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iSync Public Beta Is Out!
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DawnTreader
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The iSync Public Beta has been released . I’m downloading it now. Look’s rather 8)
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One concern I’d like to hear answered…
There’s some concern that Mac-to-Mac synchronization through iSync _requires_ a .mac account. Now, if this synchronization is over the internet,it’s understandable. What concerns the folks right now is if a .Mac account is required to use iSync over a network.
If someone with multiple Jaguar-running Macs could give iSync a test for Mac-to-mac synchronization over a LAN, and see if it requires a .Mac account, it would be appreciated.
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-Jon Roth
Instant Philosopher; Just add hot topic and stir.
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DawnTreader
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Jon:
Do you mean there are actually Mac users out there who have yet to migrate their iTools accounts to .Mac subscriptions? That’s the first I’ve heard of this startling news :wink:
If you are one of what must be the very few iTools account users who have yet to sign up for .Mac, you had better hurry! The conversion offer has been extended for only 14 more days!
Hmmm…this is an interesting question. I can’t imagine a .Mac subsription being necessary to use iSync or at least use if adequately. There may be some synch features with .Mac that enhance the functionality, but like I said, I can’t imagine .Mac being needed to use the technology. -
I don’t have an iPod, a Bluetooth-enabled phone, a PDA, or a second Mac. Would I need isync for any reason?
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—R.J.
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Heh, I know about the deadline, and honestly, I could care less right now, DT.
Simply put, I have a Domain name hosted ( http://www.kitsunestudios.com ), and that provides all the services I want out of iTools (Web space, permanant unchanging e-mail address, transfer space) and services it dosen’t (Domain Name hosting). I also never use my iTools email address, and grabbed all the relevant software off iTools already. Then there’s the concerns with the quality of service Apple is providing… If iTools provides DNS services in the next year, I’ll probably upgrade for the full $100/year. But right now, I’m unemployed, and will stick with my current service.
The concern about .Mac as a requirement is for the reason you stated: there’s no reason that it should be a requirement, other than “Because we said so”. If Apple has done this, it’s a bad sign for the direction Apple plans of increasing .Mac subscribership. Very “Microsoft Bundling”... which is why I hope this is just a bunch of paranoid people reading the wrog thing into a system requirement listing.
rjung: No.
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-Jon Roth
Instant Philosopher; Just add hot topic and stir.
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Looks very nice ‘n all, but what about the list of supported Macs? Do I hear PowerBook G3? Nope.
Personally, I’ve waited to buy a Palm device too. Just to make sure I got one that was going to be compatible with this iSync thing. Well, I kinda suspected it to be a Palm 5xx model, but I use a PowerBook G3 right now.
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DawnTreader
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[quote author=“KitsuneStudios”]Heh, I know about the deadline, and honestly, I could care less right now, DT.
Simply put, I have a Domain name hosted ( http://www.kitsunestudios.com ), and that provides all the services I want out of iTools (Web space, permanant unchanging e-mail address, transfer space) and services it dosen’t (Domain Name hosting). I also never use my iTools email address, and grabbed all the relevant software off iTools already. Then there’s the concerns with the quality of service Apple is providing… If iTools provides DNS services in the next year, I’ll probably upgrade for the full $100/year. But right now, I’m unemployed, and will stick with my current service.
If I had a hosted domain I might not be messing with .Mac either. I don’t see DNS service in the cards for .Mac. though. It would be an extraordinary benefit, but I think it would be out of character with the service IMHO. However, I certainly wouldn’t mind it
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DawnTreader
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[quote author=“rjung”]I don’t have an iPod, a Bluetooth-enabled phone, a PDA, or a second Mac. Would I need isync for any reason?if you have a .Mac account, it will store your contacts, calendar, etc. on the .Mac server.
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DawnTreader
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Ok, on multiple Macs it appears that iSynch will use the .Mac set-up as the central synching reference. For example, I backup my contacts, etc. on my G4 to .Mac and then synch other Macs to the info saved via of the .Mac account.
Other than that, functions can be handled by iSync without a .Mac account.
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If I understand it correctly, DT, you’re saying that in order to sync calendar (iCal) and contacts (AddressBook), a .mac account is required..
Do I understand correctly?
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DawnTreader
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[quote author=“davidneale”]If I understand it correctly, DT, you’re saying that in order to sync calendar (iCal) and contacts (AddressBook), a .mac account is required..
Do I understand correctly?
No. Only if you wanted to synch the info on multiple Macs. For example a laptop and desktop or mulitple Macs on a network. It stores the data on .Mac when synching more than I computer.
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[quote author=“DawnTreader”][quote author=“davidneale”]If I understand it correctly, DT, you’re saying that in order to sync calendar (iCal) and contacts (AddressBook), a .mac account is required..
Do I understand correctly?
No. Only if you wanted to synch the info on multiple Macs. For example a laptop and desktop or mulitple Macs on a network. It stores the data on .Mac when synching more than I computer.
Yes, then I understood correctly: to sync iCal and AddressBook between my iBook and my iMac I need a .mac account. That’s pathetic and another reason to be angry with the .mac thing. I’ve never felt so upset about anything Apple has done in 13 years of supporting Apple :x
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That’s a crock; no thankyou Apple. I don’t have two Macs, but I disagree on principle with the fact that if you want to use Apple’s iApp, you have to pay for .Mac. Oh, and I don’t have .Mac either.
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It’s indeed really stupid to have to have a .mac account to sync multiple Macs. I have a 100baseT LAN with 3 Macs. If I could simply sync over my LAN, I would be done much faster. Besides, I don’t want .mac and I think it low, really low, by Apple to create software that needs a certain feature (in this case $99 .mac) to do something completely different (syncing off-line Macs).
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Tjeerd van Hoytema
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DawnTreader
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There are other ways to synch the info on mulitple Macs without using iSync. That’s not to say I’m happy with this arrangement. I know it’s beta software, but the connection with the .Mac server kept timing out and I ended up with three sets of the same contacts on my iPod.
I can understand the theory behind what Apple is doing and in time it may make a lot more sense, but right now IMHO the service is not worth $99 per year. I spent the $49 plus $20 for two e-mail only accounts for my kids because I’m kind of immersed in all this stuff and it fits my lifestyle. But I’m a bit concerned about novices signing up for this service. It’s not particularly intuitive (at least for usual Apple standards) and the performance of the .Mac server is decidedly on the slow side.
I know it’s a challenge for any company to set-up a public server that provides security, stability and speed while attempting to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of users but this is a situation where perhaps the folks at Akamai might be able to lend a hand.
In my view Apple rushed much too quickly to start charging premium prices for a service that obviously isn’t finished.
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I think it’s a bit premature for anyone to get angry about a beta version of a free program. iMovie isn’t that useful to me since I don’t have a digital camcorder, and iPhoto doesn’t support my cheap POS digital camera, but I’m not getting angry about it. As it happens, I DO have .mac, but I don’t have multiple Macs to sync. So I’ll just use it to bring my iPod up to date now and then.
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