[DigitalEl]

After more than a year without a cellphone, I took the plunge again. I got the now-aging Sony Ericsson T610 for its color screen and bluetooth capabilities. I absolutely love the phone, but am thoroughly underwhelmed by Bluetooth. I paid more for a BT phone, b/c I thought it was a must-have feature to complement my PowerBook.

I have to admit it was really cool to do the initial sync and get all my numbers into my phone in just minutes, instead of pounding out names and numbers on a tiny keyboard for a couple of hours. But now what?

This isn't a "Bluetooth sucks" thread and I'm not putting down anybody's setup, but here's why it's not the Best Thing Ever (tm) for me:

1. I store information differently. I like things pretty formal on my Mac. Full names for everybody, etc... On my phone, however, I just have "Angela" or "Brad" or "Mom & Dad." After syncing w/Bluetooth, I had to go and edit just about every single entry. This isn't an issue for most. Just a quirk of mine I hadn't previously considered.

2. iCal syncing left much to be desired. The time is right on my phone. The time is right on my Mac. So why are all my iCal events off? I have my wife's class schedule in iCal. It's 1600-2130 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. After syncing, the phone has it at 0430. That's more than 12 hours off... And where's the 30 minutes come from? I've read about some time issues... And always have more anomalies being in Arizona, where we don't take part in Daylight Savings Time.

3. Untimed events don't sync at all, as far as I can tell. Some of my most important events -- birthdays and anniversaries and such, with reminders set for two weeks out -- don't show up. What's the point of syncing a calendar if all your events aren't represented?

Hey, the bottom line is the phone is great and I still have my Macs for calendar and full address book functions. I just thought things would be completely synced up now and they're not really. Still, getting the names & numbers in initially is worth the price of the feature.
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*Yes, I realize this thread is mostly, if not entirely pointless. I just felt like sharing my thoughts. Thanks for your indulgence.

[Spheric Harlot]

First off, nothing in your rant has anything to do with Bluetooth.

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
1. I store information differently. I like things pretty formal on my Mac. Full names for everybody, etc... On my phone, however, I just have "Angela" or "Brad" or "Mom & Dad." After syncing w/Bluetooth, I had to go and edit just about every single entry. This isn't an issue for most. Just a quirk of mine I hadn't previously considered.

It's perfectly normal that you have to weed out the duplicates and edit the remaining ones in line with the rest of Address Book.

Everybody has this problem on the first sync. It only ever bites you once. Never again.

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
2. iCal syncing left much to be desired. The time is right on my phone. The time is right on my Mac. So why are all my iCal events off? I have my wife's class schedule in iCal. It's 1600-2130 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. After syncing, the phone has it at 0430. That's more than 12 hours off... And where's the 30 minutes come from? I've read about some time issues... And always have more anomalies being in Arizona, where we don't take part in Daylight Savings Time.

Do search the "Software" forum if you have sync issues. I believe several phone-specific issues have been covered there in the past.

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
3. Untimed events don't sync at all, as far as I can tell. Some of my most important events -- birthdays and anniversaries and such, with reminders set for two weeks out -- don't show up. What's the point of syncing a calendar if all your events aren't represented?

In iSync, click on your phone, and then click the "Options..." button at the bottom. You now (as of iSync 1.5, released but a couple of weeks ago) can sync all-day events - they will be read-only, but they are there.

Did I read correctly that your phone only supports name & numbers, but not Addresses?

That sucks.

But that's your phone's fault. My Siemens supports syncing of full street addresses, multiple e-mail addies and birthdays. Though it has to be using the address book as primary database, not the phone book (this can be switched in the phone; not sure if yours has a full address book at all). Edit: the T610 does not support street addresses. That sucks.

The true value of Bluetooth, for me, is being able to make calendar and Address Book entries/edits while I'm out, and have them automatically transferred to my machines when I get home, without having to even take my phone out of the bag.

That and knowing that, should it break, get stolen, or lost, I won't lose hundreds of phone numbers that I'll all have to re-enter (if I have them at all) by hand when I get a new phone.

