I’ve Been Using The 15″ Skylight Calendar and Discovered It’s a Great Tool for Keeping a Family Informed and Better Organized

If you’ve been seeking out a simple tool to help manage the busy schedules of all your immediate family members, and also keep track of important tasks, plan meals, and prepare grocery shopping lists, The Skylight Calendar can do all of this and more. The same device can also be used to create and manage a child’s chore list, plus serve as a digital picture frame that showcases family photos and video clips on its bright and colorful touchscreen display.

Digital picture frames are nothing new, but the latest iteration of these devices can do so much more than just display digital photos in the form of a slideshow. Case in point, there’s The Skylight Calendar with its beautiful, 15-inch HD touchscreen display. In addition to being a digital picture frame that allows new content to be delivered to the device via its own email address, this Skylight product has an integrated calendar application, list management system, and meal planner. It’s designed to be placed in a kitchen, family room, or the foyer of a home and serve as a tool for showcasing and sharing information.

Beyond just serving as a family scheduling tool and digital calendar that everyone can contribute to by sending events/appointments from their respective computer and mobile devices, The Skylight Calendar has a customizable display that showcases the time, date, local weather forecast, and other information that’s of interest to household members.

The 15-inch model of The Skylight Calendar can be placed on a shelf or countertop, or hung on a wall. The trick is to set it up in a location of a home that’s frequently trafficked by all family members. The folks at Skylight recently provided me with a review unit of the company’s flagship 15-inch version of The Skylight Calendar, which I’ve set up and have been using within my home. 

Keep reading my review to learn more about this innovative device that can make it easier to keep an entire family better organized and informed. And if a 15-inch touchscreen display isn’t large enough, Skylight also offers a 27-inch version of the product that’s designed to be hung on a wall.

Who Can Benefit from Using The Skylight Calendar?

The Skylight Calendar is designed for busy households with family members that are continuously coming and going based on their hectic schedules. However, the device can just as easily be used by someone living on their own, two or more roommates, or a married couple without children. Its purpose is to help people sync their schedules, share information, and stay informed.

The Skylight Calendar syncs with many popular calendar applications, so each family member can have their own color-coded schedule displayed on the device. This makes it easier for a parent, for example, to keep track of their childrens’ after school activities, carpool schedule, doctors appointments, school vacations, and more, while also managing their own work-related schedule. At the same time, family events and vacations can be displayed. All this scheduling data automatically syncs between everyone’s computer and mobile devices, too. 

So, if one family member updates their schedule using Google Calendar, Apple iCal, Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo! Calendar, Cozi, or Skylight’s proprietary iOS or Android app, The Skylight Calendar almost instantly updates, too. As a result, new information becomes viewable by all household members. Yes, individual family members can choose to keep aspects of their schedule private. 

The Skylight Calendar: The Setup Process

The Skylight Calendar comes with everything needed to set up the device and get it working in less than 30 minutes (less if you don’t plan to mount the display on a wall). To function, the display must continuously be plugged into an electrical outlet and have access to a home’s Wi-Fi network. Once the display is removed from its packaging, the included quick start guide walks the user through attaching the device’s tabletop stand or mount it on a wall. Both options require a Phillipshead screwdriver. Mounting the display on a wall also requires a drill and ¼-inch drill bit.

Upon turning on The Skylight Calendar for the first time, the user is required to connect it to their home’s Wi-Fi network. It’s then necessary for at least one family member to download and install the free Skylight mobile app. Ultimately, all family members that want to be able to remotely update their schedule, share photos, and contribute items to various lists will also want to install the app on their mobile device. However, adding calendar events and items to various lists can also be done directly from the Skylight’s touchscreen display. 

And to keep scheduling easy, if a household member receives an email or PDF file that contains important dates or appointments, these too can be forwarded to The Skylight Calendar’s own email address to be automatically imported into the family’s calendar. This is done using the Magic Import tool that’s part of the subscription-based Skylight Plus Plan.

The Skylight app ultimately walks each user through the simple process of syncing their calendar app with The Skylight Calendar. And it doesn’t matter if each family member relies on a different scheduling app, since the Skylight app can sync everyone’s information and display it on the Skylight’s display using a color-coding system the person setting up the frame creates. Each family member can have their own color, or different colors can represent different types of events, like vacations, after school activities, doctor’s appointments, and work schedules.

After everyone’s scheduling/calendar app is synced up, each household member can participate in creating and managing different types of lists, such as grocery shopping lists, to-do lists, vacation packing lists, and chore lists. The Skylight Calendar also offers a meal planning tool. 

