Steve Jobs gives it the big 'i' am in Paris

Apple has released its latest 'i' application in an attempt to combat slowing computer sales with an increased emphasis on software and services.

The new calendar application, iCal, and forthcoming synchronisation software, iSync, incorporate online components that are part of Apple's accelerating move into web services.

The strategy could be an important revenue generator in a weak PC sales climate. Market researcher IDC on Monday estimated that worldwide PC shipments would grow a paltry 1.1 per cent this year.

IDC analyst Roger Kay said: "Apple, like all PC vendors, has to find additional sources of revenue beyond the traditional hardware base. Extending into services and software is probably more promising than coming out with new versions of hardware."

At Tuesday's Apple Expo in Paris, CEO Steve Jobs released the new software and also announced that starting in January, new Macs will only be able to boot up in Mac OS X.

Apple needs to generate more interest in OS X, its next-generation operating system released in March 2001. Applications such as iCal and iSync could be essential to spurring increased existing customer upgrades to Mac OS X, which some Mac developers claim is going too slowly.

In July, Jobs said that iCal and iSync would ship in September. But during his keynote speech in Paris, Jobs revealed that Apple would only release a beta, or testing, version of iSync sometime later this month. Sibling iCal is available for immediate download from Apple's website.

Joe Wilcox writes for News.com