Today's deals Desktop

HomeBusinessApplicationsApple iSync

Apple iSync3.1.1

Name: Apple iSync
Rating: 4.7 (4 reviews)

14 August 2008

Sync your Address Book/iCal between Macs and digital devices.

Follow this app Developer website

Overview

Use iSync to synchronize your Address Book contacts and iCal calendars across Mac OS computers and devices, such as an iSync-compatible mobile phone, an iPod or a Palm OS device. You can also use iSync Public Beta to synchronize two or more Mac computers, using the Internet (.Mac membership required).

iSync works on all Mac computers running Mac OS X version 10.4 or later, with iCal installed, and it works with all iPod models. You\'ll need to store your contact information in the Mac OS X Address Book and your calendar information in iCal for iSync Public Beta to work.

Only iSync-compatible mobile phones and Palm OS devices will work with iSync. All Palm OS devices that work with Palm Desktop 4.0 for Mac OS X will work with iSync.

What's new in Apple iSync

Version 3.1.1: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

Join over 500,000 subscribers.

Subscribe for our newsletter with best Mac offers from MacUpdate.

72 Reviews of Apple iSync

"Use iSync to synchronize your Address Book contacts and iCal calendars across Mac OS computers and devices..." Word to the wise...this app is not as the above title says. To sync two macs you will need a .mac account.

(2)

"You can also use iSync Public Beta to synchronize two or more Macintosh computers, using the Internet (.Mac membership required)." aah, dotmac. Having finally bought a second Apple machine to go with my pBook, Apple rewards me by offering to sync the two through it's $100 a year service - halfway round the planet and back in my case. I've used dotmac before and I know how slow that can be. Machine syncing should be built in for the buyers convenience, and this is the first time I've considered Apple to be a shabby M$ type company for not doing so.

(2)

Still no Nokia 6230 support. Not good enough, since this is v popular phone at the moment.

(0)

Show comment (1)

Apple zealots at the ready to spring to Steve's defence at dropping OS 10.3 support ...Like every other product they produce, the expected shelf life is shorter than the average life span of a barn owl. So to shut me up could somone elaborate on what '10.4 only feature' prevents them from developing an isync that'll work with my series 60 Nokia 6260.... Actually I'd just be happy with ANY software that'll sync symbian series 60 phone's contacts via bluetooth???? Somone help me out!..

(0)

Show comment (1)

Duplicated 140 of 350 contacts on K750i. iCal events and birthdays are only partly synced. I'd also like to see Address book photos synced.

(0)

Show comment (1)

Motorola c350 is still not detected by iSync while other apps see it just fine. Pretty dissapointed in Apple's failure to address this simple to fix problem.

(0)

Please Support Street and ZIP Code Syncing in the K700i and future models...

(0)

Show comment (1)

Idiot's from Apple !!! Why I can't find in iSync support for Symbian 7.0s Series 80 phones ? Working solution fo synchronisation Nokia 9500/9300 Communicators with Macs is here: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050422125043439 It's work fine, I undestand why only unoficial !?!

(0)

Can apple support the nokia 6230? This is my BIGGEST gripe with os x, it works flawlessly on the pc, yet i can't sync via bluetooth on os x. This is so stupid, it's bluetooth for sake. Apple needs to get it's act together with supported devices, it just works out of the box in windows, none of this device list crap.

(0)

OS 10.4 only? So does that mean Apple is not going to update iSync for Panther anymore and us older users are out of luck when new phones come out? If so...booooo!

(0)

Wow, there needs to be some serious work done on Palm Synchronization. At this point between PalmOne's own software and Mark|Space's there really isn't anything remotely useable or reliable enough for even casual use. It depresses me to find an aspect in which my PC is actually better than my Macintosh, especially in the "It just works" category.

(0)

Show comment (1)

After reinstalling OS X I am now unable to pair my Sony Ericcson S700i up with iSync 1.5 even though I can connect with Address Book and Bluetooth File Exchange. Even though the phone isn't officially supported it still has almost the same internals as a K700i and prior to the OS X reinstall it was completely working. I am out of ideas... Does anyone have any suggestions???

