Fantastical 2.5 brings goodies for iOS 9 and iPhone 6s users

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Okay, don't spend too much time multitasking. You have Cult of Mac reading to catch up on.
Photo: George Tinari/Cult of Mac

Flexibits updated its popular Fantastical apps for iPhone and iPad this morning to take advantage of a number of new features in iOS 9 and on the iPhone 6s. Arguably the biggest improvement to productivity comes in the form of multitasking support for the iPad. Fantastical also threw in a dash of the new iPhone’s 3D Touch as well.

Multitasking support means Fantastical can now do two things: Slide Over and Split View. Slide Over lets you peak at another app in the sidebar while deactivating the full screen app behind it. This works with most iPad models. Split View lets you run both apps side-by-side and works with the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro.

On my iPad mini 2 I’m able to use Slide Over and I must say, it’s extremely convenient to be able to swipe in from the right and quickly check your calendar or add an event when you think of it. Then just one more swipe brings me back to the app I was working on.

Fantastical for iPhone also sprinkled some 3D Touch in its app update. It doesn’t integrate the new technology throughout, but does offer app shortcuts on the Home screen. Now if you 3D Touch the icon on your iPhone 6s,  you’ll get menu options to create a new event, search your events or view event details for what’s next on your calendar. I also noticed that the app shortcut even adapts to when you’re showing or hiding certain calendars. The menu will only show an upcoming event for a calendar you don’t have hidden in Fantastical; a nice touch.

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One 3D Touch and a tap will get you to the New Event page.
Photo: Fantastical

Fantastical 2.5 for iPhone also updates the Apple Watch app to support Complications on your Watch face and a “go to date” function.

Universal to both the iPad and iPhone are a few other improvements: changes to the way multiple invitation notifications are displayed, better week view design, tap and hold on location URLs to pick which app opens them and bug fixes galore.

Don’t forget that while the updates arrived in sync with each other, Fantastical for iPhone and Fantastical for iPad are two separate apps. The iPhone version sells for $4.99 while the iPad app will run you an additional $9.99. And let’s not forget Fantastical for Mac for a cool $39.99.

Still, Fantastical is my favorite calendar app for Mac and iOS even if it is one of the most expensive options out there. The 2.5 update delivers even more reasons to love it.

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