We've mentioned
Spanning Sync, the first utility to truly sync iCal and Google Calendar,
once or twice before, but until today it's been in that 'beta' status that's such a hit with the kids these days. As of this morning, however, beta is no more, for Spanning Sync has reached full 1.0 status and gone commercial. Now, users can bask in the wonders of a true two-way sync between iCal and Google Calendar, as well as syncing between multiple Macs and Google Calendar accounts, and even with iSync-compatible devices like iPods and mobile phones (before you ask: yes, once it's out, the iPhone is invited to the party too). Spanning Sync even works with
Google Apps for Your Domain, Google's hosting service (free to individuals or companies of up to 25 users, commercial for more) that offers, amongst other things, Google Calendar and Gmail on your own domain.
With the changeover to a full 1.0 app, Spanning Sync has also gone commercial. It now runs as a 15 day demo, and that two-tier pricing system
we mentioned offers two choices: either $25 for a yearly subscription (a lá .Mac), or $65 to buy a copy in full.
Check out the refreshed
Spanning Sync site for more details and to download a demo.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-13-2007 @ 9:41AM
Angela said...
Having used it in beta for quite a while, honestly I can't say this application is worth the $$ they are asking for it. I am going to try some other apps which do a similar operation, first. I don't see how they can justify anymore than $25 for a one time purchase.
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3-13-2007 @ 9:59AM
thirstyrobot said...
Those prices are outrageous. And I say so as a beta tester. I'll discontinue using this app until the developer comes to his senses.
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3-13-2007 @ 9:59AM
Chris said...
$65 is out of control.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:07AM
Nate said...
Rivaling the price of iWork, iLife, and half the price of an entire OSX operating system?
Absolutely not. I don't care how bad I want this functionality, this is out of control. Especially not with all the error messages that always come up on my wife's computer for this app.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:13AM
John said...
That is ridiculous, the pricing is crazy.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:21AM
Sean said...
Agreed. This price scale is shocking!
$25 is the highest reasonable price I'm willing to pay.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:22AM
Rae said...
In accord with all of the above comments. I wonder how long we'll be able to suckle on the beta teat until we're cut off.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:25AM
Ben said...
I agree with all of the above. $65 is ridiculously overpriced and who wants to pay a yearly fee on something like this? BS.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:26AM
Ben said...
I'd like to add that I never liked the fact that my Gmail username and password must pass through SpanningSync's servers every time. I just don't trust anyone with that information except Google.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:29AM
Dave said...
I've already removed the application. It doesn't do enough to justify that pricing structure.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:30AM
Chris said...
I'd rather pay the yearly .Mac fee and sync my iCal with that calendar. I think that even $25 is too high. Hit me up when it's under $10.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:33AM
Erik said...
Wow - what a terrible pricing decision. Unless they're hoping to cash in on the market before Google bakes this in or someone comes along and does it better. Ofcourse, with that pricing the motivation for competition is going to be high.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:37AM
chad said...
Agreed that $65 is WAY too much. Looks like they just lost another user here.
Plus, it would be nice of them to offer a discount to the beta users that have been putting up with all the headaches and growing pains.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:39AM
Quix said...
I've never thought anything could make .Mac look like a great deal, but Spanning Sync has managed to do it. Good job guys!
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3-13-2007 @ 10:43AM
dburney said...
This sounds really cool - but for $65? I've noticed other tools that take a bit more work and are free/almost free. I was waiting for something just like this - but I think I'll do a little more work and save myself the cash.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:50AM
Mkummer said...
$ 65.- - in one word that is ridiculous! Come on boys, thats just a calendar sync. I suggest $ 15.- for the whole thing, thats it. Otherwise no money at all - at lest from me - and obviously ALL colleagues here.
mmk
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3-13-2007 @ 11:03AM
Matt said...
I agree with most of the above comments and hope that the developer reads this. I use his app daily and with have to pay the 25.00 but it will not pay until my beta runs out and i will be on the hunt for another app that does this. i can not believe that they think $65 Us is a fair price for a sync app. Even the BEST games for my Xbox 360 don't cost this much. I went to the web site to look for an e-mail link to the developer so i could tell him what i think of his pricing. I really hope he revisits his price structure.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:14AM
Scott said...
Completely absurd. Given the difficulties with the beta and the "nice to have" vs. "have to have" position of this app, I'd pay $19.95 and not a penny more (well, okay... maybe $19.99).
It's clear that they are approaching this as if Spanning Sync were a replacement for .Mac; if it were the price would be reasonable. It's not, though, by a long shot and the price, therefore, is way out of line. Someone in their marketing department has completely dropped the ball on the competitive pricing analysis.
I'm no raving fan of .Mac and it still doesn't do what Spanning Sync does, but I've got better places to spend my $65. I've just removed the app from my Mac and will just consider this another head-shaker in a long line of woulda/coulda/shoulda applications for the Mac.
What a shame.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:15AM
dave said...
$65 once or $25 for a yearly subscription is well North of ridiculous. There's no way I'll even condider buying this product. The developer simply hasn't built that kind of value into it.
And here's the thing - I buy software quite often. If this pricing has someone like me concerned there is certainly a problem.
No way.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:30AM
Wojtek said...
Ridiculous. I've been betatesting, SpanningSync was never able to automatically update my GoogleCal with events created on my mobile phone (events that, obviously, appear properly in my iCal) - I had to spansync manually all the time. Transmitting my user credentials through their servers never appealed to me either. Even if SpanningSync was really working AND communicating with Google only, I'd not put anything more than $10 for it. It's just a plain ripoff, not mentioning it's a perfect way to steal thousands of identites.
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