Considering Switching to Google Calendar for Syncing

[TRICKorDEVICE]

iCloud calendars have given me some issues over the last few weeks. Including some syncing issues and calendar invites not properly working.

I am thinking of going back to Google Calendars for syncing.

Does anyone use Google?

Are there any drawbacks you have noticed with using it on iPhones/iPads or functionality that doesn't work well with iOS 10 features?

 

[rijc99]

Lack of push?

 

[hArrisburger]

iCloud calendars have given me some issues over the last few weeks. Including some syncing issues and calendar invites not properly working.

I am thinking of going back to Google Calendars for syncing.

Does anyone use Google?

Are there any drawbacks you have noticed with using it on iPhones/iPads or functionality that doesn't work well with iOS 10 features?

Nope. I am in a Google Apps system and have made the full switch to Google Inbox and Google Calendar. Inbox takes some getting used to, but for the most part works really well and provides a seamless desktop/mobile experience. Not perfect, but better than issues I previously had with the stock app and Airmail.

Google Calendar is similar in that it takes some getting used to, but it works pretty seamlessly with the Google Inbox app. Aesthetically it isn't my thing, but anyone that sees me on it, comments that they like it. To each their own. Previously I had used the stock calendar app and Fantastical.

 

[M. Gustave]

iCloud calendars have given me some issues over the last few weeks. Including some syncing issues and calendar invites not properly working.

I am thinking of going back to Google Calendars for syncing.

Does anyone use Google?

Are there any drawbacks you have noticed with using it on iPhones/iPads or functionality that doesn't work well with iOS 10 features?

Wow, I just went through this myself, I thought I was the only one. My Apple Cal invites weren't going to my wife's gmail anymore, I had entries disappear or not appear at all... it used to work perfectly.

Out of curiosity I installed the Google Calendar app, and everything "just worked". Only issue is you only have the iPhone version available on the iPad so far (yeah it's kind of inexcusable). Also like @hArrisburger I installed Google Inbox, and I really love it.

I thought, I'm on a roll, what else can I fix? I posted a few weeks ago about Apple Notes not syncing across my devices, so I've also switched to Google Keep. Again, flawless performance on iPhone and iPad so far.

Seeing this all as a sign from the gods, I bought an Acer R11 Chromebook on sale, which is arriving tomorrow.

tldr: No issue using Google services on iPhone. Here's hoping Apple gets all these bugs tamed in iOS 10.2.
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Lack of push?

That's only with Apple mail in iOS, not Google's mail apps.

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

Wow, I just went through this myself, I thought I was the only one. My Apple Cal invites weren't going to my wife's gmail anymore, I had entries disappear or not appear at all... it used to work perfectly.

Out of curiosity I installed the Google Calendar app, and everything "just worked". Only issue is you only have the iPhone version available on the iPad so far (yeah it's kind of inexcusable). Also like @hArrisburger I installed Google Inbox, and I really love it.

I thought, I'm on a roll, what else can I fix? I posted a few weeks ago about Apple Notes not syncing across my devices, so I've also switched to Google Keep. Again, flawless performance on iPhone and iPad so far.

Seeing this all as a sign from the gods, I bought an Acer R11 Chromebook on sale, which is arriving tomorrow.

tldr: No issue using Google services on iPhone. Here's hoping Apple gets all these bugs tamed in iOS 10.2.
[doublepost=1481157301][/doublepost]

That's only with Apple mail in iOS, not Google's mail apps.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm still on the fence about switching. Although should be fairly easy to export/import current calendars...so what have I got to lose but a little time?

I'll keep everyone posted if I make the switch, and if anyone has any more insight or experiences, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[M. Gustave]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm still on the fence about switching. Although should be fairly easy to export/import current calendars...so what have I got to lose but a little time?

There's really nothing to "switch". Install the free apps, login with your Google credentials, and that's it. You can keep all your old email and calendar apps installed (although I suggest muting their notifications so you don't go crazy).

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

There's really nothing to "switch". Install the free apps, login with your Google credentials, and that's it. You can keep all your old email and calendar apps installed (although I suggest muting their notifications so you don't go crazy).

Well I would be switching the syncing service, so it requires me to transfer all of my current appointments from two calendars to two new calendars (iCloud to google backend). But maybe I'll go for it.
Thanks

 

[bransoj]

I've been running Google Calendars since my first iPhone and never had an issue. Losing Push was a bit of a pain but nothing major. I have it set up with my main calendar that i update, i run our cricket clubs calendar which i update and then its shared to other people and also used to show stuff on the club website then i subscribe to numerous calendars for things like sports fixtures amongst other things. All update fine, show fine in the standard calendar app plus i can show them on the notification centre using EventsWidget app plus i have my iPad syncing to the same account and they are accessible from a PC by logging in via the web. Never had a reason to change from it as it works really well.

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

I've been running Google Calendars since my first iPhone and never had an issue. Losing Push was a bit of a pain but nothing major. I have it set up with my main calendar that i update, i run our cricket clubs calendar which i update and then its shared to other people and also used to show stuff on the club website then i subscribe to numerous calendars for things like sports fixtures amongst other things. All update fine, show fine in the standard calendar app plus i can show them on the notification centre using EventsWidget app plus i have my iPad syncing to the same account and they are accessible from a PC by logging in via the web. Never had a reason to change from it as it works really well.

Thanks for the input!

 

[wacky4alanis]

I use google for e-mail, calendar, and notes. I still use the standard iOS calendar and notes apps, but I did finally switch to the dedicated gmail app. The syncing of notes can be a little buggy, with multiple copies appearing at times. But I've never lost anything, and it's easy enough to delete the duplicates. I've had no trouble with e-mail or calendars.

 

[adrianlondon]

I switched from Google calendars to iCloud about six months ago, just for neatness and the push/speed of synchronisation. iCloud also supports attachments which sync across my devices; Google's doesn't, or at least it didn't when I last tried. As I'm only using Apple devices (at present) it made sense to stay within their ecosystem.

I miss the ability to set different default alert times for different calendars though, although google did strip the "alert with sound" option each time. I may switch back just for fun. I don't install any google apps, I simply let my laptop and phone connect to the calendar using iCal and gmail (for invites) using IMAP, so appearance wise nothing changes.

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

Thanks for all the input. Does using Google's backend for calendar sync seem to negatively affect iOS 10 proactive features and widgets?

 

[bransoj]

Nope....i get all the time to leave alerts etc

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

Nice, thanks