Filed under: Switchers, Internet Tools, Books and Blogs
Why doesn't iSync 'just work'?
Russell Beattie, mobile phone aficionado and employee of Yahoo, as well as He then concludes his missive on iSync's failings by noting: "You know, I freakin' BOUGHT the Mac so these sorts of headaches wouldn't happen. If I wanted to be frustrated by annoying dialog boxes and un-fixable peripheral problems, I would have just stuck with a Windows box." Any other Switchers out there find themselves similarly disgruntled by iSync's performance?
This long time Mac user, for one, has been wondering what happened to the "it just works" aspect of the Mac ever since he upgraded to Tiger.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Robert said 4:12PM on 7-13-2005
I have the Nokia 6620 Series 60 phone and works just fine under iSync 2.1, but then it also worked under 2.0.
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Ruju said 4:19PM on 7-13-2005
I think that part of the problem is that Apple is trying hard to be more universal to attract the switchers - but universality does not come without a price.
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Chris McDowell said 4:29PM on 7-13-2005
Why dont you take your problems to Apple instead of trying to fix it yourself and complaining about your problems that you obviously have not been able to fix. Apple's support system is great because they make the hardware and software. If you dont use their support there is no reason to complain. You get extended phone support with the purchase of Tiger for Tiger related problems. So stop complaining and just get your problems fixed by Apple. Come complain about how Apple has shitty support after you call them and have a bad experience. I ahve not had a bad experience with Apple and their support team ever.
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Felipe said 4:30PM on 7-13-2005
iSync never "just worked" for phones that are not in the "list of devices supported". It is interesting to note that several Nokia phones are not supported, only the 60 series, and not all of them... I bought a Siemens, hoping it would work, but nothing... not even recognized by iSync. Then I switched to a Nokia, hopes up again...
I just wonder who choses the phones that will work with iSync, and what is his criteria... How long has Mac OS X been around? 4, 5 years? How long does it take to develop support for other devices on the list? A decade? From what I've seen, the supported devices list hasn't grown all that much from iSync 2.0 to v2.1...
Meanwhile, I still wait for the "just works" era with my humble Nokia 6230.
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David Chartier said 4:33PM on 7-13-2005
An upgrade is his first problem.
First rule of new OS releases: clean wipe
Second rule of new OS releases: CLEAN WIPE!!
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loki der quaeler said 4:38PM on 7-13-2005
as felipe points out, iSync doesn't "just work" for a number of phones - including ones which historically were indeed listed as supported to be only later downgraded to partial support or removed completely from the supported list.
(and i have taken my complaints to apple, as have throngs of others if you'll take a peak at the iSync discussions forums on apple.com)
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Travis Beard said 4:43PM on 7-13-2005
its just works with my RAZR.
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smqt said 4:49PM on 7-13-2005
Once I get my 7610 set up it works fine, but after the 2.1 update I had to throw away the iSync app on my phone, clean-install the update, throw it away, restart, pair, delete pairing, pair again, restart, etc., etc. before I got it to working again.
I still don't know what caused it, but my problem was that iSync said it couldn't add my phone.
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Tom Edwards said 4:43PM on 7-13-2005
Switched to Mac for the "just works" reason in September last year. Upgraded to Tiger this year. Still going strong. Downloaded the update for iSync and my Nokia 3230 is singing happily with my PowerBook.
Thanks Apple!
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C.K. Sample, III said 4:42PM on 7-13-2005
1 demerit for Chris for having a potty mouth.
Also, calling support and waiting online for someone who usually knows less than I do about my Mac and tends to ask dumb questions like "have you installed any 3rd party software?" or "Is bluetooth on?" doesn't strike me as very "it just works."
Nor does doing a complete wipe and install.
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mikel egurra said 4:49PM on 7-13-2005
i have a nokia 6630 and i've been waiting for quite some time for isync support. i was vey happy when i found out the phone is now on the 'supported' list.
i downloaded the upgrade, installed the .sis apple provides and... it just works.
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wgoodf said 5:02PM on 7-13-2005
i have a p900 and isync was always a major pain i the ar*e, sometimes taking reboots of booth the mac and phone for it to work. then along came tiger and it works each and every time. quicker than before too. it now does 'just work' prior to that it was my only sore point with the mac.
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larsen said 4:13AM on 7-14-2005
got a 6230i, supposed to be a business phone. I was kinda sure the next update would include support. its disappointing. its not about another 30$ for a thirdparty product. I just want to sync it natively...
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Chris McDowell said 5:11PM on 7-13-2005
Sounds like you are a little too confident with your stellar mac skills. Your mac doesnt work so you must not be that great. Sit there on the phone and tell them that it doesnt work still. Work with them until it works and solve all of your problems. When they ask you if you have anymore problems tell them the other problems you have and get those fixed. Oh god a potty mouth cause I said shitty. I am trying to help ya out and give you some pointers on how to get your great bug filled mac working perfectly like mine.
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C.K. Sample, III said 5:17PM on 7-13-2005
Dude, you are totally missing my point... None of what you are describing fits in with "It Just Works." End of story.
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JJ said 5:33PM on 7-13-2005
I agree that the iSync phone support is useless unless you buy the mainstream models, or have a really outdated Nokia.
Anyway i have decided to start working on some conduits for iSync to support a wide variety of phones, will keep you posted on the progress, in the mean time check out DataPilot which can help some of you....
http://alpha-technica.org/index.php/weblog/datapilot_20/
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AHM said 5:39PM on 7-13-2005
Sometimes it's iSync. Sometimes it's the phone. One of the reasons why Apples "just work" is because they have complete control over the hardware and software. iSync, on the other hand, has to work around idiosyncrasies with each and every device.
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Chris McDowell said 5:40PM on 7-13-2005
Tell me one thing in the world that has always just worked. I am saying that alot of your problems are probably building on eachother and that if you solved the root of your problems you would probably be better off along the road instead of trying to apply a bandaid to the problem. Why are you so afraid to get your mac running by calling Tech Support? It is true that it doesnt just work but it works a whole lot better than anything else out there. Nothin ever just works in the world all of the time.
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C.K. Sample, III said 5:51PM on 7-13-2005
Chris,
My refrigerator "just works." Never had a problem. Same thing with my TV, my Playstation 2, my PSP, my Gameboy, and a variety of other electronics. My Macs used to "just work." Also, Tiger is up to a certain point untroubleshootable. You can only troubleshoot so far before someone says, "Wipe it clean and reinstall." That's a Windows solution. It never used to be a Mac solution. That's my gripe.
And trust me: I've gone through all the wasted time on the phone with Apple support in the past and whether you believe me or not, I do tend to know more than them, and for that reason they waste huge chunks of my time running me through the basic troubleshooting bits that I've already been through.
I'm glad to hear that they've solved all of your problems, but open your mind slightly to the possibility that there are a lot of users out there left hanging by bugs that aren't bothering you.
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Chris McDowell said 6:08PM on 7-13-2005
Your refrigerator works, your tv works but does everyone's? No My mac just works too. Why dont you follow through. At the end of your conversation with tech support is your problem solved? If it isnt then keep talking to them until it is solved and working. They will send you eventually higher and higher. There are other users using the same OS as you with the same phone as you and it is working fine for them.
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