Microsoft's ActiveSync is a reasonably easy-to-use synchronization solution, unless you have an Apple Macintosh computer. You see, ActiveSync only works with Windows machines, and Microsoft apparently has no plans to make a Mac version anytime soon. Until now, the only option available to Mac users was to use a pricey Windows emulator on the Mac, such as Virtual PC. Most Mac users forego data synchronization entirely and settle for the simple exchange of files with the help of CompactFlash cards and a Mac equipped with a CF card reader. For more on this technique, check out "Mac and PC Users Bypass ActiveSync Using CF Cards!" in our July 2001 issue (www.PocketPCmag.com/Jul01/activesync.stm).
To fill this Mac synchronization gap, Terence "Dr. CE" Goggin and his team developed PocketMac (www.pocketmac.net). They released the first version of the product, PocketMac Regular Edition, in late 2001. It let users swap files via a cabled connection, but little else. Four months later they came out with PocketMac Pro for OS X, which allowed synchronizing of calendar, contacts, and tasks. But Pro had some bugs that couldn't be resolved, in addition to speed issues. So the team simply started over from scratch, even using a new programming language. Finally, in December 2002, they released the first solid version of their product for Mac OS 10.2 or later computers: PocketMac Pro 2.0.
PocketMac Pro lets you sync Pocket PC data with a Mac.
The Pocket Mac team faced a formidable challenge because neither Microsoft nor Apple was able to offer much assistance. So Terence and his colleagues had to reverse -engineer the software.
PocketMac Pro 2.0 faster and more reliable
PocketMac Pro's browse feature lets you see the contents of your Pocket PC's folders in a window on your Mac and copy files to and from your device.
This new version is more reliable, faster, and no longer requires you to configure or install software on your Pocket PC as was the case with the earlier version. It also allows some limited Internet "pass through" capability, meaning that when your device is connected to your Mac, you can use Pocket Internet Explorer to surf the Internet via your Mac's Internet connection. Because of an unresolved problem, this functionality currently only works if you type in an IP address rather than a domain name.
As this review was being written, PocketMac Pro worked with most, but not all Pocket PCs. By late December it had been tested with the Compaq iPAQ (all models through 3900 series), the HP Jornada 54x and 56x, the Toshiba e310, e330, e570, and e740, the Audiovox Thera, the O2 XDA/ T-Mobile/ Siemens Sx56, the Dell Axim X5, the ViewSonic V35, and the Fujitsu Loox. Smartphone support is planned and may be available by the time you read this.
Syncs with Entourage, iCal, and Address Book
PocketMac Pro 2.0 syncs with Microsoft's Entourage (calendar, contacts, and tasks, but not notes and e-mail), as well as with Apple's iCal and Address Book (which are available free with System 10.2). You connect your Pocket PC to your Mac using either a USB or TCP/IP connection. Using the latter protocol even enables you to establish a wireless connection, such as with Airport.
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