PocketMac for iPhone adds Entourage and Lotus Notes sync
Information Appliance Associates has released a new version of PocketMac for iPhone. Long a mainstay of BlackBerry / Mac integration, the new PocketMac allows iPhone users to sync their contacts and calendar info to Entourage, Lotus Notes or Meeting Maker. It works by using iCal and Address Book as a go-between, syncing Entourage, etc. with each of them. The actual iPhone syncing is via the standard iCal / Address Book channels, but PocketMac ensures than any changes made on the iPhone migrate back to Entourage, etc.In addition, PocketMac will back up the iPhone's call log and SMS messages to your Mac. It sounds a little round-about (using iCal and Address Book as middlemen) but if your company is wedded to Entourage, Lotus Notes, or Meeting Maker it could be very handy.
PocketMac for iPhone is $29.95; it does not appear that a demo is available.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian said 4:40PM on 9-24-2008
Wow - I was literally JUST looking for something to get my Notes calendar pushed to my ipod touch, and here you are with this.
DS, you're my hero. Thanks!
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Ian said 9:57PM on 9-24-2008
The lack of Touch support and the reviews below have blunted my earlier enthusiasm. Back to the Google Search!
ChrisG said 4:50PM on 9-24-2008
I watched the demo on the company website but it is still unclear to me if it will sync multiple calendars. I want all of the different color codes I have in Entourage to transfer over to my iphone, instead of having all calendars sync to the one category in ical.
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AnneMac said 3:34PM on 9-26-2008
PocketMac for iPhone specifically supports the multiple calendars in Entourage 2008. It syncs them with iCal, and then iTunes controls the sync to your iPhone. So, while PocketMac can't control exactly what color is syncing inside iCal, you can make iCal colors match your choices for Entourage 2008 colors.
Unlike Entourage 2008 itself and other sync products, which only sync all Entourage calendar data to one iCal Calendar, PocketMac syncs ALL the calendars to iCal into their own calendars. And that data makes it to the iPhone.
AnneMac said 3:34PM on 9-26-2008
PocketMac for iPhone specifically supports the multiple calendars in Entourage 2008. It syncs them with iCal, and then iTunes controls the sync to your iPhone. So, while PocketMac can't control exactly what color is syncing inside iCal, you can make iCal colors match your choices for Entourage 2008 colors.
Unlike Entourage 2008 itself and other sync products, which only sync all Entourage calendar data to one iCal Calendar, PocketMac syncs ALL the calendars to iCal into their own calendars. And that data makes it to the iPhone.
Jake said 5:19PM on 9-24-2008
Avoid for now. I just spent $29 on it. Started up but did not look right. Now it quits unexpectedly every time I launch even after and install.
iMac 10.5.5
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Jake said 5:31PM on 9-24-2008
Should have said re-install instead of install. Emailed support. Don't have a good feeling about this.
Tony said 6:27PM on 9-24-2008
I should have learned from early PocketMac products - I also installed it and had several issues - crashes on startup (fixed by clean re-install with all references to Mark Space Products removed, Mark Space product works out of the box), then it appears to accept activation (keyed in as system has not Internet access at work) but re-ask for it every time it starts or I tried to add iPhone connection and, worse, it breaks iTunes sync giving a backup error.....Had similar issue with PocketMac for Windows Mobile and Blackberry when they first appeared.
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Jake said 6:34PM on 9-24-2008
What all did you delete to consider it a clean install?
I've never had Mark Space software.
Was really excited about this. Now am fuming.
Tony said 7:05PM on 9-24-2008
all reference to pocketmac followed by reboot
Jake said 7:45PM on 9-24-2008
Tried that, same condition.
It installs, I register, iPhone icon never shows up and CallHistory...Backup fails.
This application is a complete and total pile of flaming dog poo. DO NOT BUY IT until/if they ever get it working.
I will be requesting a refund and will dispute the charge for "Failure to deliver goods or services" with my credit card.
