In addition to announcing Mac OS X “Panther’s” forthcoming release date, Apple on Wednesday released updates to iCal and iSync, the company’s calendaring and data synchronization software for Mac OS X users. iCal v1.5.1 and iSync v1.2.1 are both available for download from Apple’s Web site.
iCal now features an improved interface: A simplified Info Drawer lets users view and edit all event and To Do details in a single panel. Time zone support has been improved as well — users can now schedule and view events using any time zone. iCal now features unlimited customized calendar colors, also. What’s more, keyboard shortcuts have been added to let users hide and view calendars and create and edit events. Also added is the ability to run AppleScripts triggered by iCal events.
iSync 1.2.1 now adds complete calendar synchronization support for users of wireless phones that use the Symbian operating system, including the Nokia 3650 and 7650 and Sony Ericsson’s P800 model. Support for Sony Ericsson’s T616 and Z600 models has also been added, upping iSync’s list of supported phones to more than 20 different models from Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Siemens.
Apple indicates that iCal 1.5.1 requires iSync 1.2.1; users are instructed to install iCal 1.5.1 before installing iSync 1.2.1. Mac-to-Mac calendar or data synchronization requires that all Macs have iCal 1.5.1 and iSync 1.2.1 installed as well, according to Apple.
Both applications are free downloads from Apple’s Web site, though Apple notes that iCal 1.5.1 and iSync 1.2.1 both requires Mac OS X v10.2.5 or higher.
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