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One of the greatest things about the BlackBerry is how easy it is to sync your information between your handheld and your PC. The average BlackBerry user will most likely be operating a PC at home or work and sync using the BlackBerry Desktop manager or a BES account. This is how RIM originally intended the BlackBerry to be used, and the process works flawlessly.
But what about BlackBerry owners who are part of the “other camp?” You know, the ones who forgo the popular option and choose to use the Mac as their primary computer?
It wasn’t always easy or even possible. In fact, many Mac users spurned the BlackBerry because of this. Thankfully, this issue has been resolved. Mac users, rejoice! You can have your Mac and your BlackBerry, too.
Syncing your BlackBerry to a Mac
When syncing your BlackBerry to your Mac, you have two distinct options. The first is an application named PocketMac and the second is offered by Mark/Space, named Missing Sync. The PocketMac software can be downloaded for free, while Missing Sync costs $39.95.
Each of these programs makes it incredibly easy to sync all of your vital information between your BlackBerry and your Mac. However, it should be noted that Mac users running any version of Leopard prior to 10.5 should hold off on using the Missing Sync application until they have upgraded their OS.
For detailed information about how PocketMac handles your sync requests, check out the Pocketmac website and knowledge base.
So we have covered both traditional BlackBerry syncing and options for fancy Mac syncing. Great, but what about the “super users” who have both a PC and a Mac (perhaps one at home and one at the office), and wish to sync their data across both machines and their BlackBerry all at once?
Is this even possible? Well, good news and bad news. Good news: It is. Bad news: It isn’t easy.
Syncing your BlackBerry with both a PC and a Mac
The trouble here is that data is handled differently on the three platforms. Additionally, entering data on either the Mac, PC or the BlackBerry on seperate occasions (between sync) will create a problematic syncing schedule. In order to keep all three machines up to date and displaying the correct data, you will need to be smart and organized. You will aslo have to put in a little work during the initial setup.
The following issues seem to be the most common when attempting to sync between multiple platforms.
Managing your Calendar items
In many office-related software packages on both the Mac and PC, you are given the option of separating your scheduled appointments into various descriptive categories. It is important to know that the BlackBerry does not support this type of designation, and will therefore not be able to sync these specific details. Nor will it be able to pass this information on to other computers in your sync chain.
This problem is addressed by the PocketMac software, which creates a unique calendar named “Pocketmac”. Your appointments will be placed in this calendar during the syncing process. In the PocketMac advanced preferences you can dictate a unique calendar name and identify specific calendar events which shuld be associated with it. An example might be storing all of your work appointments in a calendar named after your company, or simply “work”.
Additionally, the PocketMac software will be able to track and synchronize calendar events which were stored in the standard “PocketMac” calendar and subsequently moved to another calendar on your Mac. So even if you muff up the process a bit at first, you can still salvage your calendar.
Remember to limit your wireless syncing
Most BlackBerry owners are aware that they can sync their data between their handheld and their PC wirelessly. If you have enabled this functionality, you will have to be sure to disable it whenever syncing those databases to your Mac. Once you have completed the sync with you Mac, you can simply initiate the wireless syncing again.
In order to turn the BlackBerry wireless synching on and off, you need to do the following. First, navigate to your contacts section and click the menu button or thumbwheel. From the menu that is displayed, select Wireless Synchronization and then select “change option”. Yes will leave wireless sync active, while No will disable it.
Before you activate your wireless synchronization again after a Mac sync, always double check to ensure all desired data was transfered according to your preferences. If it is not correct, re-sync with the Mac until everything is completed correctly. Once you are confident that all data has been transfered, go ahead and re-activate the wireless sync.
Avoid Duplicate Data Sets
Duplicate data is the most important problem you will face when attempting to sync your BlackBerry with more than one computer, let alone a Mac and PC. The problem occurs when you have manually made entries in more than one device between sync sessions. Another problem is the negative consequence of having information entered on more than one device which is formatted in a slightly differnet manner.
An example would be an instance where you entered John Doe — 555.555.5555 into your BlackBerry and John Doe (555) 555-5555 into your Mac contact list. Upon sync, these would be treated as two unique data sets and result in a duplicate entry.
This is where the prep work and carefull planning comes into play. Before you begin the syncing process, think about which device you use the most. Think of this device as your master device. Now, follow these steps exactly to get a nice clean synchronization between all three devices.
Step 1
Sync your BlackBerry with your master device.
Step 2
Sync your BlackBerry with your secondary device.
Step 3
Sync once again with your master device (now all the data from all three devices is housed in the BlackBerry.)
Step 4
Clean up any duplicate or incomplete records on your master device.
Step 5
Sync your BlackBerry with the master device once again. (You will now have a clean data set on both your BlackBerry and master device.)
Step 6
Sync your BlackBerry with your secondary device. (All three devices should now contain a clean and complete data set.)
Step 7
Sync your BlackBerry one last time with both your Mac and PC to ensure that all three devices have the same data set with no variances.
Whew! That was a lot of work, but well worth it. To avoid having to complete this process again in the future, attempt to restrict yourself when entering new data sets. Attempt to enter new data sets only into your master device or your BlackBerry. This ensures that you won’t have duplicate data sets, and will allow you to cut out most of the seven steps above.
