iSync
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Final release
3.1.2 (586.1) / November 10, 2010; 13 years ago (2010-11-10)
Operating systemMac OS X
TypePersonal information manager
WebsiteProduct page at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-04-21)

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.[13]

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 version Operating system version Release date Features
10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6
3.1.2 Yes November 10, 2010 Final version of iSync.
3.1.1 Yes
3.1 Yes August 28, 2009 Released as part of Mac OS X v10.6
3.0.2 Yes May 28, 2008 Released as part of Mac OS X v10.5.3
3.0 Yes October 26, 2007 Released as part of Mac OS X v10.5.
2.4 Yes March 13, 2007 Released 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.
2.3 Yes June 27, 2006 Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.7 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets.
2.2 Yes April 3, 2006 Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.6 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets, including many Nokia Series 40 devices.[18]
2.1.1 Yes January 10, 2006 Released as a part of Mac OS X v10.4.4 update. Added support for additional mobile handsets.
2.1 Yes July 11, 2005 Added support for more devices.[19]
2.0 Yes April 29, 2005 Released 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.[8]
1.5 Yes Yes August 10, 2004 Added support for more devices.[20]
1.4 Yes Yes February 17, 2004 Added support for more devices including Symbian phones and the iPod mini.[21]
1.3 Yes Yes October 24, 2003 Released to coincide with Mac OS X v10.3 release. Adding support for more devices.[22]
1.2.1 Yes October 8, 2003 Added support for more devices and calendar support for Symbian phones.[23]
1.1 Yes June 3, 2003 Added support for more devices. Added bookmark synching between Macs.[6]
1.0 Yes January 2, 2003 First non-beta release.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "iSync: Supported mobile phones in Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, and 10.6". Apple Support. Archived from the original on November 8, 2008.
  2. ^ "iSync update adds more cell phone support". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Apple releases iSync beta". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Orlowski, Andrew (June 5, 2003). "iSync update: beware". The Register. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Orlowski, Andrew (June 5, 2003). "On the iSync fiasco that didn't have to happen". The Register. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "iSync 1.1 adds broader phone support, Safari bookmarks". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Ness, Robyn; Ray, John (2005). Mac OS X Tiger. Sams Publishing. ISBN 978-0-672-32705-6.
  8. ^ a b Siracusa, John (April 28, 2005). "Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "New in iTunes 4.8 [updated]". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Review: MobileMe 1.0". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Agreda, Victor Jr. (May 27, 2011). "No more iSync in Lion". TUAW. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "The Missing iSync in OS X Lion (And what to do about it)". July 22, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "iSync Compatible Devices". April 12, 2005. Archived from the original on April 12, 2005.
  14. ^ "Apple drops Palm OS HotSync conduit from Snow Leopard". AppleInsider. August 24, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Missing Sync for BlackBerry adds Bluetooth sync". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "That syncing feeling". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Missing Sync for Pocket PC 1.0 available". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "iSync 2.2". Engadget. April 6, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  19. ^ "iSync 2.1 released for Tiger". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "iSync 1.5 adds support for new phones". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "iSync 1.4 adds iPod mini support, more". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Apple offers iSync 1.3 update". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "iCal, iSync updated, new features added". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "Apple releases iCal update, iSync 1.0". Macworld. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

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