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pacorob

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 8, 2010
2,119
507
the Netherlands
I was looking into a way to show the distance time to a certain appointment from my current location or from the previous appointment, should be an option to choose I think. There is ofcourse the Apple Calendar app which also supports Google Calendar. I've read that it only works with iCloud Calendar see these options it does work with Google Calendar (I'm using that) but there are a few things that are crucial in order for it to work. I have created a new appointment this time with Apple's own calendar app it's then crucial to select have the full address and choose/select the location that has a red dot/point otherwise you won't get the option to select the start location and distance in time from locationbasis (you can select there car or walking) 'Travel time'. The main problem is that there is no such option on iCloud.com > Calendar to choose your travel time. It also doesn't have an option to autofill the address when you start with typing an anddres. But the main problem is that iCloud.com can't import/show my Google Calendars (although this is possible in the iOS app). When you use the Google Calendar website itself it has the problem that the app (and also Agenda: Widget+) don't show the distance time to the appointment like it does when you add an appointment with the Apple Calendar app.

travel-time-calendar-howto-2.jpg

image source: iMore.com

The other apps/widget that offer a similar option are:

App only:
1) WeekCalendar | 1,99 dollar (iPhone) 3.99 dollar (iPad)

X4fpSh6.png


WeekCalendar does show the distance to location in minutes/hours (travel time) near your appointment (without switching to Maps or Google Maps to see it).

Bug WeekCalendar:
However that still has issue seeing my location so sometimes it thinks the distance is 1.30 hour because the app thinks I'm somewhere else. Although I approved the app to use my location and I checked in the app settings of WeekCalendar to use my current location. The only option is to define your home address in your address/contact app and use that as the main address but then it will ofcourse always use that to determine the time distance (travel time) in minutes/hours.

WeekCalendar does have the option to choose between Google Maps or Apple Maps. You can also switch between car and walking (no bike or other transportation options though).

Feature wishes WeekCalendar:
- have the option to choose your transportation option (besides car and walking) so e.g. bike, and maybe also train/bus and others
- have the option to show the distance in time (and maybe also km) to an appointment also within the list view (or other views) and widget aside from showing on the appointment itself

2) miCal | 1,99 dollar

2wUCS1h.png


Bug miCal:
- when I open this app and have the the list/search view as my standard view then it opens up in June 2015 although I want ofcourse to see around 20th of May 2016. I hope they can fix this soon (I've send them an e-mail about this). This is seriously annoying.

Feature wishes miCal (I've send a request to them already):
- have the option to choose your transportation option (besides car) so e.g. bike, walking and maybe also train/bus and others
- have the option to choose either Google Maps or Apple Maps
- have the option to show the distance in time (and maybe also km) to an appointment also within the list view (or other views) and widget aside from showing on the appointment itself

3) Moleskine Timepage | 4,99 dollar

I love the stylish UI of the app and the great widget (Today) which shows the time in minutes to an appointment! It has already the option to show car, bike, walking in the app. You can navigate with both Apple and Google Maps.

Feature wishes Moleskine Timepage (I've send a request to them already):
- when you press a specific appointment on the week view list you have to press it a second time to see the actual distance time
- lacks the option to show travel time description in my own language (Dutch)
- can't add an appointment in the listview (a simple + button somewhere would be quick), only able to do that in month view by pressing long on the date
- difficult way to adjust e.g. title/date but especially the location or text (note)
- have a search button in the list view (instead of scrolling right and pressing search first
-have the option to choose travel time from either previous appointment, current location or e.g. a mandatory home or work location. The standard is the current location
- have the option to show the distance in time (and maybe also km) to an appointment also within the list view (or other views) aside from showing on the appointment itself
- have a widget (Notification Center) that shows the 7 days week appointments (or have the option to choose the amount of days shown in the widget)

EjOHmmU.png


Moleskine Timepage widget has three but the 'Today' one is the best and only one to show the distance time in minutes to your appointments for today.

FHZbKbJ.png


Widget only:
4) Agenda: Widget+ By Jeeeyul Lee | 0,99 dollar

Yr7cOo5.png

Important info about Widget+:
It seems that this widget currently only works with a iCloud Calendar by using the Apple Calendar app. I have created a new appointment this time with Apple's own calendar app and indeed then it's possible to choose these options also with a Google Calendar. It then shows the time in the widget. It seems it's not possible to work with the WeekCalendar or miCal apps which seems to have their own ways of displaying the time in their apps and they don't have an option to use the standard Apple Calendar way of handling the time and transport type. It does seems that it's a bit more crucial with the Apple Calendar to indeed select the exact location with a red dot, otherwise it doesn't recognise a location as a location. The other two apps are not so specific and find the location themselves.

Currently the widget only has the option to use Apple Maps. The developer told me that he would implement support for third party navigation apps such as Google Maps.

===================================

I downloaded/tried quite a few calendar apps e.g. Calendars5, Fantastical 2, Pocket Informant, Cal, Wave Calendar, UpTo Calendar and various calendar widgets but couldn't find such an option within the appointment view itself or e.g. day,week,list view. I'm not sure if the pricy Omnifocus 2 even supports it.

I've also looked at Waze, ETA and Google Maps but these don't have a connection option to your calendar/agenda which is such a shame. You can set directions to home or work though and see travel times in the notification center via a widget.

If you have other calendar apps that have a feature that does show the actual distance to an appointment in minutes/hours within the appointment (so without switching to Apple Maps or Google Maps) then please let me know.
 
Last edited:

pacorob

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 8, 2010
2,119
507
the Netherlands
Unfortunately not much has changed in widgets that do support travel time for multiple appointments for today and upcoming days from home or current address.

I did found UpNext app which also has a nice widget that supports travel time but only for today's appointment not for upcoming days.

Any other suggestions are welcome.
 
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