Sync iPhone/iPod Touch with Google Calendar

Mar 13

AceFreebies, Tech Articles , , , , , , , , View Comments

Update: Over-the-air synchronization available

You can seamlessly synchronize your Google Calendar and Contacts with a free service called NuevaSync, as discussed by me in this article. Google has also recently implemented its own version of OTA sync by licensing Microsoft ActiveSync technology. I’ll have a writeup on this soon. OggSync is still a viable alternative though, if you already incorporate MS Outlook in your workflow and don’t  mind the limitations this application causes.

Continued…

Synchronize multiple (primary and secondary) Google Calendars to Outlook and your iPhone/iPod Touch for free with OggSync.

The iPhone and iPod Touch don’t support calendaring very well out of the box. Apple provides some rudimentary implementation for Microsoft Outlook on the Windows side (the majority of the user base is Windows-users – after all). And that’s pretty much where it stops. Most likely, when the iPhone SDK makes its debut the tables will turn once the third-party developers get their foot behind the door, but for now we’re stuck with Outlook.

The only way to get your Google Calendar(s) onto the iPhone* (i.e. without hacking) is to go through Microsoft Outlook. This means you’ll have to subsequently synchronize your calendars with Outlook and then with the iPhone. Furthermore, the latest version of the ‘Home & Student’ edition of Office [2007] doesn’t come equipped with Outlook anymore, like previous iterations used to. If you’re a Windows user and want calendaring on the iPhone, you’ll have to acquire Outlook first.

Lame, I know.

The secondary calendars dilemma

The problem with Google’s own syncing app for Outlook is that it only supports 1 calendar, the primary calendar. If you like a certain structure in your events, like I do, this will rapidly become a problem. If you want, it is possible to merge all your calendars into one. In that case, you can go ahead and sync to Outlook with Google’s own app.

In order to accomplish a merged primary calendar, you can:

  • Move the events to your primary calendar, or
  • Export your entire secondary calendar and import them into your primary calendar

Google Calendar Sync

(Google promises to make the multi-calendar feature available in the future, but doesn’t specify a date)

OggSync (Google-Outlook Sync) to the rescue

image For those who refuse to make such a sacrifice (hell, I do) there’s a free app out there called OggSync. It’s an Outlook Add-In that supports primary and secondary calendars seamlessly and best of all, it’s free. It docks right into the standard Calendar view as a toolbar and provides you with a few options. Once you’re set, all you need to do is hit the ‘Sync’-button. Magically, GCal events will start to trickle into your Outlook Calendar…

After that, plug in your iPhone and sync away.

Pros:

  • Full support for all your calendars
  • Support for both Outlook 2003 AND 2007
  • Pro version available, but optional
  • Free!

Cons:

  • A bit of a hassle, but heck, it’s better than nothing, no?
  • No calendar coloring support [yet] in Outlook 2007
  • An occasional freeze, but they don’t usually linger for long

Download OggSync 3.22 for Outlook (direct link)

Notes

*: You can also access your Google Calendars via the Safari browser on the iPhone. However, this is a static view and means you cannot add or edit events. Furthermore, you will need WiFi availability in order for this work. Experience has shown you don’t usually have wireless around when you need that desperate peek at your calendar.

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  • Dimplemonkey
    NemusSync is the app you've been waiting for. It has been available for firmware 1.1.4 but since v.2 for iPhone, it is currently in limbo until the developer makes the jump. It syncs over the air cleanly and quickly using Google API so it is a direct connection. No middle man whatsoever. I have been using it for several months and it works as advertised! He's trying to get it ported through the App Store but if he can't then it will be available through Installer 4 and/or Cydia.

    http://www.nemustech.com/iPhone/
  • On the other hand, the Mac has tools such as SpanningSync and BusySync that sync ical to Gcal very well. Both will soon sync contacts as well. But there is no Outlook for the Mac, so if that's a necessity, then the Mac isn't an option.

    Although the next Mac OS X release will have native Exchange support through iCal and AddressBook.
  • You know, one would think that Google - being a purveyor of "free" software (or ad-supported software for that matter) would start to support multiple calendar sync in its syncing tool and not make us go out and pay for tools such as Ogg.

    I've discovered that Plaxo plugin does this for free, albeit not with complete reliability. Check it out,

    Alex
  • Visiting
    I tried OggSync v3 for Outlook 2003. The problem is that it doesn't sync future events unless you you pay for the Pro version! That's very problematic when I want to look at calendar events in advance. I guess I'm going back to the one calendar system and using Google Calendar Sync.
  • Ace
    Hey, a good product diserves a good recommendation!
    I had noticed that option before and enabled it, but not all of the coloring came down the way they were supposed to.
    It's probably me doing something wrong.
    Nonetheless, keep up the good work :-).
  • Hi, thanks for the write up! You can set the colors in 2007 by setting the category colors. Click on Categories, choose the calendar name and set the color.

    Cheers!

    - OggSync
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