(0)

Show comment (1)

It doesn't even launch. "The application ISync has unexpectedly quit." is all you get from the latest release of this crapware from Apple.

(0)

Wow, reading this is funny. If you don't want to pay for dot-Mac service, then don't use the software. Demanding that Apple provide things to you free of charge simply makes you look like exactly what you are: someone who really really likes good software, but refuses to pay for it and copies it illegally, and is now really mad that they've found a piece of software that they can't steal. Personally, I quite like dot-Mac, and I quite like iSync, too.

(0)

Show comment (1)

It does not work. Addresses and Ical events are duplicated many times over. It is also extemely slow. Syncing 830 contacts took over an hour and resulted in over 13 thousand 'Unnamed" entries. ICal sync is worse still. This is not a new problem.

(0)

One word. V600. It finally works. But, only with the USB cable, which I guess is not a big deal. It would have been better if BT worked.

(0)

iSync works amazing, and has from the get go... I have an iMac, a .mac, a Handspring Visor Palm, an iPod (2nd Gen) and a Sony T610... it's all good, all the time. Also worked fine when I had the Sony T68i, which I got just so I could use iSync. It's an amazing FREE app which rules, period!!

(0)

you know........ isync is fine......... ......thats it....its not GREAT like the rest of apples software, an thats a real shame. I think my Nokia 7650 is going to make its way on to ebay and I will revert to my old phone and wait for bluetooth to go the same way as infrared!!

(0)

Everything's working just fine for me. I can now sync my iPod, home mac, work mac, T616, all in one go, without a hitch. I've never had problems with info being overwritten. Ever. Actually, never had any iSync problems at all. Ever. It worked just fine even with my P900 before I sold the ridiculously expensive thing. If anything gets screwed up, just revert back to your last sync.

(0)

1. Unable to send SMS even it should work from P900 - very surprising 2. Nokia 6230 is NOT supported - ??? 3. Motorola V600 only with cable. No Bluetooth connection available. - Shocking news. Very very very very very dissapointing update. Shame on you Apple.

(0)

Calis. I do understand some of the problems you are having, however the rant was probably a bit out of order. The address book is the place to start in my opinion once everything is in there set up contact groups, then in isync set the erricson to sync only with certain groups, this will get rid of a load of rubbish such as random email addresses. As for the bluetooth pairing it does seem temperamental, I usually initiate the pairing from the phone and not the mac and then it sticks, what I can tell you is eventually you will hit on the result that keeps it paired. Ultimately once you do get it sorted you will be delighted, especially if like me you own a palm. One other thing, contacts that only have a work name and no contact name will appear on the sony with a little line at the bottom of the list, this is a pain. What I do is put business as people names.

(0)

What a tease. All that hype about syncing this and syncing that. And as for bluetooth, well, that's what I'm here to tell you about... It takes a stiff drink or two to get this Mac Evangelist to talk dirty about an Apple product, but iSync did the trick. Does it sync your numbers and info with your bluetooth phone? No, it does not. Well, it does, in a way. But not the way you would ever want: number layout altered without permission; no way to stop what's in your phone from completely wiping and replacing what you've painstakingly entered into your Address Book database; no way to keep the phone>computer "pairing" you so painstakingly set up - you will have to redo it EVERY time you want to sync, or at least at random; if your contact in Address Book is listed as a company, when it goes across to your phone, its entered at the very end of the alphabetical list, with a non-numerical, non-alphabetical character in front of it. You have to enter that character in phone book search, then scroll through FROM THE BEGINNING to come to your desired contact. And that's not all, but yu get my drift. (Note to the good reviews below: that's great it works well for you, but are you trying to use it to its full, and promised/hyped, capacity?) And then, sometimes, it just sits there "syncing" for hours, when it isn't really doing anything at all. I'm not a novice Mac user, and as stated, I'm a Mac Evangelist. And this, Steve, is the sorriest piece of rubbish I've ever had from Apple. To think you went to all that trouble to strike a deal with Sony Ericsson so they'd be compatible with iSync? Why did you bother if you weren't going to do it properly? Shame on you=shame on us... My computer: iMac G4 1.25 My phone: Sony Ericsson T68i

(0)

Show comments (2)

iSync 1.4 works great. I have my G4, iBook 800 and iPod all syncing without ever having a problem (even in the beta days). It works flawlessly for me.

