hi everybody!
i'm really tired of all software for synchronization between desktop and ppc... i have an xda mini (or whatever you guys call them, qtek s100) and i run pocket informant...
on my pc i've currently got outlook (which i don't like very much), and syncing using activesync is a pain in the * (for many reasons which i don't have time right now to explain)!
now to my question... i would like to create my own software for my pc, with a simple layout, a database and a few functions to be able to manage my PIM on my desktop... the problem is the syncing... it should be able to communicate with my device through usb...
i also need do know more about the way my device stores contacts, tasks, appointments etc in databases... no point in doing the usb communication if i don't know what to get from the device...
does anyone know alot about these things, or perhaps where to turn?
thanks!
- mikael
Have you heard about the commercial software Intellisync? It's expensive but better than ActiveSync. Maybe you'll give that a try before you start programming.
intellisync
no, haven't tried that.... the thing with most commersial software is that it's often crowded with functionality you don't need... as i said, i would like a simple program with just a few features and functions...
however, i'll take a look at intellisync, but i still would be very happy for any replies to my first question...
- mikael
Hey there,
This is my first post. I'm a mac user (no snide comments please). I just got the MDA a few weeks ago, and just can't figure out if it's worth it for me to keep this thing. It surfs the web like sh**. Slower than a snail. I'm on the T-Mobile GPRS system, which is supposed to be really fast.
I've been reading a lot about the ability to MOD my MDA. But if i can't sync the sucker to my Mac, how can i get the files necassary to MOD the MDA? Let me add that i have NO idea how to MOD the MDA. Things like changing the THEME, the font color, etc.
Thanks for reading this post.....
Whalien
There is no official support for the Mac on any Windows Mobile device, but there are third party tools out there. The Missing Sync (2.5 beta) will sync to Windows Mobile 5 devices. It works nicely and syncs with iCal, Address Book, Entourage, etc. The beta only syncs via Bluetooth, but if you get the USBSwitch tool and switch the mode to Serial, Activesync via USB will work as well.
If all you want to do is send files to your MDA, all you need is OS X's built in tools. Pair the MDA with your Mac and use the Bluetooth file transfer utility to send files. You can also install from CAB files this way; send them to your phone and run it there.
What Mac do you have? If you have an Intel one, you can install Parallels Desktop, which provides a virtualization environment for running Windows inside OS X. They have rudimentary USB Support, but it's getting better. You can also install Boot Camp and boot to Windows when you need to sync.
See there you are with alot of options, dont give up on the MDA yet
got O2 Atom as well as missing sync 2.5. MS froze during connection
I too love my Mac and... well, like my Wizard. But I'd have real reservations about keeping the Wizard if you don't at least have regular accesss to a Windows thing. (An Intel Mac dual-booting would work, of course; Virtual PC mostly works too.)
Here's how I coordinate the Mac and the Wizard:
1) You really do need to flash the ROM, and you need a PC to do it. (I didn't risk this on Virtual PC, but it might work.) I grabbed an old Windows 2000 laptop, put ActiveSync on it, and it works fine. Run LokiWiz or another program to CID and SIM-unlock the phone, then put the newest customized 2.21 USA T-Mobile ROM on it. It makes EVERYTHING better - I get 3 bars where I used to get 0, you get push e-mail support, etc. But if you don't have access to a PC, you can't do this, and you're stuck with the terrible ROM T-Mobile gives you.
You also need a PC to install some software that doesn't come in a .cab installer, though sometimes you can just launch the installer in Virtual PC and grab the .cab file it unpacks and hand-install that.
2) You can pair the Wizard with the Mac through Bluetooth and use it (a) as an EDGE modem and (b) to push files. Use Bluetooth File Exchange, always dismiss the warning that the type of file isn't supported, and the file will push to your Wizard. This is a good way to install programs that come in .CABs. The other way, of course, is to get an SD reader and mount your MiniSD card.
3) There's a great little shareware utility called SyncTunes that will sync an iTunes playlist and your podcasts to an SD card (or MiniSD, of course). I mount my SD card and use that to sync music fairly regularly. iPhoto can also pull photos and videos off the card. Of course. I mean, of course it Just Works.
