Is there a good calendar service that doesn't forget appointments like Google Calendar?

Question

I've been using Google Calendar for years now to remind me of appointments. I set it to send me an email before an appointment, and I rely on that email to remember the appointment. I like the fact that I can put something in my calendar and then completely forget about it, trusting that the calendar will remind me of it in the time that I've set.

But for the last few months I've noticed that Google Calendar sometimes simply forgets appointments. It happened many times, both for recurring events and non-recurring events, and with different alert options. (Email, SMS and pop-up.) Over the last two days it forgot about 5 reminders, and now I'm really pissed and I want to find another calendar service. Google Calendar's UI is excellent, but the fact that it forgets reminders is simply unforgivable. I have also contacted them about it and was ignored.

Can anyone recommend a good quality calendar service that I can count on? I'd also consider paying for one.

Answer 1

Your best bet is probably to get Google Calendar to sync to Thunderbird/iCal on a Desktop or iPhone/iPod touch/Android device and have that device do the reminding. You will know for certain that the offline calendar will work if your events are synching to that device's calendar.

Here are a number of "send future email" options:

1. Use Gmail to Send future email
2. In.com web based Future Email
3. Use Delay email feature in Outlook
4. Thunderbird ‘Send It Later’ plugin
5. Use Google Calendar for future email <-- this is your problem
6. Online tools, apps for Future Email

See the link for details.

Answer 2

I use Google Calendar in conjunction with Thunderbird (which is open all the time when I'm at work). I set up events in Google, but Thunderbird does the reminding.

Answer 3

I am using RememberTheMilk and it has been working fine for me. There are two account types, free (what I use) & pro. They have a number of apps (for iPhone etc) as well as supporting setting up tasks by email.

Another one I have seen is HiTask. I haven't used it as much, but it comes in 3 levels, free, premium & business.

Answer 4

Here are some free services that have the features you seem to be looking for (repeating, reminders via email and other means).

Portals - IMO you can be sure they will be around for a long while, they are free and have mobile options

calendar.yahoo.com

calendar.live.com

Dedicated Services - Focused on calendars with nifty features and interfaces. Startups though, so who knows how long they will be around.

30boxes.com/welcome.php

iscrybe.com/ (Currently in closed beta)

Professional Service - This is the only one that I have used on the professional side for complex scheduling. The personal version used to be free, but now had a 30 day trial and is $29.95/yr. Profitable company. Will synch with gmail.

www.timetrade.com/product.aspx