ISync explained

iSync
Developer:Apple Inc.
Latest Release Version:3.1.2 (586.1)
Operating System:Mac OS X
Discontinued:yes
Genre:Personal information manager

iSync is a defunct application developed by Apple Inc., which syncs iCal and Address Book data to SyncML-enabled mobile phones, via Bluetooth or by using a USB connection. It was first released on Jan 2, 2003, with technology licensed from fusionOne. Support for many (pre-October 2007) devices was built-in,[1] with newer devices being supported via manufacturer and third-party iSync Plugins.[2]

History

iSync's first beta was released on September 28, 2002.[3]

In June 2003, The Register reported that an iSync 1.1 bug could lead to contacts without phone numbers being deleted from synced phones. iSync uses port 3004, which could also be blocked if the Mac OS X firewall was enabled.[4] [5]

Before the release of Mac OS X 10.4, iSync also synchronized a user's Safari bookmarks with the now-defunct .Mac subscription service provided by Apple.[6] [7]

Starting with Mac OS X 10.4, much of iSync's original syncing functionality was moved into the Sync Services framework, which developers can use to incorporate synchronization into their own applications. iSync, however, retained responsibility for the setup, configuration and synchronising of supported mobile handsets.[8] Since the release of iTunes 4.8, the user interface for synchronizing iPods had been delegated to iTunes, although conflict-resolution and substantial changes to contact information (>5%) show an iSync panel.[9] Synchronization with MobileMe (previously .Mac) was then the domain of MobileMe Sync, accessible through a System Preferences pane.[10]

iSync was removed from Mac OS X in version 10.7 (Lion).[11] However, since the underlying framework still existed in Lion and 10.8 (Mountain Lion), it was possible to restore the functionality of iSync using a 10.6 (Snow Leopard) installation or backup.[12]

Device compatibility

In 2005, iSync supported iPods, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and other devices;[13] iSync supported phones from Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, and Sendo.

Before the release of iSync, Palm had released its own sync software, Palm Desktop for Mac, which it soon abandoned. Apple created its own software tool, called Palm Conduit, to make iSync compatible with Palm's HotSync protocol. iSync 2.0 directly integrated Palm Conduit. After the 2009 Palm Pre abandoned HotSync, Apple dropped Palm support from iSync 3.1 in Mac OS X Snow Leopard.[14]

BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, and Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) devices were not officially supported by iSync, but could still be synchronized through the use of third-party iSync plug-ins.[15] [16] [17]

Version history

iSync versionOperating system versionRelease dateFeatures
10.210.310.410.510.6
3.1.2November 10, 2010Final version of iSync.
3.1.1
3.1August 28, 2009Released as part of Mac OS X v10.6
3.0.2May 28, 2008Released as part of Mac OS X v10.5.3
3.0October 26, 2007Released as part of Mac OS X v10.5.
2.4March 13, 2007Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.9 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets from Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson and offered initial support for two mobile handsets from Samsung.
2.3June 27, 2006Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.7 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets.
2.2April 3, 2006Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.6 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets, including many Nokia Series 40 devices.[18]
2.1.1January 10, 2006Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.4 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets.
2.1July 11, 2005Added support for more devices.[19]
2.0April 29, 2005Released as part of Mac OS X v10.4. iSync now only syncs data between portable devices. Data synching between computers is handled by the operating system.
1.5August 10, 2004Added support for more devices.[20]
1.4February 17, 2004Added support for more devices including Symbian phones and the iPod mini.[21]
1.3October 24, 2003Released to coincide with Mac OS X v10.3 release. Adding support for more devices.[22]
1.2.1October 8, 2003Added support for more devices and calendar support for Symbian phones.[23]
1.1June 3, 2003Added support for more devices. Added bookmark synching between Macs.
1.0January 2, 2003First non-beta release.[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: iSync: Supported mobile phones in Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, and 10.6 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081108063357/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2824 . November 8, 2008 . dead . Apple Support.
  2. Web site: iSync update adds more cell phone support . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  3. Web site: Apple releases iSync beta . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  4. Web site: Orlowski . Andrew . June 5, 2003 . iSync update: beware . 2023-01-23 . . en.
  5. Web site: Orlowski . Andrew . June 5, 2003 . On the iSync fiasco that didn't have to happen . 2023-01-23 . . en.
  6. Web site: iSync 1.1 adds broader phone support, Safari bookmarks . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  7. Book: Ness . Robyn . Mac OS X Tiger . Ray . John . 2005 . Sams Publishing . 978-0-672-32705-6 . en.
  8. Web site: Siracusa . John . 2005-04-28 . Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger . 2023-01-23 . Ars Technica . en-us.
  9. Web site: New in iTunes 4.8 [updated] ]. 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  10. Web site: Review: MobileMe 1.0 . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  11. Web site: Agreda . Victor Jr. . 2011-05-27 . No more iSync in Lion . https://web.archive.org/web/20110527155151/http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/26/no-more-isync-in-lion/ . May 27, 2011 . dead . 2023-01-23 . TUAW.
  12. Web site: July 22, 2011 . The Missing iSync in OS X Lion (And what to do about it) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006014015/https://blog.anupamsg.me/2011/07/22/the-missing-isync-in-os-x-lion-and-what-to-do-about-it/ . October 6, 2022.
  13. Web site: iSync Compatible Devices. April 12, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050412145152/http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/isync/devices.html. April 12, 2005. dead.
  14. Web site: Apple drops Palm OS HotSync conduit from Snow Leopard . 2023-01-23 . AppleInsider . August 24, 2009 . en.
  15. Web site: Missing Sync for BlackBerry adds Bluetooth sync . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  16. Web site: That syncing feeling . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  17. Web site: Missing Sync for Pocket PC 1.0 available . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  18. Web site: iSync 2.2 . 2023-01-23 . Engadget . April 6, 2006 . en-US.
  19. Web site: iSync 2.1 released for Tiger . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  20. Web site: iSync 1.5 adds support for new phones . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  21. Web site: iSync 1.4 adds iPod mini support, more . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  22. Web site: Apple offers iSync 1.3 update . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  23. Web site: iCal, iSync updated, new features added . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.
  24. Web site: Apple releases iCal update, iSync 1.0 . 2023-01-23 . Macworld . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "ISync".

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