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PowerMatt · Sep 27, 2003, 01:34 PM

www.pocketmac.net

This new version is great. I haven't used my PocketPC in months due to lack of options with my Mac. 3.0 allows me to sync everything, even AvantGo. After I use it more, I will try to post a full review.

torifile · Sep 27, 2003, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by PowerMatt:
www.pocketmac.net

This new version is great. I haven't used my PocketPC in months due to lack of options with my Mac. 3.0 allows me to sync everything, even AvantGo. After I use it more, I will try to post a full review.

Yes, please do. I hope they've been able to get it at least up to par with Missing Sync. I'm particularly interested in how well it handles categories and exceptions to repeating appointments.

alex_kac · Sep 27, 2003, 10:08 PM

They have really nailed it.

I've been using the beta for a month or so now until th GM version. Using it via BT and TCP. It really works well.

I DO know that they do NOT yet support exceptions in calendar entries (I've been talking with the developer about this and his statement to me was reliability and robustness on the main stuff first - then we'll get into exceptions). Now I will add that as a Pocket PC developer for the #1 PIM on the Pocket PC, working with appointment exceptions is far more difficult than it should be. So I can understand the issue of matching iCal exceptions to PPC exceptions - they will NEVER match 100% due to implementation differences.

But if you had PMac 2.0....its worth the $5 upgrade price just to try 3.0.

alex_kac · Sep 27, 2003, 10:32 PM

OK, just talked with my buddy at Pocket Mac. He says he has barely got any requests for the ability to sync exceptions to calendar appointments while other requests are much higher, so that's why its not done yet.

So...if you want to see this - EMAIL HIM!

torifile · Sep 28, 2003, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by alex_kac:
OK, just talked with my buddy at Pocket Mac. He says he has barely got any requests for the ability to sync exceptions to calendar appointments while other requests are much higher, so that's why its not done yet.

So...if you want to see this - EMAIL HIM!

Alex, I highly respect your opinion about this sort of stuff. (PI is on my list of things to purchase once I decide for sure that a PPC is the way for me to go.

) I'm still feeling VERY burned by pocketmac's 'demo' that left me without a single thing on my ppc and the subsequent full version that caused repeated kernel panics.... I'm thinking that I'm going to try it again, only because it seems to be MUCH better.

-t

ps - Alex, whatever happened to the Newton Toilet Roll notes program that you were working on? (I read a whole thread about it at pocketpcpassion.com last night.) Any progress?

alex_kac · Sep 28, 2003, 03:06 PM

Well - remember with 2.2 I used that without many issues as well. BUT I connected once via USB - made the partnership and from then on threw out the USB driver (I hate kernel extensions if I can get away from them) and just synched via TCP/IP. then i was also given beta versions of sync plugins with PM 2 that did work... so I had a better experience than most.

With 3.0 I ran it under Jaguar and Panther (currently Panther) and again out of habit I threw the USB driver away. I hear the USB driver is actually quite good now...but as I said I have something against kernel extensions. So I just use Bluetooth and TCP/IP now - and have switched from Entourage synching to iCal/AB and it REALLY is good. I combined my data from the PDA and my desktop and haven't lost anything. And I keep a lot of data in my AB and tasks. Not so much in my calendar.

As to the newton memo app...its on hold for now. I still want to do it, but there are issues on the PPC that we need to take care of first before we can do it right.

PowerMatt · Sep 28, 2003, 03:52 PM

As promised, I will post a review of my 2-day experience with PocketMac 3.0. If you have questions, Alex would probably be a better source than I.

1. Install was easy, and it didn't mess anything up. I then entered the serial number, and I was on my way.

2. I set my PocketMac preferenes and plugged in my PocketPc (3-year-old HP Jornada 548) and within seconds, PocketMac showed a connection.

3. PocketMac's dialog box popped up and I clicked on the sync button. Syncing takes about a minute and a half. The first thing I checked was my appointments. To my astonishment, my appointments had been imported correctly and the categories remained the same. I then checked my address book and todo list, and everything was in order.

4. I set myself up an AvantGo account, but I haven't gotten around to setting it up on my PocketPC yet. If I get this up, I will report back to this tread.