Now you are up to speed with some of the more important issues you will face when attempting to sync your BlackBerry with multiple computers and multiple operating systems. I hope this article helps you become more productive and less frustrated throughout your daily grind.
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Filed under : Mac and BlackBerry 23 Comments
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23 Comments ↓
It says “Mac users running any version of Leopard prior to 10.5 should hold off on using the Missing Sync application until they have upgraded their OS.”
You mean those who use Leopard should not use Missing Sync? Or do you mean that those still one Leopard developer versions should not use Missing Sync?
Forgot to add, I run Missing Sync on 10.5.1 and it works fine.
Hello Magnus, thanks for stopping by.
To clarify, I meant that anyone who is running any version of Leopard prior to the release of 10.5 will have problems with Missing Sync. These users will have to upgrade their version of Leopard.
Anyone who is running Leopard 10.5 or later will be able to use Missing Sync with no problems.
I think you mean to say that “The current version of The Missing Sync requires 10.5/Leopard” but that’s also incorrect.
From markspace.com:
PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, or Intel processor
Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.8 or later
Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 or later
Internet connection for product registration
There isn’t a way to “upgrade their version of Leopard” – Leopard = 10.5.x
There is no “version of Leopard prior to the release of 10.5″
Hi
Now that we can link the blackberry to mac
is there a database like smartlisttogo that can be used on a blackberry.
A coworker is having trouble using PocketMac with his Blackberry Curve. Sometimes it works but often doesn’t. Device communication with the device is very flakey. Anyone else notice this? Is Missing Sync more reliable? There must be some advantage for people to pay for it with PocketMac available free.
I’m currently having problems syncing my Curve with PocketMac and am currently trying to find out if Missing Sync is better. I keep getting an error stating that my curve is skipping?
well i’ve been trying with no luck, using the pocketmac app., to even get my mac to recognize my BB curve 8330. the download gives me a list of things and one of them was supposed to be a fix for the (error); skipping. i’ve uninstalled and am about to try it again. i’ll keep you posted.
I can’t get my Mac working w/ the Curve either…I’m so annoyed.
Looking for any help.
I am having the same issue. I am also wondering if Missing Sync is worth the money because I am already getting a headache from troubleshooting. I just got my BB yesterday and I have devoted a lot of time to this. Help!
I am having the same issue with syncing my mac to my bb any results and directions on what to do. I even bought a new data cable thinking that would help and same message keeps popping up.
Ok guys and girls I hope this will solve all of your Mac /BlackBerry sync issues.
It was written by Pocket Mac representative and found on the BlackBerry forums:
http://tinyurl.com/54e8zw
Please leave a comment back here if you have found this solution to be successful. If not I will see if I can source out some more details.
I found that the latest release of The Missing Sync for BlackBerry resolves all the issues I was having with the problems others have been havng with BB and Mac syncing
there’s a reason they were named best synchronization software
http://www.markspace.com/products/blackberry/blackberry-sync-mac-software.html
i want to sync my blackberry to 2 different computers- home and work. i don’t want my calendars to intertwine. i want to keep the work calendar seperate from the home calendar. both computers are pcs. any way to do this?
[...] you have Media Sync installed on your Mac, you cannot use any other syncing program, including PocketMac and Missing Sync. Once you uninstall Media Sync, you can resume using other software. [...]
Whay not use shareware?
use “Bluetooth “. free
http://www.moviesmac.com/tutorial/transfer-video-blackberry.html
I downloaded media sync just fine but when I try to open it on my pc it says “setup was unable to dowload the license agreement from the server” and then it shuts down. Also I do not understand why I have to enter my company name and job title when I am a student. Is there anything I can do to get this fixed because I would really like to have my itunes on my blackberry for travel.
PocketMac doesn’t work. It worked for me once.. and hasn’t worked since. It’s pretty stupid that blackberrys aren’t compatible with macs. I want to throw mine out the window, I am so frustrated.
Is Missing Sync better? I am scared to keep trying other syncing programs, because I have emailed myself all my contacts, ical appointments, etc.
It’s a bigger pain in the ass. Because I have to export from my computer, then email things to myself, then import them to my blackberry.
So, I am really scared of trying another program and losing everything I have sent to myself. It was a lot of work and time.
MissingSync may work better for you – most people have reported a greater level of success after failing hard with Pocket Mac.
Unfortunately Mac support is far from a priority with RIM and it is left to developers to hack together solutions.
One suggestion would be to find an old laptop of pc that you could buy for dirt cheap (does not need to be powerful at all to run desktop manager) and just store it until you need to do upgrades/backups etc.
Or alternately you could ask nicely to borrow a friends laptop for a few minutes – most backups etc only take a few minutes.
@ Cooper.
I’ll try Missing Sync. Thanks for your suggestions.
I was stupid and bought the missing sync….have been trying to sync with my BlackBerry for days without luck…
-what a waste of 40 bucks …
Yeah syncing with the macs is hit and miss. Hopefully RIM actually releases the Mac version of Desktop Manager in September as planned.
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