(0)

Takes FOREVER to run. Minutes. Several. I often cancel the iSync part of my sync if I haven't changed much in the contact/appointment department. Synchronizing with contacts and appointments in Palm Desktop manages to be nice and zippy, but iSync is horridly slow.

(0)

Apple has failed to allow syncing with Palm desktop. In syncing one must manually reenable the disabled conduits when syncing the palm pda with .mac

(0)

Why not include Address Book photo support for the T610/T616 from Sony Ericsson? It handles this feature....

(0)

Show comment (1)

I have had so many problems trying to synch a work laptop and my personal desktop, including up to an hour on the phone to apple support who search lots of databases for the cure and came up with nothing that worked. it may be my confiuration or a problem on my computers but I am underwhelmed. Seems like such a good idea, maybe the practice is more difficult to acheive. Like Chuck sez "Don't Beleive the Hype!"

(0)

On Feb 13, this update file is EXTREMELY hard to download, do it from software update is worse... directly download from Apple is SLOW. Only MacUpdate barely make it feasible. What's up?

(0)

Show comment (1)

iSync 1.3 is so promessing. It is easy of use, looks good, and works fine! It works fine depending on what devices you are using. For example, for people who own a Sony Ericsson P800, it is the beginning of a long nightmare. The iSync 1.2 version was suppose to support the P800, however, you were not able to sync your iCal with it! How useful! iSync 1.3 is suppose to sync everything, but the problem is that it syncs once in a blue moon! It is pretty sad to see that such an inventive and useful application such as iSync 1.2 keeps having problems. Afterall, we MAC users, are used to things that works, and when you use an APPLE application that DOES NOT WORK, you get... Hum... Excuse my French: Pretty pissed off. I am waiting for the release of the next version of iSync 1.4 in order to finally sync my cell phone every day, and not once in a blue moon!

(0)

Seems that 1.3 brought a lot of problems. It trashed the T610's full contacts database. It was a phone of my friend whom I offered a "help" to back the contacts up before a phone change... :-( It doesn't work properly with late 7650s. I went through a hell with it (not recognising the phone or recognising as 3650, or...) and still couldn't get my AdressBook in the phone. Plus, plus. It just doesn't work as expected in many cases. "Sync failed", garbled contacts in the phone etc. etc. Of course this happens with _some_ setups only. Some people report successes after reinstalling everything on a clean disk but since I don't feel like reformatting the harddrive and reinstalling everything the Windows way - to check if that helps, I reverted back to 1.2.1, which at least didn't trash any data unrecoverably and worked much more reliably with the above mentioned phones.

(0)

Doesn't sync iCal with my Siemens S55.. Worked before, but at an unknown point just ceased to synchronize.. No meaningfull errors or messages in console. Just "Failed to synchronize" message with no explanation. May be some wrong data which iCal feeds to iSync.. or my phone feeds to iSync. I don't know. But really annoying problem. Worked without a hitch with my T68 before. Apple please make some fix already..