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AnneMac said 2:18PM on 9-26-2008
Was the PocketMac Support team unable to help you? If you haven't tried support, I really encourage you to do so. It's free, and the guys are all really nice. It's at http://www.pocketmacsupport.net
justflybob said 11:36PM on 9-24-2008
Do not buy this if you are just looking to sync your Entourage contact/phone list info to your iPhone. You can already do that by setting your preferences in both Entourage and MobileMe. The only issue is if you change something on the iPhone, as I have my default as Entourage overwriting the iPhone, iCal and Address Book from Entourage. The method I am describing here already works like a champ. Sorry MarkSpace, but until you fix the bugs and offer multi calendar and multi-color entries, I just don't see any added value.
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frank jennings said 9:58AM on 9-25-2008
I had tries the gobetween product for notes when that came out. It never worked. There was talk of an update due in Sept. But that hasn't materialized. I thought this may have been it. But sounds like more of the same. I'll stick with my bailing wire and duct tape approach for now.
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John Cleary said 9:48AM on 9-25-2008
If you want my 2 cents, anything made by either PocketMac or MarkSpace (of missing sync infamy) has far more chance of being RUBBISH and MUNGING data than it does of being any use. A sync product is useless unless it is 100% accurate and ROCK SOLID. My experience of both these products over years as a mac consultant is that they are half baked solutions that never actually work. Blackberry, WinMo, Palm. You name it, I've tried it. I have never had one of these companies' solutions work even close to reliably for me.
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Curtis said 10:34AM on 9-25-2008
For my Lotus Notes needs, I'm using CompanionLink for Google. I sync my Notes calendar with my Google Calendar. That might be good enough for some, but I like the iPhone's calendar app. I jailbroke my phone and run NemusSync which does over the air syncing between Google Calendar and my iPhone to get everything over to the phone. You could also pay for something like Intellisync on the Mac and sync it down to iCal. When you sync your Touch or iPhone it would pick up the new calendar entries.
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Han said 2:45PM on 9-25-2008
If your using MeetingMaker, and have 8.6 or above, this product will not work. It'll sync with MM 8.5.3 and below but above that your out of luck and need to use the MM supported NotifyLink option
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Jake said 2:51PM on 9-26-2008
RE: AnneMac said...
Was the PocketMac Support team unable to help you? If you haven't tried support, I really encourage you to do so. It's free, and the guys are all really nice. It's at http://www.pocketmacsupport.net
They do not respond to the support request I opened two days ago.
They do not let you talk to a person on their 800 #.
They are completely unavailable to help.
I have followed up on the support request 6 times and received no response.
If no resolution is available by Monday 26 September 2008 at 5PM Eastern the charge will be placed in dispute for FAILURE TO PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES PAID FOR.
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Jake said 4:27PM on 9-30-2008
Six days later, PocketMac has been able to get the application running on my Mac after several long delays in response from tech support.
The preferences don't work still, and I'm not about to blindly sync my iPhone to my Lotus Notes. "We've never seen that. We'll get back to you"
They refunded my money and offered to give me a second serial number for free. Since the first copy doesn't work I told them not to bother.
It's a real shame this application is so poorly written, tested, and supported. If it worked there would have been many copies purchased at my company.
Let me be clear in that I do not in any way hold TUAW or it's staff responsible for these problems. I am a long time reader and am grateful that they bring us the latest news and info for the Mac platforms.
The blame lies squarely with PocketMac.
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will said 8:34AM on 12-03-2008
Well it has been 2 weeks now and I sill cannot get Pocketmac for iPhone to work even with the help of the support people. They keep sending me fixes and I keep sending them sync manager reports. IT always appears to start working then hangs. First it was not accepting the serial number, then I had to eliminate a variety of items from my library and presferences and application support folders and do another clean install. Still.......not working. I have one more request in for a final fix Not worth my valuable time at this point and I am ready to throw i the towel.
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