Apple Updates iCal, iSync -- Two of Apple's flashier announcements at the July 2002 Macworld Expo have finally become more usable, just in time for the January 2003 Expo. iCal 1.0.2 brings sorely needed performance improvements to the calendar application, including speedier launch times and better importing capabilities (meaning, at least in our case, iCal now correctly imports vCal and Microsoft Entourage files). iCal 1.0.1, released earlier last week, didn't work properly for users in time zones 10 hours or more from Greenwich Mean Time. Although the release notes for version 1.0.2 do not specifically mention this particular fix, Apple removed a notice from the iCal download page about the problem, so we assume this was a reason for releasing another update so quickly. iCal 1.0.2 is a free 10.4 MB download.

<http://db.tidbits.com/article/06880>
<http://www.apple.com/ical/>

Apple also posted iSync 1.0, the release version of its synchronization utility that has been in beta since 30-Sep-02. iSync now boasts faster syncing with Palm OS devices, better Palm configuration options within iSync (you need the HotSync component of Palm Desktop 4.0), automatic synchronization with a .Mac account, .Mac Address Book synchronization, and an iSync menu bar icon. (In our testing, iSync has been remarkably slow and processor intensive.) Beginning 07-Jan-02, .Mac account holders will be able to access their Address Book information via the Web. iSync 1.0 is a 5.1 MB download. [JLC]

<http://db.tidbits.com/article/06946>
<http://www.apple.com/isync/>