Yes Mac users, today is the day you’re waiting for. Today, here on MacUser, you will be able to see a new product be unveiled in one of the most anticipated events in the Mac world this year. Yes, today brings…The Search for a Free Spanning Sync: Part III.
Yes, after more than a month, The Search for a Free Spanning Sync: Part III is finally here. In this final installment of the series, I looked at a beta app called gSync.
gSync is very similar to Spanning Sync. It does manual and automatic bi-directional sync between any two Google and iCal calendars. Plus, gSync uses OS X’s SyncServices, so it could potentially integrate with a variety of Mac apps. Of course, gSync has its downsides. For one thing, it’s still in beta, so it doesn’t run perfect and isn’t feature-complete (heck, it doesn’t even have an icon!). Plus, with it already in its 0.99 release, the full, paid-version isn’t that far off, making it pointless to get as an alternative to Spanning Sync.
So, at the end of my journey to get a free alternative for Spanning Sync, I haven’t really come out with much. After three-and-a-half different programs and solutions, Spanning Sync still seems like the best. So, I guess I can either cough up the cash for Spanning Sync, wait for Leopard and CalDAV, or just do manual network syncing of my iCal files between two Macs.
I like Spanning Sync. I really do. But...I just do NOT want to pay over and over and over again to synchronize iCal to a free service (Google Calendar).
Just curious- how is Leopard and CalDAV going to change anything? CalDAV is more of a workgroup/enterprise feature. And unless Google announces free CalDAV access for all, which they haven't, this doesn't do much to help.
I have been using gsync for the past few months and haven't come across any bug yet. Of course, other users may have a different experience, but so far I couldn't be happier. It's fast, easy to use, and free for now. I would personally suggest giving gync a try, and if it works for you, restrain from buying spanning sync just yet. You never know how attractive the gync pricing will be once it comes out of beta.
Wow... I was really bummed once I read this last article. I found gsync after a night of looking when the Spanning group decided to gouge everyone. gsync works well for me (I sync multiple Google Calendars), and at $20 will be at a much better price. Maybe the folks at Spanning will lower their price to be, more competitive, but I after reading their blog, they do not appear to be that market savvy. Oh well gsync will get my money, and Spanning will not.