Overall, I am extremely impressed with PocketMac 3.0. I was skeptical after 2.0 but my aprehension were relieved. Anyone who has 2.0, pay the $5 and try this out. It is worth it.

torifile · Sep 28, 2003, 08:39 PM

How does it compare to the Missing Sync?

PowerMatt · Sep 28, 2003, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by torifile:
How does it compare to the Missing Sync?

I never used this program. Sorry.

alex_kac · Sep 28, 2003, 08:58 PM

Just FYI - the avantgo stuff on a PPC 2003 device just installs the AvantGo cabs. You then just go to Settings/Connection and set it up.

alex_kac · Sep 28, 2003, 08:59 PM

Missing Sync I believe syncs calendar exceptions, but other than that...(me having used both) - I find PocketMac 3.0 far faster, more reliable, a ton more functionality, and a lot better integrated.

bmhome1 · Sep 28, 2003, 10:07 PM

Both applications appear to be rapidly improving function and reliability issues.

MissingSync has gone through a number of revisions in its short history to resolve many issues users have had. They seem to be exceptionally responsive to fixing bugs.

PocketMac has suffered from poor performance with 2.0 and many users unhappy with support. Version 3 sounds to be a major step forward and the new competition can only improve their product and responsiveness.

Its important to note that both applications cannot co-exist. PocketMac must be fully removed (every remnant) for MissingSync to even install. One needs to make their choice of which application to install carefully to avoid conflicts in the way each address syncs.

Additionally, potential users must be aware that neither application currently provides for installs of Pocket PC application software (being Windows based), except to load .CAB program files directly.

The problem is that nearly every PPC application installs via Windows only .exe files, with the .CAB versions availability being severely limited or requiring contacting the authors.

If more Mac users start choosing PPC's the situation may change, but currently many of the really excellent PPC applications will be difficult to install, if at all.

I use neither application (preferring full functionality Activesyncing via VPC), but have been following both products evolve and frequenting the user's forums closely.

Its great to see Mac support for the Pocket PC developing, the two each being the best system for their category, IMHO.

But one must be prepared to be a pioneer in this odd marraige of platforms, and find help among the tiny segment of others enjoying the challenge.

torifile · Sep 28, 2003, 10:58 PM

Originally posted by bmhome1:
Both applications appear to be rapidly improving function and reliability issues.

MissingSync has gone through a number of revisions in its short history to resolve many issues users have had. They seem to be exceptionally responsive to fixing bugs.

PocketMac has suffered from poor performance with 2.0 and many users unhappy with support. Version 3 sounds to be a major step forward and the new competition can only improve their product and responsiveness.

Its important to note that both applications cannot co-exist. PocketMac must be fully removed (every remnant) for MissingSync to even install. One needs to make their choice of which application to install carefully to avoid conflicts in the way each address syncs.

Additionally, potential users must be aware that neither application currently provides for installs of Pocket PC application software (being Windows based), except to load .CAB program files directly.

The problem is that nearly every PPC application installs via Windows only .exe files, with the .CAB versions availability being severely limited or requiring contacting the authors.

If more Mac users start choosing PPC's the situation may change, but currently many of the really excellent PPC applications will be difficult to install, if at all.

I use neither application (preferring full functionality Activesyncing via VPC), but have been following both products evolve and frequenting the user's forums closely.

Its great to see Mac support for the Pocket PC developing, the two each being the best system for their category, IMHO.

But one must be prepared to be a pioneer in this odd marraige of platforms, and find help among the tiny segment of others enjoying the challenge.

Well said and good advice. I'm currently using the Missing Sync (which I just bought the other day) and it seems to be working well. I also just purchased pocketmac 3.0 to see how it goes and provide some support for the platform.

This will be my second attempt at using pocketmac (if I get up the guts to try it). Prior to that and following my failed experiment with pocketmac, I used VPC to activesync (and it made me appreciate how flaky the syncing experience is on EITHER platform - way to go MS). Now, I've got some options. My fiancee has a PC and I use her computer to install stuff that doesn't have a readily available .cab installer and the Missing Sync seems to be working out nicely thus far. Their first test comes tomorrow when I try to get a new code for the PPC I'm going to be exchanging my current one for.

