Database Users

Any Mac users with experience of PocketMac to sync XDA2/Mac?

Has anyone used an XDA2 with Mac OS X.3 (Panther)?
I use a Powerbook laptop and want to sync with my XDA2 without troubling the PC that I bought for the kids (with some chagrin, it must be said!)
There is a program called PocketMac that has received some good reviews - which will, apparently, allow the XDA2 (any Pocket PC) to sync with Mac (iCal, Address Book etc.), which, in turn, sync with my iDisk. Serious back up here (laptop stolen three years ago.
Anyway, my XDA2 arrives tomorrow and I wanted to know if there are any Mac Users who have some experience and, hopefully, some tips for me.
I bought an XDA2 by the way, because they look good and the functionality is clearly better than previous Palm/Symbian devices. The great reviews I have seen posted on various internet sites seem to suggest I made the right choice.
Thanks in anticipation of assistance from users' experience.

pocketmac 3.3 works perfectly - xda2 (i was using myssingsync before but it was not working fine as pocketmac is doing now)
if you need help your welcome
ciao
marco

PocketMac 3.3 works fine for me too (PowerBook G4 w/Panther). You can't install Pocket PC software via Mac -- you'll have to "rent" a Windows PC for that, unless you have the CAB files. Some say that Virtual PC would take you around this problem, I'm still working on it... Will let you know.
Also wanted to try MissingSync - the one Apple suggests - but no luck there!
Happy MacKing, and let me/us know your experience!

New experience of Mac and XDA2
I am impressed - syncs faultlessly.
Installed the Mac look provided by Pocketmac as part of the PM 3.3 software bundle.
However, does anyone know how to edit the skins in the XDA as installing an Apple logo appeals?

Apple Skins
sorry - found it in the Pocketmac bundle - it just needed turning on in the XDA2.

guys, where to find trial version of PockeMac or Missing Sync?
I am new in MAC world and seems no trial versions here
How i would know which one is working for me???
Please help!!!
Paul

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/pocketmacpro.html
there is a demo
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12331
and here
dont fear google it's your friend

Thank you Rudegar,
I actually using google very much... but kind of "slowed" about it type demo in it

PocketMac vs. Missing sync
Both programs have their quirks, but since I have a combination of chinese/english names in my address book, missing sync it is. I tried pocket mac and it hoses up unicode quite badly.

PocketMac XDA2 powerbook
I don't believe you. It doesn't work AT ALL. garbled text all over iCal, phone numbers in crap order, no iCal events getting to XDA. No Bluetooth sync...Thanks for your recommendation but PocketMac sucks. I really want to know how to make this work

I just threw away the copy of Pocketmac I had bought and went and got Missing Sync. MUCH better. Been using it over a year now. (as you can see from the post dates)

PBG4+PocketMac+MDAII=0
I cannot even get pocketmacpro demo to "see" my MDA even though its paired as a BT device with my PBG4.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks

eeeh
I'm talking with PocketMac support.
I want to buy Pocketmac Pro 3, but I cannot pay by credit card from
Poland. What should I do?
I used the Mark/Space Missing Sync for Pocket PC application
for synchronising. I bought it via Internet and I am very happy with it.
Simple and clear
I have big problem with internet :?
I often use PowerBook out of work in places where I do not have
access to Internet.
Before I had the Nokia 6310i mobile phone and via this telephone
I could connect to Internet (wireless connection
in every place within GSM network range). Gprs Nokia modem operated
without any problems, and I could connect with the computer
via bluetooth without any problem. I activatedon the phone I could
establish connection.
Unfortunately, Qtek 2020 is a more complex appliance, but has no
such option. In Pocket PC I have Internet (GPRS connect), but not
in the computer
I asked how to solve this problem on numerous forums: Apple and
xda-developers-Forum. Nobody could give me a satisfactory answer.
Please Help Masters

Who wants to make some cash?

Here's the deal.
I need someone in the US to update my just purchased SX56 to windows mobile 2003 and I would also like to get the digitravel GPS. I will buy that separately and mail the machine to them and if they could do the upgrade that would be great. As far as the digitravel, I would like to have that set up so I can use the phone at the same time as the GPS, and have the power sources done the most efficient way as listed on all the forums. Let me know if anyone is interested in doing this and what they would charge. You guys are sitting here soldering and stuff and I can't even get my windows media player to play mp3's. I don't consider myself computer illiterate, but I am certainly getting frustrated w/ this thing!!!!