(0)

Just an interesting iSync story: I several months ago I bought a new Mot-whore-ola cellphone (that accepted my old SIM card, thankfully) because the phone was on the iSync-compatible list. I Hooked the phone up to my mac via USB, and every phone number in my address book copied to the phone. GREAT! Little did I know that this particular phone (model V.66) was possessed by the devil. I won't go into that. Suffice to say that it has been an adventure using it (I actually have been able to use it just fine, but this model apparently was designed by monkeys; I conducted a poll - it's prone to odd behavior). Recently it gave up the ghost, and displays absolutely nothing on its screen, so I recharged the old phone, a model 280 ("Timeport" - like, what does that mean - I can use the phone to travel to the year 1888 and meet my great grandfather?), put the SIM card in it, hooked it up to the mac via (the same) USB cable, had iSync scan for devices, and lo and behold - It actually recognized it, even though that model is not on the Apple device list! A few minutes later (okay, several minutes later) I had all my numbers in my old resurrected phone. While I wait for my new phone, the old one will serve me fine. Thanks, Apple.

(0)

neil: the iSync conduit only hyjacks the other conduits when it's enabled. All you need to do to sync to palm desktop again is to: A) Turn off the iSync conduit via the Hotsync software. B) Remove the iSync conduit file from the Conduits folder. It's the same as it's always been. What I want to know is what has been changed from 1.2.1 to 1.3. There seems to be almost no info. Is 1.3 a bugfix?

(0)

Isync rocks. Those of you with issues should learn to access the excellent knowledgebase discussions at apple.com. I sync perfectly syncs my T3, t68i, and ipod as well as my powerbook to my desktop. isync is cool like spaceship technology.

(0)

If you already are syncing with another product don't even try this! Very important! It Hijacks other conduits to other applications and then can't be persuaded to release them so you will lose your abilty to sync to e.g. Palm Desktop. The workaround for fixing this is extremely ugly and iCal and Address Book are nowhere near good enough to replace Palm Desktop. if you're syncing to ANYTHING else and don't want to lose that ability then DON'T EVEN TRY THIS OUT. Trust me on that.

(0)

Bah. My hopes were high when I saw the annoucement for 1.2.1, but calendar synchronization fails with my P800 via Bluetooth. When I can get it to try at all (no mean feat), it consistently hangs up with the message "Getting changes from P800 (55K downloaded)" and never progresses further (I've given it hours). I can't even cancel it at that point, I have to manually kill the SyncServer process from the CLI. Address Book synching still works, at least when I can get it to make a connection (I usually have to delete and re-pair the device in Bluetooth Prefs to make it work). Here's looking forward to Panther...

(0)

Why isn't it possible to sync calendar events (including all-day's) to a mobile phone for a period longer than 8 weeks?? Many users have requested this for a long time but Apple doesn't seem to care. boohoo...

(0)

Works great with a .Mac account etc and not too shabbily with a SE T68i. The only two complaints I really have about it are 1) the lack of conversion of iCal all-day events to an equivalent on the T68i (which doesn't support them), and 2) lack of details about what exactly is going to get added/removed/altered on the various devices... having the no. of things is OK, but I'd like an advanced view option to see all details of what is going to happen. No problems with this latest version of iSync, but doesn't address these two issues.

(0)

How do you get it to work with your Motorola 720? I bought the USB cable at verizon, but could never get my Mac to recognize the cell phone?

(0)

The only problem I've had with iSync is that it takes the contacts from my Mac Address Book (alphabetical by last name) and alphabetizes them on my Motorola T720 (Verizon) by first name. It may not sound like a big deal, but I have to flip that mental switch every time I pick up my phone. It's not a dealbreaker, just an inconvenience.

(0)

It does everything I need it to and it does it well. As far as the numerous complaints of needing a .Mac account to sync two Macs, just burn your home directory to a CD or DVD depending on how big it is...in fact, just use a cross-over cable or boot one as a firewire target disk. IOW, it does what it's supposed to do, stop complaining. We're rating the application, not .Mac or Apple's business tactics.

(0)

Ok Anyone who has a Motorola phone, guess what it seems the only cable that will let you sync your phone with your computer is the Motorola brand cable itself. The cheap cables you find at Radio Shack or CompUSA will not work... It seems these cheap cables have some kind of converter on the cable that itself actually requires a driver. The Motorola does not have this and I would call it be a straight pass through cable from USB port to phone. The down side I Found it online for $35 plus shipping. But that was the cheapest way without having to buy the office kit. I found it at AT&T's Wireless page under the accessories. Good luck all and hope your phones work...

