slapped in the face by Apple

[motulist]

When I got my 1 gig powerbook 2 or 3 years ago, I was deciding whether to go with iCal or Palm scheduling software. Palm did much more of what I rightly expect a scheduler app to do, but I liked the way the look of iCal events made my schedule very clear. So since I was just starting out with scheduling software I figured it was much smarter to go with the Apple app. I thought since iCal is a very new app it would surely be updated a lot and would certainly grow and evolve into another Apple smash hit offering the ease, elegance and integration that all Apple apps have. Well here it is 2 or 3 whole YEARS later and there has not be a _significant_ update to iCal at all! I still have to click things a zillion times, jump through a million hoops just to get close to what I need a scheduler to do and I look at other people who use Palm or other solutions and they can do stuff I STILL cant do that are very basic scheduler functions and I get mad that I trusted that Apple would do the right thing and stand by me choosing THEIR software over competitor's. Instead, my faith in Apple was thrown in my face. They've orphaned the app and left me standing out in the cold.

To ward off all the people that are going to try and defend iCal and say it does everything THEY need it to do, here is a SHORT list of the many grievances I have with I cal.

1) I can't move more than 1 event at a time. If I start a project that has 5 parts to it later than I planned, I have to move each event later in the day 1 by 1! Ridiculous.

2) If I select events from different calendars to copy and paste them, when I paste them they all change to the same calendar!

3) I want to set the week view so that the current day is at the left, showing yesterday also, and then a few days in front of today. What good is having a scheduling program that on sunday doesn't even show you the very next day with out having to click over to the next screen making it so you cant even see today and tomorrow on the same screen without having to go in to preferences and fiddle with settings constantly!

4) on

5) and on

6) and on

999) etc.

Apple really left me hanging and, believe you me, I WONT be trusting Apple ever again. I won't trust them to deliver the goods until the goods are delivered.

P.S. Years ago I sent Apple lots of feedback through the iCal feedback system, through the Apple forums and any other way I could think to get their attention. I was talking to a wall. Nothing changed. I suspect that the "feedback" mails get tossed down the rabbit hole never read and never to be seen again.

</RANT>

 

[CanadaRAM]

So let me see:
You imagined that iCal would do some things that it wasn't programmed to do.
Two years later it still doesn't do the things that you imagined it should.
So you don't trust Apple.

I would recommend you get your money back on the program, then. Oh right -- it was free.

 

[haiggy]

So let me see:
You imagined that iCal would do some things that it wasn't programmed to do.
Two years later it still doesn't do the things that you imagined it should.
So you don't trust Apple.

I would recommend you get your money back on the program, then. Oh right -- it was free.

Haha, wow. All I can say is 'owned'

 

[Sun Baked]

P.S. Years ago I sent Apple lots of feedback through the iCal feedback system, through the Apple forums and any other way I could think to get their attention. I was talking to a wall. Nothing changed. I suspect that the "feedback" mails get tossed down the rabbit hole never read and never to be seen again.

</RANT>

Don't worry, Apple probably added your e-mail address to their junk mail filter a long time ago.

 

[Koodauw]

I think some people are happiest when they get to complain.

Seriously

 

[motulist]

So let me see:
You imagined that iCal would do some things that it wasn't programmed to do.

Yes, it wasn't programmed to do it, obviously, as it doesn't do it. That doesn't mean it isn't completely ridiculous that it's missing these basic functions. If a calculator designed for the everyday man didn't have a "plus" button, then it wasn't programmed to do addition. That doesn't mean that it's not stupid that the functionality is missing.

Also, when iCal first came out they hyped it so much, making it very clear that it was going to be a high priority application. There has not been any _significant_ update to it in 3 years! No matter how good a program it was at the time. 3 years with out any real update is unacceptable.

I would recommend you get your money back on the program, then. Oh right -- it was free.

Right, it was free. Except for all the time and energy I've put into it trying to make it functional. Fighting with it's lack of some very basic calendar functions while listening to Apple always say send us your feedback, which I did in volume. And now I have all of my legacy information locked into iCal. It would be very difficult for me to switch now because I need records and information on appointments from the past and I have built certain systems on iCal that are now integrated into my workflow.

The bottom line is this. iCal does not do many very basic calendar functions that every other calendar app does do. And no real updates for 3 years is unacceptable for a program that was advertised as an application we could come to rely on.

 

[snkTab]

I don't trust Apple either. Calculator can't do anything my TI-89 can.

That said, who said iCal was a scheduler? iCal is a calender, with a few added features. If you wanted a scheduler you should have gone with something built more for the business world.

 

[bellis1]

iCal

Everyone has to admit that iCal really needs an update. It is pretty pitiful in comparison to other similar programs and really needs some improvements. This is especially needed since it is part of a core of programs which are meant to function well together. Apple also kind of forces you to use it if you expect to sync this easily between computers etc. It could be so much better of an application. I hope they will add some better project management to the application which could be easily performed with the help of spotlight. I will keep waiting patiently because I have tried most of the alternatives.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Yes, it wasn't programmed to do it, obviously, as it doesn't do it. That doesn't mean it isn't completely ridiculous that it's missing these basic functions. If a calculator designed for the everyday man didn't have a "plus" button, then it wasn't programmed to do addition. That doesn't mean that it's not stupid that the functionality is missing.

Also, when iCal first came out they hyped it so much, making it very clear that it was going to be a high priority application. There has not been any _significant_ update to it in 3 years! No matter how good a program it was at the time. 3 years with out any real update is unacceptable.

Right, it was free. Except for all the time and energy I've put into it trying to make it functional. Fighting with it's lack of some very basic calendar functions while listening to Apple always say send us your feedback, which I did in volume. And now I have all of my legacy information locked into iCal. It would be very difficult for me to switch now because I need records and information on appointments from the past and I have built certain systems on iCal that are now integrated into my workflow.

The bottom line is this. iCal does not do many very basic calendar functions that every other calendar app does do. And no real updates for 3 years is unacceptable for a program that was advertised as an application we could come to rely on.

So the conclusion would be.... Look for a calendar / project management program that actually has the features you want it to.

Building data and workflow into a program that you hope will evolve into somthing you need is a risky endeavor. Kind like marrying someone 5'4" and hoping they will get taller over time...

Recommend starting at www.versiontracker.com

 

[snkTab]

Everyone has to admit that iCal really needs an update. It is pretty pitiful in comparison to other similar programs and really needs some improvements. This is especially needed since it is part of a core of programs which are meant to function well together. Apple also kind of forces you to use it if you expect to sync this easily between computers etc. It could be so much better of an application. I hope they will add some better project management to the application which could be easily performed with the help of spotlight. I will keep waiting patiently because I have tried most of the alternatives.

I don't see them adding Program Management functionality to iCal. It would have to be integrated into other software, and I don't see that happening until some type of Office product is developed.

I imagine that the iLife team are all happy-go-lucky type of fellows, throwing office parties every friday. I imagine the Pro Application team always wear turtlenecks and work in a no light enviroment. And I imagine the basic OS apps suite guy walks around asking people "Have you seen my stapler?"