EVO and Macs

[EarlyMon]

I am syncing my contacts/calendars via Google and everything seems to work fine, for the most part. The only things I've noticed that don't sync are birthdays and groups, but I have so few of both that doing it twice wasn't that big a deal for me.

On calendars, I have noticed that some of my event alarms don't sync to my phone, but sync just fine between iCal and Google Calendar.



I, too, want to find this. The effortless backup was one of the best things about the iPhone, and right now it's really the only thing I miss. I only had to use it twice in two years with the iPhone, but it's a nice safety blanket to have.

Capt. Obvious here, but just to be sure, go to the agenda view (or equivalent) and check settings to ensure that the desired calendar syncing between iCal and Google server is also set on your phone. It seems random - some updates, it seems to select all calendars, others, it doesn't.

If you're on 2.1 - ensure that under Accounts & sync, google account, that Calendars are checked.

If you're on 2.2, try a Sync all to get things lined up.

This thread may draw new Mac/iPhone to EVO lurkers, so with thanks in advance and not trying to hijack, here's my 2 cents on the transition from Apple, take these for what they're worth:

http://androidforums.com/reviews-evo-4g/130787-iphone-3g-user-who-switched-yes-friends-yet-another-iphone-user-review.html#post1214569

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/137396-likely-switching-iphone-evo-nyc.html#post1268569

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g/118052-mac-root-all-evo.html#post1099333

On the latest issue of iTunes syncing, I don't have anything intelligent to add at this point.

 

[EarlyMon]

AudgePodge6 - Welcome to the forum!

I've taken to just drag and dropping albums or songs - have been too busy to really get back to Tune Sync myself.

LS1 - Hey, this is the first time in a long time that a new member found an existing thread and used that rather than start a new one - and what could be nicer? Note the date in the first post you're on about, note what AudgePodge6 asked with today's date.

 

[maw4bc]

this is what I am wanting (i have spent the last hour trying to figure it out):

I want my Google Apps calendar to sync to my iCal on my macbook. I set up my company on google apps and want my specific address's calendar to sync to iCal.

Note that I am using Leopard and not Snow Leopard. I have read a bunch of threads and it seems much easier thing to do on Snow Leopard than Leopard (10.5.8).

Can anyone help me with this? Would like for it to sync all ways (MacBook<->EVO<->Google Apps Account)

Thanks

 

[mIQ Live]

Reemas, the easiest way to keep everything always synced up is with a backup or sync application from the market. There are a few good ones out there that can accomplish what you are looking need for free.

Not to try and spam, but you should take a look at m:IQ(free app) if still searching... Great for syncing with mac computers! (Syncs with google, outlook, yahoo and covers contacts, text, calender, photos, videos, bookmarks ect. Never plug in!) Hope you check it out! Good luck with the write up!

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Capt. Obvious here, but just to be sure, go to the agenda view (or equivalent) and check settings to ensure that the desired calendar syncing between iCal and Google server is also set on your phone. It seems random - some updates, it seems to select all calendars, others, it doesn't.

If you're on 2.1 - ensure that under Accounts & sync, google account, that Calendars are checked.

If you're on 2.2, try a Sync all to get things lined up.

Thanks for the tips. I'm on 2.2 and have all my calendars syncing.

I did a little investigating and found that the alarms that didn't sync up were on events I created in iCal before I started syncing with Google/EVO and which were set as "message with sound" in iCal. I just ran some tests and everything is syncing up perfectly now.

 

[zaphon]

I would simply like my phone to sync my calendar, my address book, my music (which is mostly purchased music on itunes, and itunes is telling me it will be $354 to upgrade it all to the new "drm free" format, NO THANK YOU), my photo's, basically everything my iPhone sync's with my computer to my Evo. So far I can't get any of them to work (I setup Address Book and iCal to sync with google, but so far they won't do it and I don't get the mythical "sync" option that I see all the sites talk about to sync them when I set it up). So at this point, I am beyond a bit frustrated, I just want to be able to plug my phone in and things work. Is that so hard?

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

So far I can't get any of them to work (I setup Address Book and iCal to sync with google, but so far they won't do it and I don't get the mythical "sync" option that I see all the sites talk about to sync them when I set it up). So at this point, I am beyond a bit frustrated, I just want to be able to plug my phone in and things work. Is that so hard?

What version of OS X are you using? If it's not Snow Leopard, it's not going to be easy.

 

[EarlyMon]

this is what I am wanting (i have spent the last hour trying to figure it out):

I want my Google Apps calendar to sync to my iCal on my macbook. I set up my company on google apps and want my specific address's calendar to sync to iCal.

Note that I am using Leopard and not Snow Leopard. I have read a bunch of threads and it seems much easier thing to do on Snow Leopard than Leopard (10.5.8).

