Apple releases iCal update, iSync 1.0

Macworld - Apple Computer Inc. today released an update to the company's calendaring application, iCal, and the final version of iSync.

With iSync 1.0 users can synchronize Address Book contacts and iCal calendars across Mac OS computers and devices, such as an iSync-compatible mobile phone, an iPod or a Palm OS device. iSync can also synchronize two or more Macintosh computers using the Internet (although a .Mac membership required).

iSync is compatible with several Ericsson mobile phones including the Sony Ericsson T68i; Ericsson T68; Ericsson T39; Ericsson R520; any iPod with Software version 1.2 or higher; and Palm OS devices from Palm or Handspring running Palm OS 4.0 or later and Palm Desktop 4.0 or later for Mac OS X.

iSync 1.0 provides several enhancements and improvements over the iSync Public Beta version released last fall, including automatic sync scheduling and performance and stability improvements. The final version also provides a menu bar icon and faster Palm syncing.

"Within just a few months, iCal and iSync have become desktop essentials for thousands of Mac users who want to better organize the personal information on their Mac with the devices they carry with them most," said Sina Tamaddon, Apple's senior vice president of Applications.

Apple also updated iCal today to version 1.0.1. Notes provided with the update indicate iCal 1.0.1 provides a number of performance and stability enhancements, and improved support for importing vCal and Entourage information.

According to Apple, since the introduction of iCal in September, more than 1 million copies of iCal have been distributed and more than 200,000 calendars have been published online.

Both applications can be downloaded for free from Apple's Web site.