Apple has updated its MobileMe service to include a new calendar interface and an iPad-friendly version of its iDisk iOS app. MobileMe, which is basically Google Apps meets Dropbox in a shiny wrapper, has been getting a visual overhaul over the last few months. Back in May, Apple re-designed the webmail interface for MobileMe, making it look very similar to the Mail app on the iPad. That update, along with a new Find My iPhone app for the iPhone and iPad, was released last month. The new calendar interface, which is currently in beta, also takes major design cues from the iPad. The layout is almost identical to that of the Calendar app on Apple's tablet device. Personally, I think the iPad calendar is absolutely brilliant, which makes the web update a welcome change. Additionally, the new calendar will support sharing with family and friends who are also MobileMe members. You can also publish read-only calendars that can be viewed by anyone. Basically what this means is that MobileMe will now have the calendar sharing and publishing features that Google Calendar and other CalDAV based solutions have had for some time.  Because the web app was built in HTML5, it will work on your Mac or Windows desktop, as well as your iPhone and iPad. And since the events are all CalDAV, they will also work seamlessly with Google Calendar users. Apple has supported CalDAV for a number of years in its desktop calendar app (its iPhone and iPad calendars are also compatible with CalDAV calendars and shared events), which makes it odd that this functionality was not already built into MobileMe. While MobileMe has always been able to synchronize calendars across devices, including iCal and Google Calendar files, you haven't been able to share or synchronize calendars the same way you could with Google Calendar or with your own iCal server. This is just one more sign that Apple is starting to take a more serious approach toward the cloud, using MobileMe as a catch-all for managing and synchronizing users' data. If you want to sign-up for the MobileMe Calendar beta, you can request an invite at me.com/calendar. You will get an e-mail when you are accepted into the beta. Apple will add users to the beta in order of request over the next few weeks. iDisk Gets iPad SupportHaving iDisk work natively on the iPad is a big deal because that means that sharing or saving files between devices is easier than ever. Although other applications like GoodReader have provided access to iDisk, having the app work natively on the iPad is great.  The iDisk app is a free download for MobileMe members. MobileMe is $99 a year ($69 if you get it when you buy an iOS device or a new Mac). |
