Ondrej Holzman While there are dozens of calendars of different types and functions on iOS, there is no such choice on Mac. That's why we could call the Fantastical application from the developer studio Flexibits one of the best calendars for Mac without much debate. And now it has become even better. Fantastical 2 improves on everything we've known so far and adds a lot more.
The brand new version of Fantastical for Mac is characterized by maximum optimization for OS X Yosemite, which mainly entails a graphical transformation and the implementation of functions that were only made possible by the latest operating system. But Flexibits didn't stop there and made Fantastical a truly full-fledged calendar for Mac.
The first Fantastical on the Mac only functioned as a small app located in the top menu bar, heavily inspired by its mobile version. Thanks to this, the user had very quick access to his events and could quickly enter new ones. Fantastical 2 keeps all that and adds to it a full-fledged form of a calendar, such as we know from the system application.
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However, it is the system Calendar that is constantly criticized on both Mac and iOS, and Fantastical 2 really takes the calendar options on the Mac somewhere else.
The graphical changes are exactly what you'd expect from an OS X Yosemite update. Flatter design, flashier colors and also a light theme to replace the default black. After all, anyone who already uses Fantastical 2 on iOS will be entering a completely familiar environment. And now with Handoff support, it will be even easier to work on both mobile and Mac in an efficient symbiosis.
The window "coming out" from the top menu bar remains practically unchanged. Then, when you open Fantastical 2 in a large window, you will come across the same layout as in the system calendar - so there is no missing a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly overview. However, the fundamental difference lies in the left bar of Fantastical, where the window from the top bar is moved, including the constantly visible monthly overview and the nearest events displayed below it. This then brings much faster and clearer movement in the calendar. You can also use the widget in the Notification Center.
As a matter of course, Fantastical (but it is not the only calendar that can do this) has a parser for easy input of new events. The application recognizes data such as event name, venue, date or time in the entered text, so you don't have to fill in each item individually. Just type "Lunch at Pivnice on Thursday 13:00 to 14:00" and Fantastical will create a Lunch event held at Pivnice for the next Thursday at 13:XNUMX. The application does not yet recognize Czech, but it is not a problem to learn a few short English words.
In the new version of Fantastical, Flexibits has further improved their parser, so it is now possible to create recurring events ("second Tuesday of every month", etc.), add alerts to others ("alert 1 hour before", etc.) and or create reminders in the same way, which are also integrated in the application (just start with the words "reminder", "todo" or "task").
The user can have reminders displayed in the main list next to all other events in the calendar, and even reminders or calendars associated with a certain location can now be used. When you arrive at work, Fantastical 2 will automatically show you events related to it. For example, personal and work matters can also be separated through new sets of calendars. You can then switch between them very easily.
Fantastical 2 is definitely not just a cosmetic change, related to the new operating system or the fact that we haven't had a new update for a long time. Flexibits have taken great care in the continuation of the successful first generation, and just as they managed to change the way we use the calendar on Mac four years ago, now they have managed to "rethink" their own applications again.
So it's not too surprising that Fantastical 2 for Mac is coming to the Mac App Store as a brand new app. After all, we experienced the same practice on iOS. Fantastical currently costs $20, and we'll have to dig even deeper for its sequel. The introductory price is 40 dollars (1 crowns), which will later increase by another ten dollars.
Paying a thousand crowns for a calendar will certainly not be an obvious choice for everyone. If you only use the calendar sporadically on your Mac, it probably doesn't make sense to invest so much, but if the calendar is an indispensable assistant for you and you are comfortable with Fantastical (or even already use it), then there is no need to hesitate too much about its second generation. Flexibits are a guarantee of quality.
Finally, it's worth noting that Fantastical 2 requires OS X Yosemite.
[app url=https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/fantastic-2-calendar-reminders/id975937182?mt=12]
I use it daily on both Mac and iPhone and it's great. But the price if I want this new version on Mac is crazy.
I use it every day on both desktop and iPhone. I bought the new version immediately after trying the trial version for five minutes. The price is high, but it will be 20% higher next week. There is no need to wait.
I use the system calendar on my mac. How is Fantastical significantly different for me to be willing to pay €40?
In the fact that he has a Fantastic name and all the friculinas like him, nothing else. Just another app with an outrageously overpriced thief price. So I use the system calendar, I don't spend the whole day in the calendar application to enjoy them.
The price is quite off. For the same I have Informant Desktop – a professional calendar and task manager – you can choose between GTD, Frank Covey, etc. A clear agenda, just as convenient verbal input of events (natural language parser), excellent synchronization with Google, toodledo and other clouds.
http://pocketinformant.com/products/desktop-informant/
Fantastical 2 is vaguely hyped, much like the iOS version. Informant in Pocket versions has clients for both iOS and Android. There is nothing to solve.
I remember that the informant used to be great in the days of WIN CE phones, then I tried it on Android and nothing happened... I'm glad to hear that it's still alive, I'll probably wink :)
well, I tried everything on iOS – Readdle Calendars(5), Calvetica, Refills Pro, Tempus, Agenda, PopCal, MiCal, Fantastical, but in the end it still came back to Pocket Informant ;)
Does anyone know if Fantastical 2 syncs with the system calendar and the same reminders??? For example, if I used it for a year and then switched back to the system one, I wouldn't want to lose the year's events and reminders…
Sure, it syncs.
With this price, it won't convince me not to install codez4mac :)
you have a lot to brag about, dude
So I tried it. It's nice, but it doesn't really give me anything extra that I need compared to the previous version. On the contrary, I like the mini-window of the older version, where the reminders are sorted first, it was not possible to set it up with emi in the new one, it was only possible to switch between the classic view and separate reminders. Well, maybe for half the price I'd go for it, though I'm not sure even then. The set price does not seem exorbitant only to me - just read the foreign forums. And if you add the cost of a separate app for iPhone and iPad, it's a really expensive calendar. On the other hand, I understand that its simplicity and fresh design will certainly find its interested parties.
Tvl 40€... put it in (_._). And exactly such strengths (prices) I record crack. I wouldn't buy it for this price, I'd rather download it for free from torrent
This "best" calendar cannot insert or save notes to the event in the calendar for the Exchange account. It can insert but not save... support explained that Fantastical 2 can save notes for iCloud accounts. So unusable if I also use an Exchange account.