That said, I think we need to be VERY vocal about getting .cab installers of software available. Often the .exe files are nothing but programs to run and put the .cab file in the activesync queue (for lack of better terminology). Most of the time there is NO REASON for .exe installers as long as you know what your processor is (ARM, MIPS, etc).

I was hoping that the release of the Missing Sync would signal an end to the pioneering and I waited to come back to the PPC until I heard it was good and pocketmac's improvements. I guess it's not the end yet... But I've just packaged up my palm to be shipped out, spent a hefty chunk of change on my iPaq and some software and I'm hoping I can use all this stuff to keep my life organized and productive.

-t

ps - I think all PPC/Mac users need to support developers who are supporting US. WebIS (alex's company) is one of the few well known ones thus far. In fact, Pocket Informant is the best in its class (by FAR) and I believe it's also the most popular PIM on the PPC platform (who'da thunk it: best AND first - if life were always that way, Apple'd have 75% marketshare). Buy PI.

torifile · Sep 28, 2003, 11:17 PM

Serial number? Should I have gotten it emailed to me? Hmm.

Uday · Sep 29, 2003, 07:32 AM

I have just upgraded to version 3 and remain dissapointed with its inability to sync recurring calender events such a birthdays. I have these down as all day events and when I sync with either iCal or Entourage the event appears a day later.
This isn't a problem when I sync my iPaq with my Dell laptop.

Am I doing something wrong or is this a known bug?

alex_kac · Sep 29, 2003, 06:15 PM

No...all day events sync fine here for me...though I'm using iCal 1.5 in Panther.

Also PocketMac 3.0 CAN install apps from .exe files. It actually goes into the .exe file and looks for the CAB data parts and extracts them.

I'd talk to the PocketMac guys and ask them about that one day later thing. What is your timezone? Is the timezone on the PDA the same as on the desktop?

bmhome1 · 07:15 PM

Does PocketMac 3.0 integrate the .exe extractor within the application now? In 2.0 it was available as a beta version with cautions about "attempting" extracting and not being able to always succeed. Its a major development if they have refined that feature for full time use.

One of the allures of the PPC platform are all the great application temptations out there. Handago has literally thousands while their .CAB only versions number far less than 100 available readily.

It should also be stated that the Mac platform in hfs+ can download, copy, even unzip those .exe files fine, it just can't open them further, until now, with PocketMac.

Also, a great depth of knowledge and help with PPC's in general can be found at the forums at Brighthand.com, PocketPCPassions.com, and my favorite, PocketPCThoughts.com

torifile · Sep 29, 2003, 07:38 PM

I ask again because I haven't gotten answer from pocketmac: do they mail you a serial number after you order? I bought it last night and I haven't been able to register. I tried my 2.0 number and that didn't work.

alex_kac · Sep 29, 2003, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by bmhome1:
Does PocketMac 3.0 integrate the .exe extractor within the application now? In 2.0 it was available as a beta version with cautions about "attempting" extracting and not being able to always succeed. Its a major development if they have refined that feature for full time use.

One of the allures of the PPC platform are all the great application temptations out there. Handago has literally thousands while their .CAB only versions number far less than 100 available readily.

It should also be stated that the Mac platform in hfs+ can download, copy, even unzip those .exe files fine, it just can't open them further, until now, with PocketMac.

Also, a great depth of knowledge and help with PPC's in general can be found at the forums at Brighthand.com, PocketPCPassions.com, and my favorite, PocketPCThoughts.com

Yes - its integrated into the main window.

torifile · Sep 30, 2003, 01:03 AM

Thanks to a PM from Pocketmac, I was able to find my serial number (it was buried in an email that got filtered to junk mail). Now, I must say, they've come a long way! I like the iTunes/iPhoto synchronization. I haven't tried it out yet, of course, but.... It seems fast and pretty stable so far. Now to try an internet connection....

