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April 13, 2007

software

The search for a free Spanning Sync: Part I

Posted Apr. 13, ’07, 2:00 PM PT by Aaron Freedman
Category | Software

Gdaemon Sure, I really like Spanning Sync. It has an easy-to-use interface, works great, and does exactly what I need — to do bidirectional syncing between Google Calendar and iCal. The one problem is, well, it costs money. I’m not especially big on paying a $25/year subscription or $65 upfront. So, instead of coughing up the cash for Spanning Sync, I decided to look for a free program for iCal/Google Calendar syncing, and I did.

Meet GCALDaemon. The first things to note about it is that it has a Sourceforge address and the word “daemon” in its name, which most likely suggests it to be cross-platform, not 100% easy to install, and requires some Terminal experience. All of those things turned out to be right. Basically, GCALDaemon functions as server that translates data coming back and forth between Google Calendar and a desktop calendar application (Mozilla Sunbird, iCal, and more) on Windows, Linux, or OS X. It sounds simple, but isn’t exactly a breeze to install.

First, installing GCALDaemon requires you to use the Terminal. Fortunately, I have experience with the Unix command line, but for people who don’t, the installation process can be frustrating, dangerous, or both. You also need to install the application in an administrator account, which is the default if you manage your computer (unless you purposely use a standard account for security reasons). After dabbling in the command line and the text editor of your choice, the daemon finally starts to run. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I installed the GCALDaemon under “dial-up mode” because my computer isn’t always on, iCal did not download my Google Calendar.

So, in the end, I gave up. Due to the lack of any graphical interface, requirements for administrator privileges, and issues with a non-always-on connection, I decided that GCALDaemon wouldn’t work for me. Stay tuned for Part II: Ditching iCal.


4 Comments

JZ said:

I'm with you. I've been trying every calendar app under the sun trying to find one that will sync across multiple computers. Web apps like Gcal and 30boxes.com just don't have the printing options that I need for printing lesson plans with extensive notes.

April 13, 2007 5:06 PM
Jason Author Profile Page said:

I really like Spanning Sync. I realize it costs money, but let me tell you, it does the job.

April 13, 2007 10:11 PM
Gazzer said:

Thanks for the heads up on GCalDaemon! I know it wasn't really the solution for you, but it works great for me. I particularly like the fact I can use it to look up addresses in my gmail address book, and the calendar sync works well. It definitely isn't point and click, but it does some cool stuff...

April 14, 2007 9:12 AM

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