LEAPONOVER said:
Here's the deal.
I need someone in the US to update my just purchased SX56 to windows mobile 2003 and I would also like to get the digitravel GPS. I will buy that separately and mail the machine to them and if they could do the upgrade that would be great. As far as the digitravel, I would like to have that set up so I can use the phone at the same time as the GPS, and have the power sources done the most efficient way as listed on all the forums. Let me know if anyone is interested in doing this and what they would charge. You guys are sitting here soldering and stuff and I can't even get my windows media player to play mp3's. I don't consider myself computer illiterate, but I am certainly getting frustrated w/ this thing!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded to WM 2003 by going to this site:
http://lumpistefan.dyndns.org
He's German, and his instructions in English take a very close read, but his "WM2003 Final" Version A.30.09 ENG brought me up to Microsoft Pocket PC Version 4.20.0 (Build 13349).
Seems to be working mighty fine.
All the best, Carey

Leaponover, the digitraveller was a great idea at the time, however prices fo gps units have fallen dramatically and you are making work for yourself, just buy an off the shelf gps that is made for the job, a haicom 204e or 203e, or any other cheap unit will work great and you wont have the problem of charging the xda becuase they all come with dual charging/power cables.

Can Active Sync 3.8 work with the Universal/Jasjar/Exec??

ActiveSync requires an update to the latest Service Release to the client operating system.
I've spent ages tweaking my OS to make it as stable as it currently is and simply can't justify the time and expense of updating and trouble shooting my system just to install Active Sync 4...
Any one had any luck using the Universal with ActiveSync 3.8??

ACTIVESYNC 4.0
IN REPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION REGARDING ASYNC 3.8,I WAS MADE AWARE RECENTLY THAT IMATE JASJAR AND THE DIFFERENT NAMED BRANDS WERE DESIGNED TO WORK ONLY ON ACTIVE SYNC 4.0.
THIS IS PRE - PROGRAMMED INTO WINDOWS MOBILE 5.0.
THOUGH IF YOU HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROGRAMMING SKILLS - IT COULD BE DONE.....
HOPE THIS HELPS..

Thanks fanacreonte2804,
I tried it unsucessfully last night...

Money 2005 & Activesync 4.0/XDA Exec

Hi all,
I'm just wondering if anyone else has had any success running Money 2005 on the Exec and getting it to sync with their desktop Money data?
I've been running various versions of Money and more or less each of the XDA's (XDA, XDAII, XDA IIs) over the years but I've just got the Exec and it seems like Money doesn't want to play nice on this one. It strikes me that its an Activesync 4.0 issue as the Money 2005 application works fine in stand alone mode on the Exec, but if you try and sync it with the money files on the desktop PC as soon as Activesync starts up a prograa box pops up and just says "Reading device Databases" - unfortunaly it just hangs there doing that for eternity, unless you disconnect something, in which case Activesync crashes.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues.
Cheers,
Dave

I didn't even know you could run Money 2005 on it! I have the PC-side program for it, do you have a link to the PPC version? Then I can play and let you know what I find.

Here you go.
That particular version worked fine on the XDA IIs, but something about this new configuration its not liking (at least on my desktop and laptop) and I would suspect that its on the software side.
Thanks.

- Deleted -

Well, I posted a similar query on an MS Activesync Newsgroup this morning, and someone have just come back with the following:
I've had similar compatibility issues with Money 2005. Apparently some changes to WM5 make it incompatible, but MS isn't addressing the issue. I run a Dell Axim x51v and struggled with the same issue, but on top of that, I'd occasionally get the today screen to just crash. The crashes only started occuring after I installed Money, so I had suspicions that the two were related. My solution was actually simple:
Go to settings: Personal tab: Today icon: Items tab: uncheck Money on the list. Syncing became much more reliable and the today crashes stopped altogether. I don't know if it was a file lock or what...but it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunatly this still appears to do diddly for me - still hanging at the "Reading device databases".
I'm beginning to get a little narked at MS right now. :evil:

I've been happily using SBP Finance for a while. It's fully compatible with Activesync 4.0 and Money 2006

How do you rate your Exec Poll.

At first I would have given this kit a 9 or 10 but now that I have had time to play with it I would only give it a 6
Now that you have had time to play around with your Exec, How would you rate it from 1 - 10? But please think about other PDA's and Phone's compared to the Exec.