Overall,though, I'm very impressed with how far they've come in 9 months. Nice job fellas!

torifile · Sep 30, 2003, 11:00 AM

Hmm. I'm having some intermittent connection oddness over bluetooth. My PPC is connecting to my computer (as seen in my bluetooth menubar) but PocketMac doesn't pick up on it and my activesync connection is never established on the PPC end. A soft reset of my PPC seems to fix it but I haven't had a chance to decide if that works every time. Is there a log I can look at/post here to troubleshoot?

BTW, I LOVE the way it handles syncing. You don't have to check/uncheck things to sync specific items. VERY nice. Everyone should give this program a look.

Again, nice work, pocketmac guys!

-t

ps - how on earth do I change my start bar to something other than the pocketmac theme?

PowerMatt · Oct 4, 2003, 12:28 AM

Just an update after about a week of use.

I still love this product. But I have ran into the following problems. First, when PocketMac syncs my inbox, it leaves the inbox app running on my PPC. This isn't the end of the world, but it is annoying. Second, sometimes, it takes a little while before connecting to my PPC. And if I uncradle my PPC, sometimes the PocketMacStatus app will quit requiring me to restart the app. Third, I tried to intall Scott Seligman's Task Manager/Switcher via .exe installer but with no success. I have installed other apps without incidence, but not this one. Fourth, still no luck syncing all-day events. I don't really need to, but it would be nice if I could.

Great job PocketMac.

My PPC is an HP Jornada 548 running the older version of PocketPC (whichever it is).

torifile · Oct 8, 2003, 09:10 PM

The program is mostly great. I'm a little confused about some of the preferences but that's ok. My only major gripes so far are: appointments in iCal that have a ',' in them get synced with a '\' in the middle of them. And for some reason changing the entry on the PPC causes it to duplicate that entry on the next sync.

Also, BT syncing is flaky. Sometimes it won't connect at all, despite BT menu item showing a connection. I haven't decided if this is a PPC issue or a PM3 issue. Anyone else having trouble consistently syncing using BT? And sometimes, when I can sync, it disconnects on its own. USB syncing seems unaffected and it seems consistent.

I'm also having a hard time adding the PPC in iSync. I believe that this issue was present in iSync 1.1, but I can't remember. I'm now using 1.2.1.

I hope that the begin to consolidate some of these preferences so they're a little more logical. I'm not sure what that would be, but something..... Also, having a selection for syncing Pocket Outlook data (dates, addresses and tasks) in the synchronize menu would be nice.

BTW, this is on an iPaq 2215 and a 12" rev. a powerbook. Running what I thought was 3.1 but the about box says 3.0. I'll check to make sure I've updated...

solitere · Oct 9, 2003, 02:47 AM

Have anyone tryed to install PocketMac 3.0 on a 10.3 ?

torifile · Oct 9, 2003, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by solitere:
Have anyone tryed to install PocketMac 3.0 on a 10.3 ?

I've heard reports that it works. I haven't tried it myself, but I will once I get it.

alex_kac · Oct 9, 2003, 05:40 PM

That's the only way I've ever used 3.0 myself...under different releases of 10.3. No idea if the USB driver works...but BT and TCP/IP do.

torifile · Oct 12, 2003, 01:33 AM

I uninstalled PM3 to play with the MS for a while, now I'm back using PM3. I can't seem to figure out how to get my PPC to show up in iSync. Can anyone help? I've tried adding a device while the PPC was connected (both via USB and BT), but no joy. I don't know what else to try.

DesignByJack · Nov 15, 2003, 08:51 AM

I was thinking to get the xda2 PDA Phone. Is anyone use it for Pocketmac to isync with the Mac? How stable is it?

Jack

KeilwerthSX90R · Nov 15, 2003, 11:39 AM

Any guesses on an ETA for Syncing with MS Smartphone 2002? I'm getting a i600 from Verizon.

Josh

bilingual · Nov 20, 2003, 11:46 AM

After looking at numerous threads, I decided to purchase Pocketmac 3.

It is a really nice program that delivers. I consider myself a Mac fan but the Pocket PC platform, in my view, presents a wider range of devices at better price points. So, I got a Dell Axim X3i and I am very happy.

Pocket Mac 3 syncs evertyhing that I need sync'ed and it is very well written. Things just work. I just thought I would tell potential buyers to purchase the program. It's worth 40 dollars.