4) Although it's not as smooth as an iPod with video, non-protected video files prepared for the iPod work pretty well. I use the free iSquint to convert, and play back with TCPMP (with the AAC plug-in).
5) Finally, syncing. I haven't bothered trying Missing Sync, and don't expect to, because you don't need to.
Just make sure you have an Exchange account. If you have one for your main e-mail account, great; if not, get one through mail2web.com. (You might need to get the $2/month rather than the free one for all of this to work.) I'll assume you also have Entourage (the Mac equivalent of Outlook in MS office). Make sure you install the latest Entourage service patch.
That patch allows Entourage to sync with Address Book and iCal. So use Entourage to sync your Exchange account with your Mac information. Then use ActiveSync over-the-air to push all that stuff onto your Wizard. (I.e., configure an ActiveSync server on your Wizard.) Magically, all your Address Book and iCal stuff is there! And, if you do it right, changes on the handheld should sync back to iCal eventually as well (albeit always in the Entourage category).
Hope that's helpful. I'll keep an eye on this thread if any of that didn't make sense, or my fellow Mac faithful are welcome to message me.
As much as I've used Missing Sync in the past for other devices, it just doesn't work well with the Wizard. Too many problems. I also us it with my Mac all the time and I have an account with 4martphone.com. The nice thing is you can stay in sync without actually having to connect and sync (which i'd forget to do all the time). I use Entourage to sync with that Exchange account, then I configured Entourage to sync with OS X's databases (address book, ical, etc). My only wish now is a simple app for my phone that will let me mount the card on my mac as if it were a USB drive.
more on my mac and my MDA
monkey_42 thanks for the DETAILED post. it's so good to finally get some response to my questions concerning the MDA and my MAC. so far, i've only been able to bluetooth some apps to the phone and they seems to be running fine, SPB weather and AGILE messanger. aside that, i'm scared to do the ROM update. read loads of bad reports and issues people have been having. but you're a mac guy so that sooths my concerns. but back to the main issue, how the heck to i get the stuff on the computer. we havea PC at work. i suppose i'll update the ROM the way you mention. thanks again.
T-Mobile claims that they're working on fixing the CHAT issues they're having with the MDA. So at this point, their OZ app doesn't work. They gave me 50 mins extra this month to compensate. Thanks for nothing. But AGILE does work.
sounds like Entourage is the only way to SYNC my Mac to the MDA. So does that mean MAIL is out? i've been using that app for years now. i'd hate to have to give it up. any idea if there are mac folk out there working on any of these issues? it's such a pain to have to deal with a PC.....i know i now own on....time to learn how to deal.
thanks for the reply's guys. l'm hoping this will start more dialog concerning the mac and the mda.
cheers,
whalien
card reader
dma....didnt' mean to leave you out in my last response. i too wish the mac would recognize the miniSD when i plug it in via USB cable. no luck either.
is there a mac forum we can contact about this? everyone on this is just PC. i have no idea what they're all talking about. wish i was more PC fluent.
cheers,
whalien
MDA Working as Modem on a Mac
I was wondering if anyone had a way to use tthe mda as a modem on a mac using bluetooth and or usb? Thanks
Re: card reader
whalien said:
i too wish the mac would recognize the miniSD when i plug it in via USB cable. no luck either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used WM5torage to mount the miniSD on my G4 iMac. Works pretty well with OSX, but I had problems with OS 9. Search the forum or Google for a link.
*** LATEST ***
Seems I was mistaken and WM5torage doesn't in fact work on my Mac. I must have used my card reader (which is also oblong and silver) to mount the miniSD card. Sorry if I've misled anyone with this posting.
*************
There's also Softick CardExport II which does the same thing, although you have to pay for this. (They wouldn't let me migrate my Palm licence, so I'm not too happy with them.)
Both apps work by emulating the USB mass storage interface over USB, which is the same way that most modern external USB hard disks work.