-s*

[DigitalEl]

Everybody has this problem on the first sync. It only ever bites you once. Never again.

Thanks for your well thought out and well-reasoned response to my rambling initial post. Regarding the problem never biting you again, won't all those numbers I deleted and/or altered (stripped last names from, etc.) on the phone either be deleted altogether and/or altered on my Mac when I next sync? I thought that was the point. Make a change in one place > sync > the change is then seen everywhere? Since I deleted/altered records on my phone last, won't iSync assume that's what I want on my Mac, too? I didn't see anywhere in iSync where "Mac Overwrites Phone" or vice-versa, as is available when syncing via Palm devices.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
Thanks for your well thought out and well-reasoned response to my rambling initial post. Regarding the problem never biting you again, won't all those numbers I deleted and/or altered (stripped last names from, etc.) on the phone either be deleted altogether and/or altered on my Mac when I next sync? I thought that was the point. Make a change in one place > sync > the change is then seen everywhere? Since I deleted/altered records on my phone last, won't iSync assume that's what I want on my Mac, too?

I'm sorry. Of course, yes, that is exactly what will happen.

To be honest, I simply didn't expect that anyone would *want* to sort entries differently on the phone and on the computer, let alone have the entries look entirely different.

"This must be some strange new definition of the word 'synchronize' that I was previously unaware of..."

For me, my mobile's phonebook was a wild assortment of "Dave@mobile" and "Philip, Drums" and such things, and it was a godsend to finally have it all in one format, sorted, computer-searchable, and always up-to-date.

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
I didn't see anywhere in iSync where "Mac Overwrites Phone" or vice-versa, as is available when syncing via Palm devices.

Actually, under the "Devices" menu, you can reset all external devices. This, of course, defeats the two-way beauty, where every new entry on the mobile is transferred to the computer automatically, as well.

-s*

[waffffffle]

Try BluePhoneMenu and you will no longer be underwhelmed by bluetooth.

[f1000]

Originally posted by waffffffle:
Try BluePhoneMenu and you will no longer be underwhelmed by bluetooth.

Ooh, thank you!

[newcomer]

I had a T-610 last year and remember being irked by the inability to transfer all day events from iCal to the phone. I soon realised that this was not a big deal anyway - I think iCal can be a pain to use at times and have come to the conclusion that as far as managing my schedule (although not my contacts I must admit) - I am perfectly happy with a pen and paper.

I can scribble down information into a paper diary so much more quickly and efficiently than I ever could into iCal or a phone.

I never have to boot up or switch on a paper diary, and it's small enough to carry with me everywhere.

I'd be interested to hear if others have resorted to such 'archaic' methods of time management. I think there is a temptation to use digital technology simply for the sake of it. For me the old fashioned paper diary remains as efficient a means as any for managing my schedule.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by newcomer:
I'd be interested to hear if others have resorted to such 'archaic' methods of time management. I think there is a temptation to use digital technology simply for the sake of it. For me the old fashioned paper diary remains as efficient a means as any for managing my schedule.

I was glad to go digital and syncable. I never kept my paper Filo up-to-date, and I have lots of regular, recurring events, plus a couple of calendars (rehearsals/gigs) that I share online for booking/planning convenience.

The other aspect is that I absolutely, positively *hated* paper contact management.

I love Rolodexes, but they're not really mobile.

[chrisford]

Originally posted by waffffffle:
Try BluePhoneMenu and you will no longer be underwhelmed by bluetooth.

Just a quick post to say thanks for the link - what a great little app.

Now I don't have to write teenager txt msgs.

c

[subego]

Originally posted by waffffffle:
Try BluePhoneMenu and you will no longer be underwhelmed by bluetooth.

Thirded. This is extra spiffy.

As to the general topic of bluetooth, while the wireless sync/modem abilities are useful, I've found far and away the best thing about having a bluetooth phone is using a wireless headset.

When it comes right down to it I'd be perfectly willing to plug my phone into my computer for syncing, good luck getting me to give up my Freespeak.