I agree I thought it was 10/10 when I first got it.
I would have given the box it came in 9/10.
But as "ukmdb" after playing with it for a few days....this drops to 5/10.
And I`m still finding faults..

Currently I'd rate my Jasjar a 4/10.
Hardware I'd rate a 8/10 but ROM a 4/10 and ActiveSync a 1/10 and WM2005 application software availability a 1/10!
I stall have to carry my XDA II WM2003SE device with me. I'm waiting for backup software, GPS software, ActiveSync software that works, AvantGo software that Syncs via ActiveSync and room to install eBook readers etc.

foxnolds said:
Currently I'd rate my Jasjar a 4/10.
Hardware I'd rate a 8/10 but ROM a 4/10 and ActiveSync a 1/10 and WM2005 application software availability a 1/10!
I stall have to carry my XDA II WM2003SE device with me. I'm waiting for backup software, GPS software, ActiveSync software that works, AvantGo software that Syncs via ActiveSync and room to install eBook readers etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For backup software I uploaded a backup program @ zevink.com called sunnysoft backup manager, and for gps software I hear if you grab the tom tom cabs it works with WM5 (says the blueangel forum) who also uses WM5 on there devices, such as me. ANd activesync is still slow and sucky to this day

- Deleted -

I'm still exploring not too satisfied with it. May be i expected too much from this brick..

JJ users seems to have had more problems then Exec users as far as I can see. I have not suffered any call problems with BT headsets but my Messaging is very unstable. 3G downloads work a charm. But WM5 still looks like WinCe from 1999!
My score after 2 weeks (now only about one reset a day!): 6/10

The EXEC is my third pda and im still messing aroud with it (as i did the others (ipaq & xda2i). Sometimes i dont know why i bother with these things (maybe a filofax and small nokia would be easier). But other times i think it is the best thing i could own. I give it 6/10

I`ve given up...
Gonna give O2 a call tomorrow and cancell the contract.
Maybe next I`ll try an XDA2 or what for the XDA Exec2.
Sony Ericsson have the P990i due soon...
I have already have a P910i and would rate it an easy 8.5/10.

Hi,
Tks so much.i thought of buying exec but now looking at this poll.
i better not to buy exec.

Me too, 3 mda's and every one of them got a loose hinge, if that happens after 3 hours of full time use then after a year id be luckly if it was still in once peice.

I think the Exec is excellent. WM5 is still very rough, and not well supported by developers, quite understanderbly.
I've had an Ipaq, Motorola A920/925, XDA2 and I think the Exec is far better than any of them were 2 weeks after the launch. I know O2 have had a lot of stick over the delays in releasing the Exec, but perhaps that is why it is apparently more stable than the Jasjar?
I have experianced no missed calls and no email problems, other than me giving the wrong settings. Biggest pain is with BT dropping, but that seems to be a WM5 issue, not the phone.
Plus I had the childhoodlike christmas delight with the amazing Exec box to amuse me for hours!

I had a Nokia 9500
-no working Excel, hardly work with MS Word, slow converting.
-many mistakes with synchronising Outlook
-No Outlook notes sync
-No Internet favourites sync, no sync of files
-weird screen, because not square enough
-sloooooooow
-more bugs then the Jasjar.
-Non standard OS: Symbian. Software only works in specific device. (Symbian software on e.g. a SE p900 does not work on any other Symbian)
-Very little software available.
-not many professional forums available. People become emotional when you complain.
-no Rom update via Internet, but via shop, so travel required.
-In shirt Pocket a 9500 does not "sit" very well. Sticks out too high.
-No UMTS; no automatic switching between WIFI/GPRS/PC etc.
-No USB port standard. No loading of battery via USB.
-No special buttons for camera etc. Very unhandy four way rocker button.
-No headphone jack standard. Need special $$ Nokia cable.
-No lit keyboard
-NO TOUCHSCREEN
-No front camera
-Bad camera viewer
So you all understand why I gave the Jasjar a 9/10
New hardware and new OS: I understand those problems as early adopter.
+Great future ahead
Huib

Same Here!
I'm with Foxnolds...
Basic hardware is great, but Activesync 4 puts it back into the dark age!

