CNET Editors' review
BusySync is yet another application that will make you say, "Why didn't Apple think of that?" BusySync makes it extremely easy to sync up multiple iCal calendars between different computers on a home or office network, without any need for a central server. BusySync is easy to set up, and users can view and edit shared calendars, instantly and automatically publishing any changes--plus you can simply sync peer-to-peer, between different Macs, or even sync between a combination of individual Macs or calendars hosted on a server.
Even better, BusySync syncs with Google Calendar, too, so that means you can view, edit, and sync calendars online, from anywhere (and power users can also sync using remote access over the Internet). This lets you synchronize calendars between home and work, and any changes made offline are synced the next time you connect. BusySync also lets you put password-protection on certain calendars, and limit access to particular users. Overall, this is already a useful app and a good value, but current users will also get a discount if they convert to BusySync's upcoming big-sister app BusyCal.
Publisher's Description
From BusyMac:
BusySync is a Mac OS X System Preference Pane that runs in the background and adds calendar sharing and syncing capabilities to iCal. BusySync lets you sync iCal with Google Calendar and share calendars with other users on your LAN or the internet without the need for a dedicated server. Shared calendars can be viewed and edited by multiple users and changes are instantly synchronized with all users on the network and/or with Google Calendar. You can even make changes to shared calendars while offline and your changes will sync when you reconnect to the network.
What's new in this version:
- Supports Mountain Lion Gatekeeper.
- Fixes bug that would cause conflicts to occur when syncing with Google.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 6 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
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Results 1-6 of 6
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"Great for syncing Google Calendar with MobileMe."
Version: BusySync 2.3
Pros
It was very easy to figure out, and has been very helpful in keeping all of my calendar events organized.
Cons
I only use it for syncing Google Calendar with Mobile Me. I'm still using the demo, and have not yet decided whether I'll buy the full version, or just stop using Google Calendars.
Summary
I am a new user of MobileMe, and teacher -- I use Macs in the classroom, but the school I teach at uses PCs. Therefore I usse iCal, Entourage, and Google Calendars.Through a bit of research, I read that I'd be able to use BusySync to bring my Google Calendar into my MobileMe calendar - which already contained my Apple Mail Calendar and my Microsoft Entourage calendar. I love having them all in once place.
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"Rush of sync applications lately"
Version: BusySync 2.2.7
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
There sure are a lot of sync and backup apps coming out lately. Makes one wonder if there's something up. Maybe everyone knows that Apple is going to facilitate this kind of thing freely and undercut that market.
I also wholeheartedly agree with the previous poster that this is just plain too expensive for the average user. There are just too many free or free/pro alternatives out there that do the same thing for less.
I'm an early fan of Fruux.
There's nothing wrong with BusySync other than the high price tag, but it's enough to turn some off obviously. -
"iCal, MobileMe and Google Calendar finally synced"
Version: BusySync 2.2.3
Pros
quick, easy to use
Cons
$
minor duplication of reminders -
"Best of iCal and Google Calendar"
Version: BusySync 2.1.9
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
This is a great product for syncing between iCal and Google Calendar. Someday, Google may fully develop its own syncing (besides the very limited Calaboration available now) but until then, for only $25 it does A LOT.
It also makes syncing with other iCal users (e.g. family members) really easy. -
"Works like a charm if you need it"
Version: BusySync 2.1.9
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I used BusySync for three weeks to sync Google Calendar with iCal. I had already set up MobileMe ($99/year from Apple) to synchronize iCal on my home computer with my iPhone and with iCal on my work computer. BusySync provided the missing link to my Google Calendar at work.
BusySync was easy to use and worked very well. I encountered only one shortcoming. Very rarely, a meeting didn't sync or showed up at the wrong time. I don't know whether BusySync, iCal, or Mac OS X was at fault. or whether human error contributed. I probably could have fixed the problem using Reset Sync History in BusySync Preferences but I wasn't aware of that feature until today.
Today, I stopped using BusSync. I stopped because one week ago, Google released a utility, Calaboration, that you run once to start synching Google Calendars with iCal using the CalDAV protocol. See http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=99358 for instructions. Previously, setting up CalDav for this purpose was a tedious process. Because Calaboration does just one thing, it is even easier to use than BusySync.
However, CalDAV has limitations which could be a problem for some users. Google lists some current limitations on the aforementioned page under "Known Issues" and "Troubleshooting". Other limitations are listed in a review of Calaboration in MacWorld (http://www.macworld.com/article/137259/2008/12/calaboration.html), in comments on that review, and in BusyMacs' FAQ (http://www.busymac.com/faq/index.html#caldav).
I haven't, as yet, found the limitations of CalDAV to be as onerous as they sound. For example, it is claimed that synching is one way, from Google Calendar to iCal. It is true that, with CalDav, you can't "push" a calendar from iCal, i.e., you can't make a calendar created in iCal appear on Google Calendar. BusySync does support "push". But for a Google Calendar that you have synched with iCal using either CalDav or BusySync, changes made in iCal show up on Google and vice versa.
If all you want to do is to sync your own existing Google Calendar with your own iCal, Calaboration may suffice. If you want to sync iCal calendars among several people on a local-area network or sync iCal with Google Calendar while avoiding some limitations of CalDAV, BusySync is the strongly recommended solution.
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"BusySync has been great for us"
Version: BusySync 2.1.9
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Busysync does exactly what it claims, it does it quietly and stable - not something one can say about all software today; even on the Mac.
We use it to sync family calendars between our iPhones, iCals and Google calendars for all our family.
We've tried a few others, without success.
Busysync has been great for us.
Best regards,
PÃ¥l Nome
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