Sync for Blackberry, Macs

Mark/Space (booth no. 1844) today announced two new synchronization products for Mac OS X, including The Missing Sync for BlackBerry and SyncTogether for for synchronizing contacts, calendar events and tasks, notes, web browser bookmarks and more between multiple computers running Mac OS X. The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will provide a reliable synchronization environment for owners of BlackBerry devices from Research In Motion (RIM), including the popular BlackBerry Pearl smartphone. The software will synchronize information between Mac OS X's Address Book and iCal applications and the corresponding applications on BlackBerry handsets. It will also offer built-in support for Apple's Sync Services technology, allowing information also to be synchronized with other Sync Services-savvy applications, including Microsoft Entourage 2004 and Chronos' SOHO Organizer.

In addition, memos will sync with the included Mark/Space Notebook application, or alternatively with Microsoft Entourage or Bare Bones Software's Yojimbo, while the software will also provide direct integration with Apple's iPhoto and iTunes application: users will be able to choose iPhoto albums to be resized and downloaded to the BlackBerry Pearl for mobile viewing and photos taken with the BlackBerry Pearl's camera will be automatically imported into iPhoto or a folder on the Mac.

The company also said it would provide an iTunes plugin that will allow users to select playlists of unprotected music and podcasts to be downloaded to the BlackBerry Pearl's memory card. It will also automatically sync any changes to the playlist on the next software sync with the handheld, according to the company.

The software will be available in English, French, and German for $40; it will require Mac OS X 10.4 and is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2007. CD versions will be available "several weeks" later, according to the company, for $50. A BlackBerry Pearl with a microSD memory expansion card will be required for iPhoto and iTunes functionality.

SyncTogether offers selective Mac-to-Mac sync

Mark/Space also announced SyncTogether, the company's first software product for synchronizing contacts, calendar events and tasks, notes, web browser bookmarks and more between multiple computers running Mac OS X. SyncTogether offers multi-user capabilities designed for workgroups, families or anyone who functions as part of a team.

Based in part on MildMannered Industries' MySync, which Mark/Space acquired last year, SyncTogether supports syncing between one or more Macs. A single license supports up to three Macs, and additional licenses each add three more Macs. SyncTogether can synchronize information from virtually any application that uses Apple's Sync Services technology, including Address Book, iCal, Mail and Safari; Microsoft Entourage 2004 and Yojimbo from Bare Bones Software.

SyncTogether offers a unique selective syncing feature that allows users to select individual Address Book groups and iCal calendars for syncing: users can choose to share and synchronize specific iCal calendars with others, while keeping personal contacts and calendars private. Shared calendar and contact lists would dynamically sync with each other when either party updates information on their Mac.

SyncTogether is also expected to ship in the first quarter of 2007. A single installer will include English, French and German language versions. Electronic downloads will be priced at $50 and the company said that CD versions will be available several weeks later for $60. A single license will support up to three Macs; each additional license adds support for three more Macs. SyncTogether will require Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later.

by MacNN Staff