Apple has been promising a new version of .Mac to users for well over a year now. After the release of OS X Tiger, .Mac was slated for release in the first half of 2005. However, .Mac was held back due to ensure maximum compatibility and efficiency with the new version of OS X. Users can expect the new .Mac to include a new version of it’s popular program Backup, exclusive .Mac widgets, and a handful of other upgrades that have yet to be seen.

I for one cancelled my .Mac subscription after the first year. Not only is the software expensive ($100 for a year’s subscription), but it is way behind the curve when it comes to online storage. At the time of my purchase, Apple was only offering 250mb of online storage. Many people are able to get something comparable to that with free mail accounts such as Yahoo! or Hotmail. Sync was probably the most useful feature, allowing me to keep my Address Book and Bookmarks up to date and accessable from any computer with an internet connection. However, since I got my Powerbook, I am able to take my computer with me and the functionality of Sync has gone by the wayside.

I would consider renewing my subscription after seeing what new features/widgets they incorporate into the new version of .Mac. But if the storage space has not increased, iDisk and Sync are technologies that might as well be obsolete.