BusySync is a unique product from BusyMac that enables users to share and collaborate on iCal calendars over a local network or the web. No servers and no .Mac subscription account required. Users have fine-grained control over exactly which calendars to share and whether a password is required to view or edit a calendar, and changes are typically updated incredibly quickly, especially over Bonjour.
At Macworld this week, BusyMac announced a new 2.0 version shipping soon that will allow syncing and collaboration with Google Calendar. This will open up whole new doors for users who perhaps work on a Mac at home, but only have access to Google Calendar while at the office. Though BusySync can sync over the web after some extra configuration, users at work typically find themselves behind a firewall or without admin rights to install software like this.
At its Macworld booth today, John Chaffee of BusyMac was kind enough to give a demonstration of how BusySync will work with Google Calendar, and it was impressive. Synchronization happens pretty quickly in the background, and BusySync automatically creates backups of iCal every day, maintaining multiple copies in case disaster ever strikes.
