Apple Releases New Versions of iCal & iSync

Apple Releases New Versions of iCal & iSync

iCal Adds Improved Interface & Time Zone Support; iSync Adds Calendar Synchronisation for Symbian Phones

CUPERTINO, California‹October 8, 2003‹Apple® today announced the immediate availability of iCal� 1.5.1, an update to Apple's powerful and easy to use calendar program, and iSync 1.2.1, an update to Apple's breakthrough synchronisation software. In addition to managing multiple calendars and sharing them over the Internet, iCal now includes an all-new interface for creating and managing event details and improved support for working across time zones. iSync, which allows users to instantly sync their Mac address book and calendars with their mobile phone, Palm OS device, iPod� and other Macs, now delivers calendar support for Symbian-based smartphones and supports new mobile phones from Sony Ericsson, extending Apple's lead in integrating with Bluetooth-enabled phones.

"iCal and iSync give Mac OS X users access to their contacts and calendars wherever they go‹on their mobile phones, Palm OS PDAs and iPods," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Marketing. "Used together with .Mac, Apple's suite of Internet services, iCal and iSync allow users to effortlessly sync important information across multiple Macs."

iCal was the first calendar program to introduce calendar publishing and subscribing over the Internet, enabling access to shared calendars from any Internet-connected computer using .Mac or any WebDAV server. iCal users can coordinate schedules with friends, family and colleagues, and access a wide community of public calendars for events such as concerts, movies and sporting events. New features of iCal 1.5.1 include a simplified Info Drawer to view and edit all event and To Do details in one panel; time zone support to schedule and view events worldwide using any time zone; unlimited customised calendar colours; keyboard shortcuts to hide and view calendars or create and edit events; and the ability to run AppleScripts triggered by iCal events.

iSync 1.2.1 adds complete calendar synchronisation support for Symbian-based smartphones such as the Nokia 3650 and 7650, and the Sony Ericsson P800. With the addition of the Sony Ericsson T616 and Z600, iSync 1.2.1 supports over 20 mobile phones from Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Siemens.

Pricing & Availability iCal 1.5.1 and iSync 1.2.1 are available immediately as free downloads from www.apple.com . Publishing calendars on the Internet requires a .Mac membership or access to a WebDAV server and Mac® to Mac synchronisation requires a .Mac membership. .Mac is available as a subscription-based service for $199.00+GST per year through the Apple Authorised Resellers. New Macintosh® customers can sign up for a free, 60-day .Mac trial from www.mac.com. A list of iSync-compatible devices is available at www.apple.com/isync . iCal 1.5.1 and iSync 1.2.1 require Mac® OS X version 10.2.5.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators and creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

ENDS

© Scoop Media