I used to use Apple's iSync software quite often, but hadn't really used it since upgrading to Tiger (OS X 10.4) around two years ago.
Yesterday I started trying to use it again with a Nokia N73, and to my displeasure the Tiger version is actually less useful, and more confusing, than the previous version. There's a menu bar option that will, ostensibly, make syncing really easy--but in the 2.0 version of iSync, it only syncs with .Mac (not your other devices, like phones), unless you have iSync open already. So the menu option "Sync Now" does something completely different depending on whether you have iSync open or not.
Not only that, but if you do open iSync, there's a "Sync Devices" button that does something else--it only syncs to your devices, and not to .Mac:
Yesterday I started trying to use it again with a Nokia N73, and to my displeasure the Tiger version is actually less useful, and more confusing, than the previous version. There's a menu bar option that will, ostensibly, make syncing really easy--but in the 2.0 version of iSync, it only syncs with .Mac (not your other devices, like phones), unless you have iSync open already. So the menu option "Sync Now" does something completely different depending on whether you have iSync open or not.
Not only that, but if you do open iSync, there's a "Sync Devices" button that does something else--it only syncs to your devices, and not to .Mac:
I feel bad for the poor documentation writer who had to make this seem logical and intentional as opposed to a bizarre implementation choice.If you have .Mac, mobile devices, an iPod, and a PalmOS device and want to sync them at the same time, here's how: Open iSync version 2.0, then choose Sync Now from the Sync Status menu (not the Sync Devices button). When prompted, press the HotSync button on your PalmOS device's cradle.
I'm using the Exchange sync client on my Nokia to keep my calendar and contacts in sync with work, and I've heard that Leopard is going to have much better sync with Exchange as well... If that proves true, then I'm gonna go with Exchange for my central repository sync'd down to the phone and Mac.
If not, then I don't know what :)
Posted by: Papi Chulo | October 19, 2007 at 12:21 PM
What are you trying to sync? I use RoadSync to keep my calendar, contacts and email on my N95 and it works great. No dependencies on a computer being online. I haven't checked that it works with N73 (and it does cost a little bit of money) but I love it...
Posted by: aa | October 19, 2007 at 01:42 PM
I'm sync'ing my calendar and contacts from iCal and Address Book, respectively. It's not that the sync itself doesn't work (it works fine)--what bothers me is that this version of iSync has such a confusing interface to actually perform the sync.
Posted by: btrott | October 19, 2007 at 02:09 PM