MediaSync
Latest
Mark/Space introduces GoGadget media synching software
Accurately syncing content and data between portable devices and computers has long been a hassle for users, especially those who tried to venture out of closed ecosystems. Mark/Space and its Missing Sync product came to the rescue of countless users, especially those with Macs who want to sync Palm and Windows Mobile devices. Mark/Space has just introduced a product called GoGadget designed to sync media content such as photos, videos and music to a variety of phones, digital photo frames and media players. So far Mark/Space has released only a Mac version with a Windows variant promised soon. On the Mac, GoGadget promises to sync iTunes playlists and iPhoto albums directly to the likes of the Palm WebOs phones, Nokia N900 and Sandisk Sansa clip. GoGadget promises a simple user interface and offers a seven-day free trial. For now version 1.0 is priced at US$19.95 but that will be going to $29.95 eventually. We'll be trying it out shortly and providing a review with some of our non-Apple devices. [via MacMegasite]
ABC app eavesdrops on your TV to synchronize interactive content using Nielsen tech (video)
Fine purveyor of TV ratings Nielsen has just found another way to monitor your home -- an official ABC app that uses the iPad's microphone to figure out exactly what you're watching (whether live or recorded) and offer interactive content on the fly. Pop-Up Video, anyone? Nielsen says the app uses the same audio watermarks embedded in most every US television show to do its thing (and thus doesn't, say, record your household conversations) so there's some serious potential for the concept to spread beyond My Generation, the single show it's been announced for so far. We'll just kick back and wait for the responsible parties to figure out we'd rather play interactive Jeopardy than figure out the size of that salacious margarita. Because, like, OMG, right? Video and press release after the break, app available free at our source link.
HTC Sync 3.0 for Wildfire hands-on: iTunes sync tested (video)
Good news for Wildfire owners: fresh from HTC's oven is its 3.0 desktop sync suite that -- like the one baked for the Desire over the weekend -- enables iTunes sync for the company's latest budget device. Since we had a Wildfire on hand, we decided to go through the trouble to check out this new feature. And boy, it sure was a bumpy start. We had no problems with obtaining the software, but in order to get the "HTC Sync" option to appear in the USB connection menu, we had to switch on USB debugging mode (Settings -> Applications -> Development) before establishing our first link. As fiddly as it sounds, this was actually the only tricky part of the preparation, and you can leave debugging mode switched off afterwards. So, how does the iTunes sync work? Well, it's certainly nowhere as thrilling as Palm's cheeky hack -- it appears to simply access iTunes' database and playlists for the file locations, rather than fooling iTunes into thinking your Wildfire's an iDevice. You'll also be limited to syncing either everything or just selected playlists (smart playlists supported), so in other words, you can't sync by artists or genres, and you'll have to set up a dedicated playlist for syncing podcasts. Apart from this minor flaw, we'd say this is still a pretty neat solution for an age-old problem, and hopefully HTC will offer a similar app for Mac users. Hands-on video after the break.
Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac
Sync music, sync photos, sync too much money into a mediocre phone. Now that we've gotten the amateur comedy hour out of the way, it's time to bring you the news that Kins and Macs will henceforth play very nicely together thanks to the just released Media Sync software from Mark/Space. Chosen by Microsoft as the exclusive provider of Mac syncing capabilities for Kin, the company is offering iTunes and iPhoto integration, whereby you'll able to transfer playlists and image albums both to and from your Kin device, as well as a neat transcoding feature to make videos playable on it. The software's free and can be found at the source link below, while the press announcement awaits after the break.
BlackBerry Media Sync hits version 3.0 with 2-way photo management
Even after years of consumer-facing products and marketing, it's still tough to use words like "media" and "BlackBerry" in the same sentence -- but the fact of the matter is that RIM got out ahead of the 3.5mm headphone jack trend long before many other manufacturers did and currently offers cameras (not awesome cameras, but cameras nonetheless) on every modern model it sells. To that end, its Media Sync software has been helping suits get loose after the 9-to-5 with music management for well over a year now, and the latest version -- available later today -- adds some comprehensive photo capability to match. Media Sync 3.0 for Windows now includes automatic downsizing for pictures transferred from PCs to devices (wouldn't want to chew through your microSD card too fast, after all) and can automatically prompt users to pull in new photos snapped with the onboard camera after connecting. Makes you wish one of these things had a 5 megapixel sensor with decent optics, doesn't it? Look for the download to go live on RIM's site around noon today.