Can anyone help me with this? Would like for it to sync all ways (MacBook<->EVO<->Google Apps Account)

Thanks

Check out my second link, "Likely switching..." above - the best I've come up with so far for Leopard (I run that and Snow Leopard) is get iCal to give read-only access to the Google calendars - but aside from it's limited to one-way, that does work really well.

I've tried every hint and trick in every Mac forum and gave up with two-way with Leopard for calendars.

I've seen a number of additional apps, especially paid ones, to solve the problem, but in my personal case I'd rather just pay extra for the Snow Leopard upgrade for that machine and solve that plus everything else.

Sorry, best I could do, hope this helps.

EDIT AND PS -

This is always going to be your sync path:

MacBook - Google - EVO

Once upon a time, you _could_ sync things via Bluetooth between a Mac and a cell phone, but they've depricated that whole thing and it's now fallen by the wayside in favor of cloud / server syncing. Too bad, in my opinion, because it was a breeze!

 

[EarlyMon]

I would simply like my phone to sync my calendar, my address book, my music (which is mostly purchased music on itunes, and itunes is telling me it will be $354 to upgrade it all to the new "drm free" format, NO THANK YOU), my photo's, basically everything my iPhone sync's with my computer to my Evo. So far I can't get any of them to work (I setup Address Book and iCal to sync with google, but so far they won't do it and I don't get the mythical "sync" option that I see all the sites talk about to sync them when I set it up). So at this point, I am beyond a bit frustrated, I just want to be able to plug my phone in and things work. Is that so hard?

It's as IgnatiusTheKing said, and if I may paraphrase - trying to get an older operating system (Leopard) to play with a newer one (Android) seems to be kinda the root problem.

Also see advice in using Leopard in my second link, above, with Android.

 

[zaphon]

What version of OS X are you using? If it's not Snow Leopard, it's not going to be easy.

10.6.4 (Snow Leopard). Here's my problems so far.

1. I setup Address Book to sync, but there's no sync button, so nothing ever shows up in my gmail account. I read some articles that basically say it's a known problem, run this shell script. I tried that, still didn't do it. So at a loss as to how to get my address book sync'd.

2. I setup iCal to connect to google, but the problem is all my appointments, etc. are in my calendar, and google set's up as it's own calendar. So while I can create new appointments there, what about the 100's I already have in my home and work calendars. There is commercial software evidently available that will sync these to the phone properly, versus having to re-create them all in the google calendar. So again, not very useful.

3. Over 95% of my music sitting in my itunes library was purchased through itunes. And unfortunately most of it was purchased before the switch to the new DRM free format. So to switch it I have to pay a premium (what I paid plus the "fee" is > what it costs now (so yeah, it's a premium to upgrade)), so I can't sync anything I currently have to my phone. I even set it up as shown in several articles, and I can drag and drop it, just can't play any of it.

So I guess my fault here is being a mac user since 2001. I haven't touched a Windows PC since than, and I don't miss it. However, switching away from my iPhone has been a ROYAL pain in the rear (which I did due to AT&T's service, which is absolutely horrible (my boss got so upset with his inability to reach me he made me switch), as most of the time my phone sits here showing 4 or 5 bars of service, but yet if I pick up my home phone and call it, it goes straight to voicemail. However I can make outbound calls with it just fine, and I have 4 iPhone's (1 3G, 2 3GS's, and 1 4) in the household that do this. So it's not a "my phone" problem.)

So I totally understand the problem, I don't use Windows, and I bought into a format that was rich with DRM. So I've kind of locked myself in, and I get that, but I still want to be able to use it, and there has to be a solution of some type, as I really don't want to have to return this new phone (which I absolutely love), and go back to AT&T.

 

[zaphon]

It's as IgnatiusTheKing said, and if I may paraphrase - trying to get an older operating system (Leopard) to play with a newer one (Android) seems to be kinda the root problem.

Also see advice in using Leopard in my second link, above, with Android.

I'm not using Leopard, I'm using Snow Leopard.

 

[EarlyMon]

I'm not using Leopard, I'm using Snow Leopard.

I think the Snow Leopard steps were clear in my advice in that second link also, if not, kindly ask and I'll happily clarify.

PS - Sorry, didn't see yr earlier post - will respond to that.

PPS - Have been on OS X since beta, pre-public.

 

[stevehy]

I have read this entire thread and there is much good advice and also conflicting advice. In November I switched from one of my 3 iPhones to Android (Droid) and had many of the same concerns and problems. I did not wish to reinvent the wheel and wanted it to be as easy and painless as possible. I am a developer and don

 

[EarlyMon]

3. Over 95% of my music sitting in my itunes library was purchased through itunes. And unfortunately most of it was purchased before the switch to the new DRM free format. So to switch it I have to pay a premium (what I paid plus the "fee" is > what it costs now (so yeah, it's a premium to upgrade)), so I can't sync anything I currently have to my phone. I even set it up as shown in several articles, and I can drag and drop it, just can't play any of it.