When calendar and list information is not being showcased on the display, The Skylight Calendar can transform itself into an interactive digital picture frame that displays photos and video clips uploaded to the frame by each family member using the Skylight app. This is one of the features, however, that requires a Skylight Plus Plan subscription. 

The subscription plan is something I recommend signing up for, since it makes working with the calendar and sharing information with it so much easier. The plan also unlocks additional tools, including the meal planning functionality. Plus, photos can be synced and displayed from a Google Photos account or emailed to the Skylight Calendar. Several different photo albums can be created and displayed separately.

Every Skylight Calendar comes with its own email address. So, anyone with this address can share photos or video clips to be displayed on the frame via email, without needing to use the Skylight mobile app. 

I found the Skylight Calendar’s initial setup process to be straightforward. The most confusing task is initially syncing up each household member’s scheduling app, but the Skylight app walks the user through this process. Once it’s set up, all of the Skylight Calendar’s features can be accessed and managed from the device’s touchscreen display or the Skylight app.

I was impressed by how simple and straightforward The Skylight Calendar’s user interface is. It’s suitable for people who are not at all comfortable using tech-related gadgets (especially once the initial set up process has been completed by someone who knows what they’re doing). 

Between the tutorials offered through the app and the Skylight website, as well as the company’s technical support that’s available by phone or email, any questions or issues can be resolved quickly. A detailed, 104-page user manual, which offers step-by-step set up directions, as well as instructions for using the Skylight app can be viewed, downloaded, or printed for free from the Skylight website.

One important consideration is that while many households choose to set up The Skylight Calendar in a kitchen, the display itself is not waterproof or even water resistant. It also needs to be placed close to an electrical outlet. I’d recommend placing it somewhere that’s visible and heavily trafficked by household members, but not on or near a kitchen counter that often becomes messy as a result of meal prep.

From a privacy and security standpoint, The Skylight Calendar does not have a built in camera or microphone. It does, however, have a light sensor used to automatically adjust the display’s brightness based on ambient lighting. 

The Skylight Calendar: Working With the Display

One of the best things about The Skylight Calendar is its simplicity. The touchscreen is responsive. Along the left side of the display are the easily readable and well-labeled buttons that allow whomever is using it to jump between features. When viewing a calendar, in addition to switching between a daily, weekly, or monthly view, tapping on an individual event causes a pop-up window with all of that event’s details to be clearly displayed.

Meanwhile, when viewing photos in full-screen mode via Settings, it’s possible to set the time interval that photos are switched. However, using a horizontal finger swipe or the ‘+’ or ‘-’ buttons located on the top of the frame, the user can manually move between viewable images. Or, from the Album display, a user can view smaller versions of all images within an Album and then tap on the one they want to see in full-screen mode.

Displayed along the left side of the screen are buttons to access the integrated Calendar, Photos, Tasks, Rewards, Meals, and List functions. Tasks can be used to assign household chores to individual family members and then keep track of which ones get completed and when. Use Rewards to assign a number of stars to each assigned task. The app then keeps track of how many stars have been collected by individual users. A parent can offer a reward for reaching a predetermined number of stars.

When subscribed to the Skylight Plus Plan, the meal planning tool is one of the features that gets unlocked. In less than five minutes, someone can create a menu for a week’s worth of meals and assign meal times, so all household members know what’s for dinner and when dinner will be served, for example. 

The List function is a basic list manager that is customizable. Any number of lists can be created and then updated by household members. One popular use of this feature is to maintain a grocery list that all household members can contribute to. The person doing the grocery shopping can then view the up-to-date shopping list directly from their smartphone while they’re at the supermarket. However, a list can also be created for holiday gift requests, or to share a packing list for an upcoming vacation.

Each of these features and more can be accessed and managed using the display’s touchscreen or the Skylight mobile app. Based on what you want to see, the time, date, and local weather forecast can also be displayed. 

What I like best about The Skylight Calendar is that when it goes into screensaver mode, for Skylight Plus Plan subscribers, the display transforms into a high-resolution digital picture frame that automatically showcases images and video clips using a customizable slideshow format. 

This feature is not only a great way to showcase and share photos amongst household members, but it also keeps the display active throughout the day, so nobody ever needs to stare at a stagnant black screen. In addition to the display itself looking like a digital picture frame, the device can serve as one too and adds custom decor to the room it’s in.

From the Settings mode of the display itself or from the Skylight mobile app, tapping on the Sleep button allows the user to create a schedule for the display to remain functional and then go into sleep mode at designated time. So at night (at a specific time), the frame can sleep and turn off and then turn itself back on again at a predetermined time in the morning. At any time, a user can press the Power button on the top of the display to place the display into sleep mode and press it again to wake it up.