HTH
sounds like Entourage is the only way to SYNC my Mac to the MDA. So does that mean MAIL is out? i've been using that app for years now. i'd hate to have to give it up. any idea if there are mac folk out there working on any of these issues? it's such a pain to have to deal with a PC.....i know i now own on....time to learn how to deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I know what you mean by syncing mail with the OS X Mail.app. You sync mail with your server, not with your desktop mail client. What is your mail coming from? If it's coming from an Exchange server, you sync with that; ditto if it's coming from a POP server. Who's your mail account with - yahoo? gmail? your office? That determines how you check mail on the Wizard, not what program you use to check that same account on the Mac.
When I wrote about Entourage above, that was as a way of syncing tasks/contacts/calendar with an Exchange server. I assume that if that's working for you, you're just checing Exchange mail with Mail.app. If that's the case, just set up your Wizard to ActiveSync with the Exchange server and all will be well.
If that's not the situation, please explain better what you mean by syncing mail with Mail.app, and we'll see what we can do here.
I'm using Missing Sync 2.5 alpha 10 release. I have just found USBswitch which works great.
I can dual boot windows on my intel iMac, but syncing with outlook is not great - it seems to miss the last week or two's appointments.
I haven't tried my windows laptop for outlook - maybe that would work better.
I sync with iCal & Address Book. It won't sync with iCal, but if I enter all my appointments in iCal & let the Mac overwrite my MDA Vario, then all is ok.
Address book seems to sync properly.
Mounting the Vario works in 2.5a10, but unmounting seems to lock up the iMac every time, so it is a last resort.
I'm not upgrading to the US T mobile ROM. everything will be wrong for me in the UK.
I'm contemplating using the imate Rom 2.17 wwe version. What benefits will it give me over my 1.6.2.4 UK T mobile ROM?
And how will I get back all my T mobile stiings for the UK such as GPRS/voicemail/SMS/MMS etc.
syncing with the mac
hey Monkey_42
you wrote:
I don't think I know what you mean by syncing mail with the OS X Mail.app. You sync mail with your server, not with your desktop mail client. What is your mail coming from? If it's coming from an Exchange server, you sync with that; ditto if it's coming from a POP server. Who's your mail account with - yahoo? gmail? your office? That determines how you check mail on the Wizard, not what program you use to check that same account on the Mac.
i appologize for not being more specific. i do use my work email's server, and it pushes my emails to me no problem. the issue i'm having is that i'm trying to become a more appointment accurate indivdual. i figured the best way to do this was by enlisting a smartphone in my everyday routine. seeing that i am a MAC user, i was hoping to include my address book and my ical on my phone, and visa versa. i enter appointments and address directly to the phone most of the time, but sometimes that's tedious and then there's no way to get it on my MAC. when i had a PALM PILOT years ago, i could utilize the PALM software to sync the info to and from my old device, thus backing up any data i had just entered on my phone to my computer.
with the new MDA, there's no way for me to do this. i have seen the MISSING SYNC app out there. but is it worth it for me to buy it? just seems like there's got to be a way to get my phone and my computer on the same page. without spending another $80.00 i'm new to the organizing routine and i'd like to be sure i'm going about it the most efficient way so i can build on a good routine from MDA to MAC and MAC to MDA.
thanks again for the reply. might i ask if you've updated your ROM? and what other things have you modified on your device? i'd like to change my TODAY colors and layout. any suggestions?
cheers,
whalien
whalien -
to change the theme: start-settings-today to change the theme.
to change the way the soft buttons work in Today : start-settings-soft key
to change buttons: start-settings-buttons
to change the menu in today: start-settings-menu.
i.e explore your device!
As the title implies I just got my HD in the mail and I use a Mac. Anybody have any good tips for me? Any good programs out there to make them play nice? I know about the missing sync which i will get but is there any freeware or can't live with out programs I should know about?
Thanks
Have made the search also mate...
Finally I decided to buy SyncMate Expert by Eltima software. For now still no problems syncing between Mac & HTC HD.
I receive mail on my HD directly, so I don't sync my mail items with the Mac Haven't tried it yet. But I guess it's OK too.
I want to be able to access the internal memory using Macintosh, but if I plug it in it only shows the SD card.
Is there any *easy* way of browsing the on board memory without using synch software?
