Apple introduces major .Mac enhancements: 1 GB of storage, Backup 3.0; Transition problems noted

Apple has introduced a number of major enhancements to its .Mac service, including the following:

• Backup 3.0: New features include the ability to automatically back up iLife content, Home folder, iTunes purchased music and Spotlight search capabilities. Also allows incremental backups.
• Increased Online Storage: Storage for individual members has increased to 1GB of combined email and iDisk space, .Mac Family Pack customers now receive 2GB of combined storage.
• .Mac Groups: allows creation of "online communities" through which users can share digital media. Allows users to post files, pictures and movies with a common group iDisk; publish group web pages and post links to other sites; and use a shared iCal calendar.
• French and German Localization: In addition to English and Japanese, localized versions of the .Mac website are now available in French and German.

Unfortunately users are reporting a few hiccups as the upgrades are taking place behind the scenes.

One reader reports some issues with .Mac synchronization:

"Since Apple did some maintenance on their .Mac machines today we've got Problems with .Mac syncing. iCal Events are not properly synced any longer.

"Testing with two PBG4/15" Mac OS X 10.4.2 and 10.3.9, usually working fine. Now we end up with two different sets of Calendars which we cannot get together except manually comparing it day by day - Macs otherwise clean and running.

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader John reports some issues with spam filtering through .Mac's e-mail service:

"I can confirm that there seems to be a real problem with the .Mac spam filtering. I can confirm that genuine emails sent to my .Mac account with attachments are disappearing. This includes just checking via the web e.g. no Mail app interaction. The fault is definitely at Apple's end. This means the emails are being deleted by the .Mac spam filter. Obviously the filter is set at too sensitive a level.

"Another email address is getting the same emails. The ISP uses Brightmail filtering and it has no problems. (Apple apparently uses the same system)."

For more information about how .Mac filters spam, see Knowledge Base article #86748.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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