Filed under: Software, Wireless
RIM source says Mac tools are on the way!
CIO.com confirms rumors that I've been hearing for at least six months: RIM is preparing to release native BlackBerry utilities for Mac users. According to CIO.com's source, who requested anonymity, the software tools are being prepped for the first half of 2009.This is great news for any BlackBerry user who also happens to be a Mac fanatic. It's hard enough to reconcile using a 'Berry when all your friends and colleagues are on iPhones -- but the desktop software situation can make even the most die-hard CrackBerry fan reconsider his or her mobile device choice.
Right now, there are two ways to connect the BlackBerry with OS X: PocketMac, which is free and just got an update, and The Missing Sync, which is $39.95. Neither option allows you to upgrade your BlackBerry's onboard OS, make backups of your programs or settings, or reliably install software directly onto the device. You can sync your contacts and calendar (but be careful, the wrong step might nuke them), access and transfer photos and music, and charge the BlackBerry, but that's pretty much where the Mac experience ends.
As of right now, the only way a Mac user can actually upgrade the OS on his or her BlackBerry is to use BootCamp or a virtualization program like VMWare Fusion or Parallels. It's the kind of PITA that prevents people like me from hacking around with their phones, unless I have a fully updated VM handy. If you don't have an Intel Mac or you don't have a Windows license -- you've basically got to find someone who does, and borrow their computer.
Thankfully, not only does it look like native Mac tools are FINALLY going to arrive, future OS updates will be done OTA (over the air), putting an end to this sort of nastiness once and for all. Frankly, I can't wait until I can actually manage my BlackBerry without having to run a virtual machine.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony said 3:02PM on 9-19-2008
2009? Too little, too late as far as I'm concerned.
Reply
AdamY said 5:40PM on 9-19-2008
I thought the same thing. Sad that it took the iPhone to finally spur RIM to action.
WS said 3:12PM on 9-19-2008
Too late RIM. I'm dumping my BB at the end of this month for an iPhone. I'm sick of maintaining a Windows system just so I can keep things in sync and in order on my BB.
Q1 in 2009? I'll believe it when I see it. RIM is notorious for lagging on updates. OS 4.5 has been cooking in beta for far too long. Not to mention the update doesn't bring THAT much to the table...
Sorry RIM, too little, too late.
Reply
Dah Cheet said 3:14PM on 9-19-2008
Better late than never. I just got my first Blackberry last year and my first Mac this year. PocketMAC does what I need (backup contacts/calendar) but not always reliably (program crash). I would love to do more. We'll see what happens when I'm ready for an upgrade (next July) if I still want my Blackberry or if I want to switch to something else.
Reply
pmup said 3:18PM on 9-19-2008
Too late, I was so tired of the horrid experience with PocketMac and Missing Sync I already switched to an iPhone and now I smile everyday. I ran the BB software on Windows via VMware and their software sucks period!
Reply
John said 3:39PM on 9-19-2008
About freakin' time.
I love my BlackBerry. IMO, it does a superior job of handling email vs. the iPhone, and at the end of the day, that's the one thing I need my phone to be able to do (other than making calls, of course). Sure, I miss the multi-touch, the web browsing, the movies, the music, the iTMS, the App Store... But it's a tradeoff I'm comfortable with.
Still, RIM's Mac support to date has been downright pathetic. Between using a combination of Missing Sync and Google Sync, I'm able to get by. But if they're serious about making a big push into the consumer smartphone market, they really need to deliver with their Mac software, because Macs are what all the consumers are buying these days.
Reply
Christina Warren said 7:34PM on 9-19-2008
My thoughts exactly. E-mail is my main use too (other than a phone), and BB is still better in that regard. Still, the crappy software situation certainly makes it hard to sway a Mac user to not use the iPhone.
I kind of have to agree a bit with the "too little, too late" camp too. I mean, I still love my Berry, but if I were buying a phone I wanted to really interface wit on my computer, it certainly wouldn't be it.
