendar web interface.
I only use iCloud, it will probably be on the same principle, right? :-)
Certainly. :-)
I use Fantastical on Mac and it's great, I'm looking forward to trying it on iPhone.
And what about this application with sharing calendars with another user?
This is provided by the native application, through which all calendars go.
Fantastical is basically an interface.
Is there a better calendar with a Czech interface?
Fan of Sparta or Teplice? :)
I'm using Fantastical on Mac and I'm super happy, thanks for this review, I just bought the app for iPhone and I'm literally looking forward to getting overwhelmed with other work tasks to enjoy with Fantastical :o) Thanks a lot for the review and tip, Petr
Today
Tomorrow
Saturday
Sunday
..
See screen :(
These little things turn me on.
In my native calendar, English and Czech are also mixed.
Thanks for the review. Although I vowed not to try any alternative calendars anymore and to drag on the futility with the native calendar, I couldn't resist and installed it. I must say that the application is very successful, functionally, in a decent design.
please, what about reminders when the calendar is shared with the native application? or is it a form of some kind of push notification? I confess I did not read the article
There are some notifications, but I don't use them.
Compared to the original version, I feel that the design was not as successful. I use Sunrise and everything is clearer, cleaner there, there is much more space in the text layout (mainly vertically - for example pasted day + date on the line below the calendar - ugh). I would rather see one event less in the overview, perhaps with a more airy calendar, than like this.
I agree, the design was successful. But what if it doesn't support exchange.
iPad version not coming?
Flexibits is now on the way to an iPad version.
I just tried fantastical 2 on iPhone and I can recommend it, quick setup, good UI... Definitely better than the calendar :)
Yesterday I wanted to buy at the "loader" price. My card expires today, the new card I already have is valid from 1.11. Apple won't let me buy even though the card is valid .. it wants to update the payment method. Well, from the first. Jerks!
I had the original version and had to cancel it. An essential thing was missing – inviting people to events. According to the reviews of the new application, I think that it is still missing. So unfortunately unusable for me :(
It's there and it works.
In that case, I'll probably try it, even if the price is already higher today. Another pity, of course, is that developers do not have the option to make an active icon. The date on the calendar is a good thing, and if it's only on the badge, it's really not the same :(
The date on the badge is downright disgusting. Perhaps no one even uses it :-) I consider the active icon as a nice gadget, but I know how many there are today.
Well, I don't see it many times, and looking at the iPhone is the fastest way for me to find out :-)
I'm deciding between Calendars 5, Agenda calendar 4 and Fantastical 2, can someone give me some advice, maybe it wouldn't be too much to compare the calendars...
I bought all of them and each one has a "fly" :). Now I have 5 calendars running on my phone and when they beep it's a little symphony.
When you've tried them all, is it possible to set a notification or a reminder in some of them so that it rings, for example, every 15 minutes until confirmation? thank you
I don't think anything like that is possible.
fantastical on PC is great, but the only thing I miss on it are the icons .. on IOS I use weekcal thanks to the icons, it's easy to look at the calendar and thanks to the icon I don't even have to read what's there many times .. if fantastical had icons, it's mine , but like this .. too bad .(
Fantastical by Flexbits on PC?! Can you give a link.