Syncing Your Pocket PC with a Mac

Three years ago there was no way to synchronize data between Windows Powered handhelds and Apple Macintosh computers. There were ways to transfer files between the two, which we discussed in the July 2001 issue of Pocket PC magazine (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/Jul01/activesync.stm). But until Information Appliance Associates introduced PocketMac Pro in the spring of 2002, there was no synchronization solution.

I’m happy to report that not only has IAA released a more stable and powerful version of PocketMac, but Mark/Space, Inc. has release a new Mac-Pocket PC sync solution called Missing Sync. The earlier versions of PocketMac lacked many of the features found in Microsoft’s desktop PC sync program, ActiveSync. Fortunately, these two new releases offer the Mac user more options. They still lack a few of ActiveSync’s features. For example, neither lets you sync Notes, nor will they translate Excel and Word documents in Mac format into the “Pocket” formats used on the Pocket PC. But they do include Mac-related features not found in ActiveSync, including the ability to sync with the Mac’s built-in iTunes music player and iPhoto digital photo application.

Both Missing Sync and PocketMac were fairly reliable in establishing and maintaining a connection with my PowerBook G4 running OS 10.2.8. The main difference between these two applications is that Missing Sync uses Apple’s built-in iSync program to synchronize Pocket Calendar and Contact data with the Mac’s built-in iCal and Address Book. PocketMac uses its own sync program and can synchronize with a broader range of Mac PIM tools, including the e-mail, calendar, tasks, and address book components of Entourage (Microsoft’s Outlook-like product for the Mac). Mark/Space indicates that it will add many more features to their next version of Missing Sync, including Entourage support. I used a USB connection to test these products, but both also work via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other connections.

Missing Sync: Easy to use, problem-free

The initial version of Missing Sync has been well received because it’s easy to use, problem-free, and has good customer support. In fact some users of the earlier, problematic versions of PocketMac switched to Missing Sync even though it had fewer features.

Getting started is surprisingly easy. Once you’ve installed Missing Sync, every time you put your Pocket PC in the cradle, the program automatically establishes a connection. At that point you can start syncing Calendar or Contact data, or export media files from iTunes and iPhoto to your Pocket PC.

Desktop mounting, and installing files

Missing Sync lets you mount your Pocket PC on your Mac desktop. “Mount” is a Unix/Mac OS X way of saying you connect it to the Mac so that the Mac can access the Pocket PC’s file storage memory (internal RAM, user-accessible flash ROM, and any storage cards in the slots). When the Pocket PC is mounted it appears as an icon on the Mac’s desktop (Fig. 1). Once the Pocket PC is mounted, you can move files between the two devices, delete files by dragging them to the trash, etc.

Fig. 1: Missing Sync lets you mount the Pocket PC and transfer files between it and the Mac. When the Pocket PC is mounted, an icon appears on the Mac’s desktop, as shown here.

Missing Sync’s ability to install software on the Pocket PC is somewhat limited because most user-installable programs come as Windows-based (EXE) installers. These do not run in the Mac environment. These installers work like this: When you run the install file on a Windows desktop PC, it extracts from itself a “cabinet” (CAB) file, copies the CAB file to the Pocket PC, and executes it. The CAB file does the actual installing of the software on your Pocket PC, as well as configuring the device and creating the appropriate shortcuts. The trick is to get your hands on the CAB file. Once you’ve got it, you can use the Mac to transfer it to the Pocket PC.