[Pre] Syncing Solutions

[NM08SRT8]

Thought I would throw this out there for all of you concerned about the phone Syncing since Palm didn't really mention anything about it (i don't think).

CompanionLink To Sync Lotus, Palm Desktop, ACT, and others with webOS, Pre!

http://www.precentral.net/sites/precentral.net/files/articleimages/Dieter%20Bohn/2009/01/companionlinkpre.png

Jay just sent in a tip to this Press Release from CompanionLink and it's great news! They say that they're going to be offering their software for the webOS / Palm Pre and it will offer a bevvy of syncing options. Their software will run natively on the Palm Pre and will let you sync "contacts, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, calendar events, tasks, notes, and alarms and reminders" either via USB or Over-the-Air.

What's more, they say they'll offer compatiblity with:

* ACT!
* Google (though this is native on the webOS)
* Palm Desktop (Huzzah!)
* Lotus Notes
* Goldmine
* Microsoft Outlook

Pricing looks to be around $49.95 for their current offerings for other platforms. This will go a long way towards answering two questions we've received about the Pre -- How will Palm Desktop users get their contacts synced and will there be USB syncing. It looks like the answer to both is CompanionLink -- just a bummer that it's probably going to be fairly pricey.

There may be another 3rd party syncing solution on the way -- Chapura also makes some pretty good sync software and were highlighted as a partner during the Pre Launch keynote.

One last note -- the webOS development framework must be more robust that some of the naysayers out there have claimed if CompanionLink is able to do USB sync, a feature not built into the Pre, which by default just does USB mass storage mode.

Thanks, Jay!

Update: A user writes in:

You just reported that Companion Link will sync Palm Desktop with Pre BUT this is ONLY on a PC. I - and millions of Palm users - have Mac computers. What do you know about syncing Palm Desktop, contacts, memos, etc between Pre and Mac? Is Pre going to be a PC only device?

Excellent point. We wouldn't call the Pre a "PC-Only" device, but it is true that we don't know of any Mac-based direct sync solutions -- though it should be noted that the Mac's Address book and iCal are able to sync with Google (in 10.5 at least), which will then sync back to the Pre.

Source: http://www.precentral.net/companionlink-sync-lotus-palm-desktop-act-and-others-webos-pre

[ScrapMaker]

I seriously doubt that if you made a comparison of people that use mac as their main OS and people that use Palm as their main mobile OS, that there would be 'millions.' Thousands, maybe. Mac commands roughly 5% of the market, but their users think the world must revolve around them. Hopefully the phone works for them, but I can't stand that pushy attitide.

I'm pretty sure that the pre does exchange OTA as well, but this software can help people who are too paranoid to use it.

[ame]

I would fall into that thousands/millions. I don't touch PC products, never have and have no plans to do so. So other than this halfassed workaround, Mac users are getting shut out.

you also have to consider that many people don't have a cloud-based PIM.

[NM08SRT8]

lol, No need to get upset. It's still unsaid about what the final version of this phone will have..

[ScrapMaker]

I'd like to revise my original estimate.

I'd say it's more of tens of dozens of people who use Mac + Palm.

I do hope that they offer something, as I'm all for compatibility... but sometimes I love to hear when stuff doesn't work on a Mac... but... "It just works!" -- right? ;)

My roommate's girl was over yesterday, and she was trying to install a PC application on her Mac, and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work.

I'm surprised that Apple even lets their users install software--sheesh

[NM08SRT8]

I'd like to revise my original estimate.

I'd say it's more of tens of dozens of people who use Mac + Palm.

I do hope that they offer something, as I'm all for compatibility... but sometimes I love to hear when stuff doesn't work on a Mac... but... "It just works!" -- right? ;)

My roommate's girl was over yesterday, and she was trying to install a PC application on her Mac, and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work.

I'm surprised that Apple even lets their users install software--sheesh
lol, I know right? If Mac's are so "superior", they would have a lot more support then they do. They DO have more then they used to.. but, you know

[PalmPre]

You will be able to us Bluetooth to sync like I do today with my 755p.

[laursifer]

Let's not turn this into a debate on PC vs. Macs... I just wanna mention that before it gets to that point since, in the history of SU, it always gets to that point. It has no relevance whatsoever. There are Mac users and there are Windows users who will be purchasing the Pre for sure, and both of their needs are important. More applications/programs are supported for Windows for the obvious reason that the majority of people out there use Windows computers... Just like more applications/programs are supported for Windows Mobile than Palm OS.

Now, moving on... they call this software a bevy of syncing solutions? Are they insane? (They can't even spell the word correctly.) If you're going to describe something that way, I would expect it to go above-and-beyond the norm of syncing solutions, and it sounds just like every other standard syncing product out there, as far as what it syncs and with what it syncs. And at the price of $49.95 they've certainly lost their minds, in my opinion.

[petehead]

Did anyone happen to see if the Pre will sync with Outlook on the desktop as opposed to requiring an Exchange server?