herpi said:
I had a Nokia 9500
-no working Excel, hardly work with MS Word, slow converting.
-many mistakes with synchronising Outlook
-No Outlook notes sync
-No Internet favourites sync, no sync of files
-weird screen, because not square enough
-sloooooooow
-more bugs then the Jasjar.
-Non standard OS: Symbian. Software only works in specific device. (Symbian software on e.g. a SE p900 does not work on any other Symbian)
-Very little software available.
-not many professional forums available. People become emotional when you complain.
-no Rom update via Internet, but via shop, so travel required.
-In shirt Pocket a 9500 does not "sit" very well. Sticks out too high.
-No UMTS; no automatic switching between WIFI/GPRS/PC etc.
-No USB port standard. No loading of battery via USB.
-No special buttons for camera etc. Very unhandy four way rocker button.
-No headphone jack standard. Need special $$ Nokia cable.
-No lit keyboard
-NO TOUCHSCREEN
-No front camera
-Bad camera viewer
So you all understand why I gave the Jasjar a 9/10
New hardware and new OS: I understand those problems as early adopter.
+Great future ahead
Huib
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a 9500 and have had a JJ and now have an XDA Exec. I disagree with you on many points, but it is not helpful to argue because it depends on your requirements and expectations. All I will say is that I don't use my Exec a phone because I can't trust it, I reset it once a day, it has very little user memory and the battery lasts less 1/3 of the time the 9500 battery lasts. Also some of the issues you mention have been addressed. Finally, the 9500 is a phone with PDA functions and the Universal is a PDA with a (poor) phone implementation.

Interesting that despite all the complaining on these forums, most people are still very happy with their Universal.
If you only read the forums you'd think the Universal was a dreadful machine. It seems that it's not.
Nice idea for the poll.

Yep, 63% of people (at the moment) give the Universal 8/10 or more.
Not bad at all, and personally, I'm even happier with my device now than I was when I voted a couple of weeks or so ago...

I gave my Exec a 9/10 because the hardware for me works for what I need it to do perfectly. Yes there are some software issues that I'd like to see fixed but that is software and is dynamic. Hardware on the other hand...if it doesn't work, then I just dumped a lot of money.
These were my expectations going in:
1. Phone use. I haven't had ANY issues after a good hard reset and corporate mode. I do have a problem with callers hearing my ringtone but I think that is because of MS Voice Command.
2. E-Mail. I run an IT business and I need to be in touch and up to date. Being able to get my email sent to my phone every 10 mins is great - attachments and all. Being able to show prospective customers Microsoft's SBS with Outlook Mobile Access is a money maker for me. This phone literally helps me sell complete networks.
3. Terminal Services / RDP. I need to be able to effectively service my customers quickly or hire employees. With this phone, I can easily TS into a customer's network and perform any function as if I were there. Sure, I could lug a laptop around and I do. However, yesterday, I was in a bookstore and I received a call. I needed to restart the print spooler. I didn't have my laptop with me (in the van) and I still needed to find a book. So, I pulled out my phone, TS'd into my office workstation and from there TS'd to my client and got the job done.
Now, you are asking, why would I TS to my office first. For faster Internet speeds & utils. Also, I have more ways of connecting from a true workstation than from the phone. Such as the RDP Client & the Remote Web Workplace (active-x/https). I don't have the VPN thing from the phone down yet though.
So, the hardware is great. I would like the software fixed a bit but that will come.

I personally may return mine. The hardware is a 7 - let down only by the poor quality of some componenents.
The software is a 4.
The OEM support is non exhistant and this being my first contract phone .. I'm really f*** scared of mobile phone companies. Who the hell is regulating that lot? Cos some of the stuff they get away with is stunning ...
Sending out refurbs, not honouring DD agreeements, C/S being appualing etc.
All said and done, I dont need a phone, I need an IPAQ AND a phone.
This business of PDA + phone is 5 years away from being worth buying imho.

How cheap are you going to let it go?! After all, if you sell it for too much you'll just feel bad over how you ripped the other guy off! LOL
Oh, I forgot to add another requirement that I had.
4. I needed to be able to use RFCons' Time Tracker MX QuickBooks Edition. http://www.rfcons.com/
If anyone deals with billing by the hour while out of the office, this software rocks. BIG HOWEVER...Since Microsoft took out Pocket Access in ActiveSync 4.x/WM5, there is a sync'ing issue of the database with which is still being dealt.
At first, I had a flickering problem when I installed this software with the timer running, but after the hard reset I mentioned in an earlier post, everything is perfect.