Alex Rodriguez said 3:46PM on 9-19-2008
tooooo little way tooooooooo late. I am on to the iPhone. They are well over a year late to the party. The sad thing is I was a huge fan of my BB even with its nonexistent support for the Mac. I guess for some its better late than never.
Reply
Barry said 3:50PM on 9-19-2008
If they had done this two or three years ago, there might be no iPhone.
Now that there is an iPhone, which blows the BlackBerry away in so many different ways, I wonder if they'll recoup their development costs?
And look out when the iPhone gets a hard keyboard. BB's will be on Ebay for $0.50
Reply
Andrew T. said 9:18AM on 9-20-2008
Do you not even know the product you're currently putting on a pedestal? Physical keyboard on an iPhone? You would have to wait longer than those who are waiting for a BlackBerry OS 4.5 release.
iPhone's main function or what was originally advertised WAS the touchscreen and keyboard. Steve Jobs emphasized that touchscreen is the future and starting comparing/making fun of use of physical keyboard and stylus - using your finger to navigate was way more efficient.
Obviously you're not too bright or just wanted to say something that ended up being stupid.
Hey, Apple just might create one, who knows? But if they do, I'm taking it as a sign of failure regardless of how many iPhone's are sold. You don't bash the competition for having a stylus or keyboard claiming it's below a touchscreen keyboard and then using one yourself.
"And look out when the iPhone gets a hard keyboard. BB's will be on Ebay for $0.50" LOL what a stupid comment...
Matthew Cornell said 3:53PM on 9-19-2008
Another vote for "too little, too late." I bought a Verizon 8330, tried it for a day, pulled my hair out trying to get *either* program to work, then took it back the next day. Complete failure to provide crucial trusted sync feature. Two days later, after much self reflection, bought an iPhone 3G from AT&T and LOVE it. RIM should be crapping their drawers over this. Same for any other smart phone company. I didn't realize how amazing Apple's effort was until I got my own (demos don't do it justice).
Reply
yugenro said 4:12PM on 9-19-2008
Well, I like my Curve 8320... but you are all right, that the software for Mac is pathetic, especially compared to the PC/Windows software...
I can get *neither* Missing Sync NOR PocketMac to sync reliably... One makes duplicates of everything, the other just doesn't sync at ALL...
I will be buying a used iPhone, and getting it on my Tmobile account, as soon as I can save up the $.
Reply
andy said 4:28PM on 9-19-2008
Too late! I'm jumping to Android next month.
Reply
portorikan said 4:58PM on 9-19-2008
I can't wait. I won't be getting an iphone for a few years and who knows, maybe if this is good enough, I won't be interested in one either, although that's a tall order.
Reply
John D said 5:10PM on 9-19-2008
Now they just need to invent a time machine to go back 2 years to when this might have actually helped their mac customers. RIM's updates are a joke. Expect their debut mac app to have the quality of Quickbooks for mac.
Companies that don't regard the mac customer base as relevant are now starting to come around. We have more discretionary income for technology, we're more interested in function, we're more comfortable with using a wider spectrum of features on our machines, and we don't countenance bad ideas. It's great that RIM decided now to come around, and while it's a step in the right direction, by the time they learn to walk in the mac world, their competitors will have already learned to fly.
Reply
ThingMaker said 12:15AM on 9-20-2008
oh, NOW they care about the Mac ?? It's only what percent of uni student laptops? 40% ??? yeah, must be tough for a company with $7.17 Billion in revenue to find the change to fund development for a Mac version (even on the same CPU!) as well as Windows. So I can see how they'd always really wanted to but, gosh, just couldn't make the numbers work. Now that the iPhone is kicking their butts and taking taking names, all of a sudden the Mac market matters. Hey, RIM, suck it.
Reply
qthrul said 1:58AM on 9-20-2008
Yes please. :)
I'm still on the fence as to when I'll take on iPhone because I am so anti AT&T wireless.
I covet Curve and now I covet Bold. Mmmm so meaty.
Reply