(0)

You have to be crazy to subscribe to .Mac. You can get 200MB storage and 4 gigs of bandwidth for HALF of what Apple charges for .Mac. I agree with the earlier post. iSync is a Microsoft-like tactic.

(0)

BS. You can sync two computers without a central server. This is just an attempt to keep people on Apples outrageously priced, crappy internat hosting service. You can get cheaper, better hosting elsewhere.

(0)

I cant seem to get my Motorola T720 to even be seen. Its weird the USB cable I just bought that is to sync to a computer is seen as a dveice but iSync does not see the phone. I am following the directions but I dont know whats up.... can anyone help?

(0)

Works as advertised. Perhaps Apple shouldn't advertise the ability to synchronize more than one mac. What are you going to sync over the network and be happy with? Buy ipod, sync computer, bring ipod to work, sync computer. If you need more get tri-backup. Stop whimpering about 'requires a .mac account' and downranking the stars. Is isync 1.1 better than 1.0 (can we all say 'yes') Do you need to downgrade ALL STARS (how the hell do you downgrade value (free because you don't HAVE to buy .mac), stability, ease of use, and features to 2 stars for something that's essentially a daemon? Get a life and whine about real problem apps (this is why apple doesn't release 'Mail updates').

(0)

Apple has to somehow make .Mac seem useful to subscribers and they have to do it fast because most of us are due to re-up in Sept/Oct. This update to iSync won't make us jump for joy but it is a step in the right direction. I have to say that even with these minor improvments I don't think I'll be able to justify 100 bucks. I'd rather save towards a Tivo. ;)

(0)

Just think a little about it: why iSync does need .Mac? Because it needs a central server which does all the job. Syncing from computer to computer is much more difficult because it requires a very different approach and leverages big problems. Maybe Apple could licence it's sync server but it would be really expensive, I believe. And you would not have such an easy use of that stuff. (and don't compare iSync to something like rsync... it's totally different)

(0)

I agree. Requiring a .Mac account is ridiculous. I for one have no use at all for a .Mac account, but need the ability to sync Macs on my LAN. Come on Apple, stop the Microsoft business practices.

(0)

This crap still requires a .Mac account to sync two Macs (even to sync your bookmarks). This is an OUTRAGEOUS and UNNECESSARY requirement simply to push the overpriced .Mac service down our throats. There is no technical reason WHATSOEVER for requiring a .Mac account for this. This is the equivalent of Microsoft charging you $99 a year to spell check your Word documents because they housed the spell checker on an .msn site!!! In addition, it only supports a handful of phones and not even the most popular ones at that... Extortionware. Avoid.

(0)

software is great. problems people are having are most likely due to corrupted prefs or app. files. I sync 1000+ contacts in under a minute and I have my ipod and t68i palm and .mac all syncing great.

(0)

Running official 1.0 release. Much faster sync with my palm, with more control over calendars (no more duplicating holiday's twice in iCal). But now you have to double click on the device icon to activate... hmm.

(0)

Very light on features at the moment. Is very sloooooowwwww. But I see a lot to look forward to. Apple should really consider adding PocketPC support, it could help with thier Switch campain.

(0)

This is a Beta...extremely sloooooooow and buggy. I had to reset my Palm several times. The conduit only allows merging of data...that's dumb...I cannot overrite my Palm with my iCal. The concept is good and that's the reason why I give a few stars...

(0)

Needs Work! See both reviews above, and add the fact that it is not yet stable or reliable. I'll wait for the general release. Surely they will have some of the stability issues fixed from this beta. In fact, I would argue that this is not ready to be termed a public beta.

(0)

it sucks !!! still no PocketPC support, only works with those old palmOS PDAs. I'm waiting, still waiting :(

(0)

Nice, but it should be able to sync your address book on your computer with the Webmail address book on .Mac. I can't believe they left that feature out!

(0)