Are Digital Wall Calendars Worth It? A Review of Skylight, Everblog, and Apolosign Models
A Wired review concludes that digital wall calendars like Skylight Calendar 2, Everblog HomeCal, and Apolosign Digital Calendar can be useful for family planning, though some require a monthly subscription.
Wired has published a detailed review of digital wall calendars, focusing on three models: Skylight Calendar 2, Everblog HomeCal, and Apolosign Digital Calendar. The author initially was skeptical after trying the Hearth Display but later found digital calendars to be a favorite family gadget.
These devices sync with online calendars such as Google Calendar or Apple Calendar and can be mounted on a wall or placed on a tabletop. They often double as chore charts, meal planners, and digital photo frames. The author notes that she can now see her calendar in the kitchen without using her phone, and she and her husband use the meal-planning feature.
Skylight Calendar 2 is the most popular model. It features a clean, intuitive interface with a left-side menu bar including Calendar, Lists, Tasks, Rewards, Meals, and Recipes. A photo screensaver and other features require a Plus subscription ($79/year or $8/month). The device supports multiple calendars and family members, and it can automatically add ingredients to a shopping list from planned recipes. Prices: 10-inch model $170, Calendar 2 $320, Calendar Max $630.
Everblog HomeCal 21.5-inch operates without a subscription. Its interface is similar to Skylight, with Calendar, Chores, and Meal Plan sections but no recipe section. It has a “fridge” function to track food inventory. Photos can only be uploaded one at a time. The device loudly pings at the start of calendar events, which can only be changed on the device. It comes with wall-mounting hardware; a tabletop stand and wooden frame are sold separately.
Apolosign Digital Calendar is available in three sizes (15.7, 21.5, and 27 inches). It runs Android OS and offers two modes: Calendar mode and Android mode. Calendar mode includes Home, Calendar, Routines, To-Dos, Rewards, and Meals sections. The Home page shows the calendar and to-dos side by side. There is no subscription fee, but the device is not very intuitive, and iPhone users cannot achieve two-way sync. Apolosign is often on sale at a price similar to Skylight.
Overall, the author finds digital wall calendars useful for families that already rely on electronic calendars. She prefers Skylight for its software, while Everblog and Apolosign are good subscription-free alternatives.