MobileMe media sync detailed in Apple patent application
What do you know? It looks like Apple's filed yet another patent application. The company's newest is named (in the short, pithy way that patents are named) Synchronization of Media State Across Multiple Devices. Combining the ubiquity of MobileMe with the media syncing that goes down when you dock your iPod or iPhone, the application suggests that soon you might find all your Engadget Show episodes automagically picking up where you left 'em when you switch devices -- without any lag time or any pesky cables. As Macworld points out, also included in the paperwork is distance tracking functionality -- just the thing for automating sync operations when two devices come within range (it's unclear whether this will be done via Bluetooth or WiFi). Perhaps this news isn't exciting to the couch potatoes among us (you know, because they never leave the couch) but all you TV addicts "on the go" must be psyched.[Via Macworld]
Palm WebOS 1.2.1 now available, 'fixes' iTunes media sync
The game's back on. Palm just announced the availability of its 1.2.1 update to WebOS for the Palm Pre and, well, that's it for the time being. It fixes Exchange mail syncing issues experienced by some users, which is nice, but for everyone else it re-enables media sync with iTunes 9.0.1, with or without the USB-IF's support. In fact, Palm has signaled its commitment to its rogue approach by improving synchronization with the Photos app to keep the album structure in tact while allowing lower-resolution images to be synced to the Pre. Oh happy day -- enjoy it while it lasts Pre owners.
Apple, Palm hear privately from USB-IF on iTunes spat, involvement unlikely (update: the Forum's not pleased)
The very public fight between Palm and Apple to allow the Pre to sync directly to iTunes (without just... you know, doing it the same way as everyone else) is showing no signs of slowing down, with Palm continuing to pursue every angle it can to rile up Cupertino -- most recently taking the battle up to the USB Implementers' Forum in an effort to stop Apple from restricting iTunes usage by the hardware's Vendor ID. Hard to say what ended up going down behind closed doors, but on an official level, the USB-IF is issuing a terse statement that it "communicated its position on the matter to both companies" and won't be speaking further on the issue "at this time." We'll see if anything ends up changing on the software side from the conversation, but separately, the Forum has mentioned to us that it considers this a member-to-member concern -- so in all likelihood, they're taking a hands-off approach. Update: Digital Daily has come away with a very, very different story from the actual leaked communication, and it turns out that the USB-IF has actually sided against Palm on two different fronts. First, the Forum has told Palm that it doesn't see how blocking Palm's Vendor ID from accessing iTunes violates its policies; and second -- this might be the big one -- Palm's actually riled up the Forum by saying that it'll be using Apple's Vendor ID on the Pre going forward. It wants a clarification of Palm's "intent" within a week, saying such a move would be contrary to the rules and regs set out for the proper use of USB. At this point the question becomes, how many companies and industry bodies is Palm willing to piss off to keep iTunes working exactly the way it wants?
iTunes 9 breaks Pre media sync... what did you expect?
Here we go again: round umpteen of the fight to break and re-enable Pre syncing with iTunes is now underway thanks to the release of iTunes 9, and we're sure there's plenty more where this came from. Endlessly amusing to casual observers, yes, but Pre customers are the ones losing out -- sure, Palm might be able fix this in a jiffy (especially since they continue to tout compatibility with the Pixi), but meanwhile, media sync's out of the picture once more. Stay tuned for more on this as it develops.
Get your iTunes on: BlackBerry Media Sync now available
The thoroughly-discussed, briefly-available conduit betwixt the realms of RIM and Apple, BlackBerry Media Sync, is now available in a totally official capacity for your downloading pleasure. Owners of Pearls, Curves, and 8800s (and pretty much everything that's released out of Waterloo from here on out, we'd imagine, starting with the Bold) can now snag music and playlists right off iTunes, though DRM'd tracks are naturally off limits. Then again, aren't BlackBerry owners too busy having power lunches, signing contracts, picking out new suits, and generally being important to enjoy trivialities like music on the road?[Via MobileSyrup]
BlackBerry Media Sync for iTunes makes all-too-brief appearance
We've known for a while that support for iTunes synchronization (songs, artwork, playlists, the whole nine yards) would be coming to the BlackBerry platform, and very briefly last week, RIM unleashed that capability on the world. It's unclear why the software was pulled -- maybe it just wanted to release the software to more fanfare, maybe it was buggier than a standing pool of swamp water -- but either way, BlackBerry users desperate to get their sync on should still be able to nab the goods from a number of mirrors hosted by vigilant (and quick-thinking) users around the world while we wait for RIM to decide when to introduce it again.[Via Gear Diary]
RIM prepping BlackBerry Media Sync for iTunes transfers
Everyone knows that nobody buys a BlackBerry for its musical prowess, right? Au contraire, dearest email addict. RIM is currently working up a new application for BlackBerry smartphones that will "transfer your desktop iTunes music files" to your BB for those rare moments when you can actually kick back and enjoy the soothing sounds of Rogue Wave. Interestingly, we're not told whether BlackBerry Media Sync is being crafted specifically for the upcoming Bold, and we're also left to wonder when it'll actually be released. Patience is a virtue -- at least that's the word heard through the grapevine.[Via CNET]
