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Apple Macintosh and Sony Ericsson issues |
Bambooken
Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 3
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Z500A - Is it compatible with Mac?
It has no Bluetooth but does that mean it will not sync with a Macintosh? It should since it does have a USB data-cable. You would think..I've tried every avenue (Cingular, Apple and SE customer service) and the "line" is that it is not on the list of compatible phones. I'm wondering if that is because they just haven't gotten around to testing it. Even though it requires a cable, why would it not work? Macintosh bolts up to other phone by USB...
Has anyone tried it yet?
TIA |
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Bambooken
Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 3
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Topic: SONY ERICSSON Z500A - Is it compatible?
Good answer from Apple (finally)
Q:I spent hours today being bounced around at Cingular and Sony Ericssion. No one at either company could confirm if the phone would isync with the Mac.
Although it's not a Bluetooth phone, it has a USB data-cable that should do the trick.
I'm wondering if any Apple personnel are even checking these discussions...?
A:SONY Ericsson handsets are supported by iSync only through a Bluetooth interface. To be explicitly supported by iSync, devices must appear on this list [and the Z500 is not on it:]
http://www.apple.com/isync/devices.html
Cingular offers the Motorola V400, Nokia N-Gage and the PalmOne Treo 600, all of which are compatible with iSync. Only the Nokia can by synchronized using Bluetooth - the others only using USB
Q:I was wondering when the list was last updated? The Z500 is not on the list, yes, but it is a new phone. Perhaps it has not been tested or "approved" yet it would work. It has no Bluetooth but it does have a USB data-cable (extra cost) like the other phones that work with iSync. So, i guess my revised question is has the SONY ERICSSON Z500A been tested to see if it will work with iSync?
A:This is the short answer to a rather complicated issue: the list has not been updated in some time, and likely never will be. iSync as we know it is not likely to receive anything more than a maintenance update to insure compatibility with pre-Tiger OS and security updates. The synchronization engine built-in to OS X 10.4 will - how shall I put this? - obviate the need for iSync. But, it should also introduce a much more extensible and adaptable platform for synchronization, and should support a much more extensive list of devices.
There are a number of issues outside of Apple which have an impact on this problem. Newer handsets use revised operating systems, and iSync is not compatible with them. Some manufacturers, and several wireless carriers, have conciously chosen to cripple features otherwise available in the handset OS, such as synchronization using Bluetooth. It's not just Apple alone who controls this technology, so try to imagine how difficult it is to commit resources to this effort. And, all for FREE software.
I suggest that you either obtain an inexpensive handset on the list of compatible devices, consider changing carriers if one is not available from your present carrier, or take the leap and purchase a smartphone like the Treo 650. And, don't look to handset manufacturers or wireless carriers for information about iSync compability - they are simply clueless |
Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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You can't sync over a USB cable with any SonyEricsson phones. Partly because iSync doesn't support it (you have to use Bluetooth) and also because there are no USB drivers for the SonyEricsson cable on the Mac.
However, you should be able to use the DRS-11 RS-232 data cable with "GSM Remote" and a Keyspan USB to RS-232 adapter.
I know this works with T610, K700 and T230 because I've done it. You can send vCards, ringtones, pictures etc to the phone, editing the SIM phonebook etc. But you still can't use iSync.
You can find much cheaper third party data cables on eBay. I bought one for about £5 inc. P+P
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~lozishere~
Joined: Dec 18, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: York, U.K.
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I think it would be possible to use isync over cable. You'd just need a lot of skill with xml. |
JukurenvengeX5
Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 140
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Wow, useful! |
~lozishere~
Joined: Dec 18, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: York, U.K.
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was that sarcasm?
i blew my G3 to pieces cos the psu blew up. mac mini's in the post to me though so i aint too bothered! |
Z500a User
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 5
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I just bought a Z500a, and I really need to sync it with the Mac. A couple of questions :
1. If I understand correctly, Tiger will have native support for syncing the z500 over USB?
2. "GSM remote" allows me to transfer MP3's, Photos and contacts to the z500 using a DRS-11 RS-232 data cable and the appropriate USB adapter?
3. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY to sync this phone using iSync?
If this phone is a bad purchase, I will glady return it. Any suggestions on how to get this phone to work with my Mac will be appreciated. Thanks! |
Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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1. Don't know, yet!
2. Yes
3. No
I can recommend and confirm that the following SonyEricsson phones work very well with the Mac using Bluetooth: T610, T630, Z600, K700
Check here for others.
Bluetooth really is the way to go... cables are messy and inconvenient!
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Z500a User
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 5
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Also, can I use Sony's DCU-11 USB cable instead of the DRS-11 RS-232 cable?
Does this cable need drivers or will it be recognized by one of the applications?
thanks again
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Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Sorry, you can't use the DCU-11 USB cable because as mentioned a few posts above there are no Mac drivers for it. You can plug it in but the Mac won't know how to communicate with it and won't see any phone conneced to it. Only the RS-232 cable will work, and even that isn't an ideal solution...
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danybrit
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 17
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hi,guys,i want to buy a k700i ,im in mac os x,my question is,if i can update the FW and load app into the phone through bluetooth or i must have the cable?
thanks daniel |
Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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You can send pictures, sounds, Java applications, notes, vCards, vCals, midi files etc. via Bluetooth, but you can't update the firmware via bluetooth. Updating the firmware completely replaces the phones operating system. So while it is updating it has no OS to run Bluetooth!
Firmware updating can't be done on the Mac anyway. SonyEricsson's online firmware update service only runs on PCs, so you'll either have to use it on a friends PC or take it to a service centre.
Someone on this forum did claim success in using the SE Update Service through Virtual PC using the Opera browser (NOT Internet Explorer), but many other people ended up with dead phones after trying in Virtual PC.
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danybrit
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 17
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thanks jools for the help.well it kind of complicated with the updating process ,anyway,i'll try .By the way does the k700i supports 3d games
thanks
daniel
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Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Yes, it supports 3D Java games. You'll find a number of threads discussing the various titles on Esato.
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niji
Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Posts: 61
From: tokyo
PM |
hello,
regarding iSync, users of the v800 have a workaround i understand that allows their v800 to use iSync over bluetooth with their bluetooth enabled macs.
however, several people over at the jonas salling site have tried un-sucessfully to get the japanese version (the v802se) to be able to iSync the v802se over bluetooth and they cant quite figure out what the problem is and why the sync fails on our v802se.
has any enterprising soul at Esato been able to get a v802 to iSync over bluetooth with their mac? i need calendar and addresses synched.
does anybody want to take on this project for remuneration of some sort? I have a feeling that if left up to apple, the v802se will not even be included in the next round of synching fones.
thnx
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Posted: 2005-01-19 19:43
