I really like process managers, so again in 2014, I made it my mission to seek out the proper app that included to-do lists and my calendar — a no brainer in case you ask me. On the time, Fantastical 2 was the most suitable choice because it allowed me to see my weekly plan and mark off duties on the identical time, a real match made in heaven.
Quick ahead a decade and I’ve been utilizing Fantastical in some type or one other day-after-day since. I really like the flexibility to see my week with out leaping between apps and it simply makes a lot sense to include a to-do listing into your calendar. For years I’ve puzzled what Apple’s model of this might appear to be and with iOS 18 it has lastly arrived.
So after 10 years of utilizing the identical calendar app, I’ve lastly opted into making an attempt one other, and after 10 days with iOS 18’s Calendar enhancements, I feel Apple is likely to be onto one thing.
Calendar app in iOS 18
In iOS 18 Reminders are constructed into the Calendar app that means you not want to make use of two totally different purposes to plan your life. Similar to Fantastical, duties are proven on the prime of your day together with your occasions beneath, excellent for balancing hectic schedules.
Now once you go so as to add an occasion to your calendar you’ll be able to decide so as to add a reminder as a substitute which appears like second nature, nearly as if it ought to’ve been there within the first place. I actually like what Apple has finished right here as I feel the calendar and to-do listing must be a single entity permitting customers to seek out the workflow that works greatest for them.
iOS 18 continues to be in improvement so I don’t wish to discuss an excessive amount of concerning the utility itself and fairly give attention to the significance of merging the 2 beforehand separate apps. The newest software program for the very best iPhones nonetheless enables you to entry Reminders independently of Calendar however contemplating how intertwined they’re I’m unsure why anybody would do this.
Because it stands, one of many foremost causes Fantastical continues to be on my iPhone is as a result of the widget choices are far superior to Apple’s first-party providing. Fantastical’s medium-sized widget permits me to see a full month calendar alongside my to-do listing whereas Apple’s different solely exhibits in the present day and tomorrow.
One of many main adjustments in iOS 17 was the inclusion of interactive widgets permitting you to tick to-do lists in Fantastical straight out of your Residence Display with out opening the app. Calendar on iOS 18 continues to be missing in that respect, opening the app once you faucet the reminder. That mentioned, this might be one thing added to the applying when iOS 18 launches later this fall alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional.
Better of each worlds… For now
Calendar on iOS 18 now does every part I would like from a calendar app and whereas it could be much more streamlined than Fantastical I’ve solely ever needed to have the ability to entry reminders from my calendar utility.
Whereas the app itself is now considerably improved, I received’t have the ability to uninstall Fantastical till the Calendar widget catches up with the third-party providing. Time will inform if I’ll want to attend one other 10 years for Apple to catch up in that respect.