I decided to go with the missing sync. Trying to find anything for WM to Mac is pretty hard. I am waiting to use my HD as it just came in the mail and has to charge for a little while before I fire it up.
What would the best conversion program for putting videos onto my HD be?
interesting topic... I'm going to have my first mac next week... how does the mac software process 'invitation tasks' (i don't know the correct english expression, i mean the thing that via ms outlook you can 'invite' people for tasks or be invited and the task is added to the calendar automatically)
has anybody tried outlook for mac yet and does anybody know whether and how it is possible to sync with winmob phones? (I mean ms outlook for mac, not windows outlook run under parallels)
regards jan
get vmware fusion? You could run outlook or w.e on ur mac.
spaghetti_monster said:
get vmware fusion? You could run outlook or w.e on ur mac.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there a significant difference in function between parallels and vmware?
I can't justify using a windows VM just to use my phone.
Hi there,
I am using a Blue Angel with WinMobile6, ROM 6.01.03.HBB and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5.
The Software won't sync the outlook notes. I cannot check the box for notes in the setup neither on the device nor on the PC. Notes are in the list for sync options, but they are greyed out.
Does anyone have any ideas about this?
Thanks and Best Regards,
Thalon
Thalon2 said:
Hi there,
I am using a Blue Angel with WinMobile6, ROM 6.01.03.HBB and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5.
The Software won't sync the outlook notes. I cannot check the box for notes in the setup neither on the device nor on the PC. Notes are in the list for sync options, but they are greyed out.
Does anyone have any ideas about this?
Thanks and Best Regards,
Thalon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be wrong, but look into this. If you don't have a valid license of MS Office installed on your PC or you don't have the WM CD that came with the phone, You might not be able to sync notes... and I believe you shouldn't be able to sync contacts either. Do a search on XDA for Sync problems. Good Luck
also you may try to contact the creator of the rom for issues
are you using outlook 2003 or 2007?
Please Help
Im haveing Sync Issues
TaskFacade giving me Problems
How can i Uninstall this program
by what name is it in the Remove me List ?
or
Is this my imagination ?
then what could be my Sync Issue
I have Att Fuze
I have Outlook 2007
Vista Ultimate 64
i don't know about taskfacade, but i do know about vista64 and outlook 2007, and i could maybe help you, if you had a blueangel, but with the fuze you are definetly in the wrong section here, plus the version of the windows mobile device center would be interesting and what exactly is your sync issue.
- does it not detect the device?
- does it detect but give a red X?
- does it not sync all the elements it is supposed to?
- does it not work with exchange?
- is it just slow?
and for all that it would be important to know the rom on your device. not just you posting it here, people who might be able to answer that also need to know the rom, and that would be my problem here. but if you run a build 21725 or 23001/23003, the sync issue is well known for all the devices and if that is important to you, keeping it connected and synced, you should maybe revert to a previous build, or just try again in the fuze section
greetz
Chef_Tony
Thanks for your help
God Bless
Chef_Tony said:
i don't know about taskfacade, but i do know about vista64 and outlook 2007, and i could maybe help you, if you had a blueangel, but with the fuze you are definetly in the wrong section here, plus the version of the windows mobile device center would be interesting and what exactly is your sync issue.
- does it not detect the device?
- does it detect but give a red X?
- does it not sync all the elements it is supposed to?
- does it not work with exchange?
- is it just slow?
and for all that it would be important to know the rom on your device. not just you posting it here, people who might be able to answer that also need to know the rom, and that would be my problem here. but if you run a build 21725 or 23001/23003, the sync issue is well known for all the devices and if that is important to you, keeping it connected and synced, you should maybe revert to a previous build, or just try again in the fuze section
greetz
Chef_Tony
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried the official Samsung Kies and it's rubbish!
I need a sync type program that will let me download a file to my PC (when the mobile is connected to it) after I've initiated the download on the mobile.
I know the HTC sync program lets you do this, but clearly this won't work with the Galaxy-S!
I'm also looking for something like that.
Especially I'm also looking for a good solution to sync my android phone with Outlook. There seems to be no working solution.