Hello, it’s me again who installs operating system betas where I shouldn’t. This time I’m here to talk about a new feature of Apple operating systems for the 24/25 course: Integration of Calendar and Reminders.

It’s not new, other apps have similar offerings, but the fact that it’s natively integrated into iOS and macOS gives it an advantage. I’ve been trying task apps for years, avoiding Reminders. I used to use Fantastical for calendar.

Going to local options had to be justified by something eye-catching, like integration.

Simple but effective. This combination is like that. Reminders remain the same as always; new features will be added when Apple Intelligence is fully available, but Calendar is where the innovation is perceived.

• If we have reminders assigned to a date, they appear at the top of the grid, next to events scheduled for the entire day.
• If we have assigned them to a specific time, they will appear during that time period.
• The entity is not just visual: if we click on them, the full window is displayed, allowing access to a designated URL, for example.

Here’s an example of how they’re integrated into the calendar. Sorry for the pixelated data, but here’s what happened:

Image: Xataka.

This is not the same. An appointment (something that happens at a specific time and place) is added to the calendar. A task (something we actively need to complete, whether or not it’s before a specific time) goes to Reminders.

Understanding this difference is essential for the invention to work, otherwise we end up with an inconsistent mixture. As a wise man from Piti said, “Hey, I warned you.”

And here are the Reminders. Image: Xataka.

Results. When applied well, this mix allows us to better see what the day has in store for us in a single window. It is up to us to provide this order and consistency.

Of course, there are points that can be improved:

• I miss the option to hide specific reminder lists in the calendar.
• It’s also missing a way to view a task’s subtasks from the calendar.

remains. After trying this combination for a few weeks, I’m sure I’ll stay here. It’s not a perfect experience, and there are alternatives that already offer something similar, but doing it locally, with the benefits that Reminders offers (integration with Shortcuts or location-based alerts or a specific contact), keeps me committed to this option.

I think that seeing at a glance what the day has in store for me in terms of both appointments and tasks in an understandable interface, being able to complete them from the calendar, etc. is an irreversible journey.

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Featured image | Xataka, Mockuuups Studio