BusyMac has released an update to its BusySync software, which adds the ability to sync iCal calendars over the internet. The company has also released a public beta of BusySync 2.0 (due in February) which will add syncing between iCal and Google Calendar.

Previously, BusySync users were limited to sharing calendars over a local network, but now distance is no obstacle. With the BusySync Preference Pane installed, users are able to view, edit and manage shared calendars remotely, without the need for a .Mac account.

Options to allow and control the sharing are provided in the Preference Pane:

BusySync 1.5 costs USD 19.95 and is available from the developer’s web site .

The company’s press release for the 1.5 update gives more details of this clever utility.

In addition, BusyMac has launched a public beta of BusySync 2.0. It promises Mac users “bidirectional synchronization between iCal and Google Calendar, providing web based access to your calendars from anywhere”:

When it is released in February, it will provide a cheaper option than SpanningSync , which costs USD 25 for a 12 month subscription and
USD 65 to purchase outright. BusySync 2.0 will cost USD 24.95.

You can sign up to be added to the public beta trial on the BusyMac web site.ical, productivity, google, calendar, syncing, dotmac, spanningsync, busysync

Christina Laun at VirtualHosting.com has posted a killer list of 50 tips, scripts, extensions and hacks to make the most of Google’s Calendar service.

She starts off with some basic tips, keyboard shortcuts, integration with Gmail, reminders and so forth.

Things get more interesting for seasoned users with her collection of 15 (mostly Greasemonkey) scripts that offer skinning, interface streamlining and more, including the Better Gcal script, which combines several of the most useful scripts (à la Gina Trapani’s Better Gmail Firefox extension).

Finally, she provides a list of Firefox Extensions, hacks and some syncing utilities that help Outlook users and others get the most of Gcal. She doesn’t mention BusySync’s public beta that offers iCal-Gcal syncing or Spanning Sync , but I guess you knew about those already.

If you use Goolge’s Calendar, you will want to bookmark Christina’s collection of tips for sure.not mail.app, not apple mail, google, calendar, tips, scripts, greasemonkey, web 20, ical, productivity, firefox, syncing