📲↔️🗓 Two-way synchronization of calendars#68

Now you can import the calendar, but not export tasks to the calendar, hopefully we can synchronize the calendar in both directions

Hi Phanl,
Thanks so much for your comment. Sadly we looked at this when we designed the feature and we made the decision then that this feature would only be a one way import. There are several key reasons which I hope to outline here. First of all, we are a personal planning app as opposed to a calendar app, and as a visual schedule and timer, Tiimo helps you focus on a particular activity in a way that a calendar doesn’t. So importing Tiimo activities into a general calendar app often doesn’t make sense. Most of the activities within Tiimo are personal ones, and the larger broaded activities, tend to have been created in an external app - which is why we have import, so you can bring those activities into the app. The amount of development that would be needed to make this feature work 2 ways is disproportionate to the amount of actual use that people would get out of it. There are also privacy concerns when possibly importing private activities and routines into calendars which might be able to be seen by other groups of people. Even with non-private events or appointments, you can quickly get into a problem with them being edited and shared back and forwards between applications, with little quality checks over which is the correct one - especially when the appointment could be between several people. This is why very few apps from different developers actually have two way synchronization. Finally, as this feature works with third-party applications, we would have no control when they choose to update or change their programme, but then would have to use significant development time to debug or get issues sorted, which often would be outside our control.

Hope that this answers your question and gives some background to why this is not a feature on our roadmap. Thanks, Team Tiimo

I understand what you’re saying but I still think that you should give us the option to make that decision ourselves. Having ADHD as I do, I struggle to keep one calendar in order, imagine if I have to manage two or more different apps, I’m looking to facilitate my life not to make it more complicated. So I think, I have to reevaluate if it works for me or not.

I can understand the problems in implementing a 2-way synchronization described by Natasha. I think in my case a flat read only export from Tiimo back to other calendar apps would be enough. It’s enough for me just to see that there is some task to do in most cases. For more information I can open the Tiimo app.
So here is my idea, what is just about an export from Tiimo in form of a iCal-file. Most calendar apps can handle such web calendars. They can be read only, so no debuging of failed write actions by third party software. If an edit option should be also implemented, a hyperlink to the web app could be written in the event description offering edit options in the web app.
Maybe this idea helps.

Thank you very much for your reply, I think it would be helpful to export Tiimo’s tasks to a read-only calendar, so I can see my Time Block on a calendar at all times!

Tiimo is sooooo close to being what I need!
The missing two-way sync is a serious missing feature. In fact, I’m considering to just going with Google Calendar, for desktop access, easy rescheduling, tasks-lists, and it’s native integration with the Google Suite.
I would love to combine Tiimo’s visual time counter (amazing, love it, for the love of all that is holy please do not remove this!) and phone widgets, and notifications with the benefits that Google brings.

A two way sync would allow me to combine the best features when I need them how I need them. Plus, it would help me rest assured that whatever plans I make or adjust, regardless of app, are reflected on both platforms.

I think Tiimo is seriously underestimating the usefulness of this feature. And I find it interesting that an app made for people with ADHD (and others) wants their clients to manage two apps.

Regarding specific arguments raised by Tiimo two years ago:

→ I don’t want to 2-way sync with my work-calendar. In my personal calendar, work is simply scheduled as “Work Shift 1” and “Work Shift 2”. (My meetings and tasks for work are in a separate company-calendar, which is shared with the rest of the company. Far, far away from my personal calendar.)
My personal calendar holds my personal appointment, tasks, plans, etc. That’s what I want to sync 2-way with Tiimo. Managing three calendars (meaning 2 Google calendars + Tiimo) is draining and confusing.

→ Add a pop-up at sync initiation warning of potential privacy issues: “All of your Tiimo Activities (including checklists) will be reflected on your Google Calendar. Everyone with access to that calendar will be able to see.” + Checkbox “I understand and want to move forward.”
You can even add T&Cs to this to absolve you of any responsibility.

Really hope Tiimo will reconsider this feedback!

I would like to be able to export to my calendar because my semi-smart watch can only be linked to my apple calendar and I want to be able to see my plans from Tiimo on my watch

I also agree that this feature would be extremely useful. I personally time block and having a Tiimo display a new event on my calendar for completed task would be great so that way I can see what I scheduled and how long it actually took me. Did I get distracted through it? Was I time blind and underestimated how long a task would take. I currently use Toggl track and zapier to do some of this, but it would be a great feature in Tiimo.

How can I important calendar from microsoft work account? It’s my work calendar I need to sync not my personal apple one and no idea how to do it

Pretty Please with whipped cream🧁and sprinkles✨on top!!!!! This would make things so much more fluid. That way I could use Tiimo as the brain of my time/task management system instead of just a visual timer widget for my calendar. Oh mah gawd pleazzzzzzz?!?!

I understand that you feel that the amount of work to develop 2-way sync for calendars is not worth it for the number perceived who would use the feature. But I guarantee that more people will use the feature than you are estimating. Even if it is as simple as “add this task/event to calendar” button than then shows your calendars that you are already connected to. I absolutely despise needing to use multiple apps and calendar systems to get my day organized and really love all the features of Tiimo with this one glaring exception. You designed your app to help ADHD/neurodivergent individuals organize their life and time better. Seriously: the amount of support you will have from users for the addition of this feature will be astronomical.

Working in a team that invites me to dozens of events per week, but can’t see my timeblockers can ruins the experience 8-9 hours per day in every moment because maybe I forget that I blocked a slot for a personal thing.

I agree that having a read-only version of my planned Tiimo activities and routines that I could subscribe to in my Apple Calendar would be ideal. I don’t like using Tiimo for all my events, only for routines. Being able to subscribe so I know when I have a Tiimo routine planned would be excellent!