The $29.95 (£16.43) program, called PocketMac BlackBerry Edition, allows data, such as contact, calendar and address book information, to be exchanged by some BlackBerry models and a computer running version 10.3 or higher of the Mac OS. The application also requires that the computer use Office 2004 for Mac.
The software is compatible with the personal information parts of Microsoft's Entourage application, as well as the OS X address book, iCal and Now Software's Now Contact and Now Up-To-Date programs.
The program works with the BlackBerry 5810, 6210, 6230, 6280, 6510, 6710, 6750, 7210, 7230, 7280, 7510, 7730, 7750 and 7780, and the RIM 957 device.
In late May, RIM and software partner Epicad announced a similar application for BlackBerry 5800, 6200, 6500, 6700, 7200, 7500 and 7700 series devices and computers running Mac OS 10.3 and higher. A licence for the Epicad software, called SyncAgain, costs $139. SyncAgain synchronises with BlackBerry Enterprise Server software, and is currently available only to users of that server software.
A version of SyncAgain for BlackBerry owners without the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software is in the works, according to the company's Web site.
Talkback
Thanks for the article on teh Blackberry. I am quite suspicious given the following.
Having decide to the waters, I went to the T-Mobile store and bought the Ipaq 6000 series as well as Nokia's 6600 and N-Gage phones. Previously I owned a Sony-Ericsson phone, but with the contacts limited to 500 entries and the TERRIBLE calling quality, it is currently and circularly filed in the back of my desk drawer. I have heard similar reviews about the current Sony-Ericsson phones, so you can skip them as well.
The HP IPAQ, after about $60 worth of Software MOSTLY works. I had to upgrade Isync from 1.3 to 1.5 and upgrade BT to 1.5, which took FOREVER. However, there PocketMac does NOT SUPPORT TO SYNC Entourage NOTES, or another form of Notes. All the rest managed to sync. PocketMac has not indicated any plans to support this. Also, DO NOT believe their hype about the GoBetween software solving the Nokia sync problems. Save you money. It relies on iSync, and basically is a half-baked improvement over Berkowitz’s Entourage-Address Book Sync script, which does not work if you have several hundred active contacts. I have around 1400, so I am just out of luck.
Now then on to the Nokias.... Neither of these phones will do anything beyond a simple file browse using BT with the latest and greatest Mac OS with all the service updates. And then, the File Services are, shall we say, unpredictable. I have tried the VI script-editing thing, but Isync 1.5 matches that which I was told to add to the script, so it SHOULD work. Basically, both devices just say that my personal firewall is blocking port 300"x" or another, and then craps out.
At least T-Mobile has a 14-day return plan. Back to my good old bomber Motorola Time Port. It is not fancy but at least the Phone is good with all the reception and call quality.
Neighbors, save your time and money and just skip the trepidations.
Mac is just not with it in this department, despite all the marketing hype.
bryan_grant@runbox.com
PS The file at http://homepage.mac.com/sempai/.cv/sempai/Public/SymbianConduit.bundle.zip-link.zip that is supposed to address this matter is no longer at the URL and did not leave anyway to find it. Like, I said before, skip this whole mess and use the Mac for what it is meant for.. Looking pretty and doing very little that is new and fun.