Filed under: Software, Wireless, Odds and ends, Freeware, iTunes, Developer
BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives
A TUAW reader zapped us a note with his BlackBerry device to tell us that as of today, BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac is available (we first noted it as "coming in September" back in July). It's a free download [link], and requires Mac OS X 10.5.5 or better, BlackBerry device software version 4.2 or higher, and iTunes 7.2 or newer. Key features of the software include the ability to synchronize your iTunes library with your CrackBerry, sync calendars, contacts, and appointments, & add or delete apps and files.
This is the first time that Research In Motion (RIM) has developed their own solution for syncing Macs and BlackBerry handhelds. In the past, the company made a version of PocketMac for BlackBerry available at no cost to Mac-owning customers, and other third-party developers such as Mark/Space have had BlackBerry solutions available for many years.
Thanks to Storry for the tip!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan Mosqueda said 2:12PM on 10-02-2009
"Key features of the software include the ability to synchronize your iTunes library with your CrackBerry..." Will this be killed off like it has been for Palm's Pre on the next iTunes update?
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Jim Link said 2:15PM on 10-02-2009
Palm tried to use iTunes to sync the Pre. RIM has its own application to sync a BB to an iTunes library. This is the approach many people have suggested Palm should take rather than try to ride on Apple's coattails.
bood said 2:15PM on 10-02-2009
A shame it doesn't work, though.
http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim/board?board.id=blackberryformac
Oh dear. The complaints are piling in.
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brian said 5:51PM on 10-02-2009
They should have copied Apple's USB vendor ID. Then it would have Just Worked. ;-)
Dan said 2:18PM on 10-02-2009
I am a huge BlackBerry fan and long term user. The "new" desktop software is poorly-tested garbage like the Tour, the Storm, many OS updates, etc that RIM has released in the recent past. Pretty much every forum and comment thread will give you a run-down of the most common issues.
Considering RIM's effort to grab a chunk of the consumer market (Desktop Manager for Mac is barely a blip in the enterprise and is likely primarily for consumer use), these continued frustrations are only going to push consumers toward the constantly-improving iPhone and Android platform.
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jamesnasser said 2:30PM on 10-02-2009
Just tried it, won't sync my contacts very well. I could get it to sync a subset of them, but not the whole enchilada.
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zadig said 2:43PM on 10-02-2009
On a related note, it has always amazed me how hard it seems to be to write decent syncing software. Going way, way back to Newtons and Magic Links, and even up to today's Palm syncing software, it has all just always sucked. Apple's iSync is better than some, but provides so little information or feedback that it's only useful when it's working 100%, otherwise, it's just another failed sync app.
I hope the Blackberry sync is better, but the comments already say otherwise. Someday syncing will enter the 21st century along with other software.
(Exception: iTunes-based syncing is really good, in my experience. Go figure.)
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Jedd said 2:51PM on 10-02-2009
gotta say google's sync app for BB works great, better than anything else...i have never plugged by blackberry into a computer and it seems very happy about that....
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Ramesh said 2:56PM on 10-02-2009
Installer requires you to restart your Mac. #fail!
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wase4711 said 3:29PM on 10-02-2009
After reading about all the problems this software is causing people, I am glad I dumped my storm and went back to an Iphone 3gs..
Hard to believe RIM can't get a decent Mac sync app written..
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Andrew T. said 4:25PM on 10-02-2009
With just about anything computer related, it's going to have problems. I for one have not encountered any problems and I'm happy that there finally is a Mac solution for BlackBerry users. I was skeptical when using the beta/pre releases but the final release has been working so much better. DM actually recognizes my BlackBerry and it actually quits where as before it wouldn't even force quit.
DM for Mac will only get better.
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Tyr said 10:55PM on 10-02-2009
That's an odd looking iMac in that picture.
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Arif said 3:53AM on 10-03-2009
A die-hard bberry and Mac user myself, just popping in a comment so
that I get email updates on the comments thread :-P. Apologies.
As a value added note, I've been experimenting with RememberTheMilk
and my bberry curve to sync over the last two days. So that I can
access my tasks from my desktop via Safari without launching
Parallels. Must say, I've been getting exceptionally good results.
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Just_a_guy said 6:07PM on 10-03-2009
hmmm... I have to say that this is an okay application, but shouldn't the software not put music on your phone that doesn't work with the phone? I hate the waisted space used....
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digitalsedition said 11:51AM on 10-13-2009
Wow, first application that I've used that has actually bricked my Blackberry. Oh well, guess I'll just have to use my iPhone exclusively until corporate IT fixes it :D
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