The Skylight Mobile App Makes Sharing Information With the Calendar a Breeze

Showcased above is a collection of screenshots from the Skylight app. On the left is the main menu for the app. It correlates with the key features offered by The Skylight Calendar. Moving to the right is the monthly Calendar view from which a household member can view and update the family calendar from the app. 

The next pic is an example of the grocery list management feature which can be created, managed and viewed from the Skylight app, or directly from the Skylight Calendar device. The image on the extreme left is the main Photos menu from which images and video clips can be added, deleted, arranged, and managed from the mobile app. 

Alternatively, images and video clips from within the Photos app on a computer or mobile device can be emailed directly to The Skylight Calendar’s unique email address. These too will then be displayed within a few moments after they’re received.

The Skylight app is available for iOS (from the App Store) and Android mobile devices (from the Google Play Store). The app is used to manage the device itself, create and manage lists, share and manage photos (and video clips), and sync content between the display and third-party apps (like Apple iCal, Microsoft Outlook, or Google Calendar). I found the app is a tad more complex to use than the display itself, but a detailed manual for using the app and all of its features is available from Skylight’s website. 

If someone in your household is not tech-savvy, I recommend not giving them access to the app. Instead, they’ll have the ability to view content directly on The Skylight Calendar’s own display, and when necessary, add content to it. That said, for someone comfortable using their mobile device, navigating around the app and using it is a relatively intuitive process, especially once the user understands what the app and Skylight Calendar are designed to do.

My Final Thoughts: Is The Skylight Calendar Worth It?

The Skylight Calendar offers a bunch of home and family organizational and scheduling tools. To get the most out of this device, I suggest setting up the Calendar and Photos features first. Allow all household members to get accustomed to checking the calendar for schedule information and to view family photos. Then, over time, activate and begin using the additional features that will be useful to your household, whether it’s to create grocery lists the whole family can contribute to, a chore list for the kids, or a meal plan that shares when meals at home are served and what’s on the menu.

First and foremost, The Skylight Calendar is a well-designed calendar and scheduling tool, as well as an interactive picture frame. It’s not meant to be a full-featured smart home hub that allows for audio and video streaming, video calls, and remotely controlling other smart home appliances. As a result, it’s easier to use and serves more as a versatile and customizable organization and time management tool. 

Based on my experience testing all of The Skylight Calendar’s features and functions, I’ve concluded this is a worthwhile interactive tool to add to a busy household, whether or not all members of the household have their own computer or mobile devices. 

The Skylight Calendar serves as a centralized place to share information, help household members meet their responsibilities, and can assist in keeping everyone better organized. The device itself is well-made, visually attractive (with its minimalist in design), and features a bright, clear, and responsible touchscreen display. 

Another excellent use of The Skylight Calendar is to give one as a gift to an older parent who lives independently and is not at all tech-savvy. Doing this would allow you to help manage their schedule of doctor’s appointments and other responsibilities, and at the same time, share family photos and video clips remotely that they’d otherwise not see because they’re not active on social media. 

Three years ago, I purchased a Skylight Frame (a predecessor of this device) for my 84-year-old mother as a Mother’s Day gift. I set it up for her on a shelf in her living room and she’s been using it ever since. She enjoys when I and other family members share photos and video clips directly to the frame via email, so they literally just pop up for her to view as part of an ongoing animated slideshow of images that are remotely managed for her using the Skylight app.

Overall, I found the price of The Skylight Calendar itself is a good value and competitive with similar products on the market. However, I do recommend subscribing to the Skylight Plus Plan for an additional $79 per year to unlock the additional features offered. 

Yes, this subscription fee (after the one-month free trial) is a bit on the high side, but I noticed that on a pretty regular basis, the designers at Skylight introduce new and upgraded features to The Skylight Calendar which many users will find nicely improve upon the capabilities of the device. 

One important thing to consider when choosing any digital calendar for your home is the reputation of the manufacturer and the security tools and features built into the device and its mobile app. 

Skylight is a U.S.-based company that’s become one of the best-known and most trusted brands for this type of device. All data shared with the device is encrypted and stored on a secure server, so the content is not accessible by unknown third parties. 

Anytime the device needs to sync data with a third-party calendar app, for example, users are expressly asked permission to establish the sync, so they know where data is coming from and who it’s being shared with. These security and privacy features are often not found in competing digital calendars and frames sold for less money by no-name companies based overseas.