One thing at a time - see this first -

How to Convert iTunes to*MP3 Convert DRM Protected iTunes M4P to MP3 (Windows and Mac)

And note the link to TuneClone - there are many similar alternatives such as that one. Just google for "iTunes DRM removal" and you'll get plenty of ways out of being painted into that corner.

PPS - the Meridian media player (free in the Market) will play AAC and ALAC/ALE files as I'd mentioned previously.

 

[zaphon]

One thing at a time - see this first -

How to Convert iTunes to*MP3 Convert DRM Protected iTunes M4P to MP3 (Windows and Mac)

And note the link to TuneClone - there are many similar alternatives such as that one. Just google for "iTunes DRM removal" and you'll get plenty of ways out of being painted into that corner.

Unfortunately all those are "lossy" and I'm not interested in losing quality on the file. However if one of those would do the conversion when syncing to the phone (I'd be fine taking a "lossy" version to the phone), than I'd be in business, but all these are for people wanting to convert their originals, and I'd rather do that in a "lossless" way (aka strip off the DRM without re-encoding the data).

 

[EarlyMon]

10.6.4 (Snow Leopard). Here's my problems so far.

1. I setup Address Book to sync, but there's no sync button, so nothing ever shows up in my gmail account. I read some articles that basically say it's a known problem, run this shell script. I tried that, still didn't do it. So at a loss as to how to get my address book sync'd.

From the Address Book rtfm -

Click the Sync menu in the menu bar and choose Sync Now.

To add the Sync menu to the menu bar, open iSync, choose iSync > Preferences, and then select

 

[EarlyMon]

Unfortunately all those are "lossy" and I'm not interested in losing quality on the file. However if one of those would do the conversion when syncing to the phone (I'd be fine taking a "lossy" version to the phone), than I'd be in business, but all these are for people wanting to convert their originals, and I'd rather do that in a "lossless" way (aka strip off the DRM without re-encoding the data).

Remember that that would be to get copies in MP3, and not to replace your existing higher-quality copies.

Also, while it bites money - you can purchase upgrades to those files and get them without DRM and at a higher AAC sample rate than what you have now as an added bonus - I __think__ that's 30 cents/song, don't recall.

~~~~~~

If you look in the gray areas of the internet, you'll find ways to strip off DRM - I'm not comfortable suggesting other DRM circumvention methods publicly.

So, I wouldn't recommend that a Windows user check this out -

QTFairUse for ITunes Download - Softpedia

(By the way - that was embedded in one of the hits for the google search I gave you. Frustration is never your friend when solving this sort of problem. Take your time - there's almost always a way to solve a problem, you know.)

And I certainly wouldn't recommend looking for something similar for a Mac - because you're liable to find it.

 

[EarlyMon]

2. I setup iCal to connect to google, but the problem is all my appointments, etc. are in my calendar, and google set's up as it's own calendar. So while I can create new appointments there, what about the 100's I already have in my home and work calendars. There is commercial software evidently available that will sync these to the phone properly, versus having to re-create them all in the google calendar. So again, not very useful.

I think this might be your best bet - BusyCal - Share Calendars on a LAN and sync with Google Calendar

It has a cost, but so does your time.

 

[maw4bc]

Check out my second link, "Likely switching..." above - the best I've come up with so far for Leopard (I run that and Snow Leopard) is get iCal to give read-only access to the Google calendars - but aside from it's limited to one-way, that does work really well.

I've tried every hint and trick in every Mac forum and gave up with two-way with Leopard for calendars.

I've seen a number of additional apps, especially paid ones, to solve the problem, but in my personal case I'd rather just pay extra for the Snow Leopard upgrade for that machine and solve that plus everything else.

Sorry, best I could do, hope this helps.

EDIT AND PS -

This is always going to be your sync path:

MacBook - Google - EVO

Once upon a time, you _could_ sync things via Bluetooth between a Mac and a cell phone, but they've depricated that whole thing and it's now fallen by the wayside in favor of cloud / server syncing. Too bad, in my opinion, because it was a breeze!

Thanks for the info, This will keep me from having to search all over for an answer. I will most likely just wait it out for when I upgrade my macbook in a couple months.

 

[EarlyMon]

I'm here to help.

 

[zaphon]

From the Address Book rtfm -



iSync is located in your Applications folder.

Is this not working for you? Please advise.

Correct, I finally got a "sync" item on my menu bar after fiddling around, and I can click on it, and it tells me I have an invalid mobileme username/password, and stops. The same when I open iSync by it's self. And everytime I go into Address Book's preferences I have to re-enable the "sync to google" option, though it does save my username/password. I don't subscribe to MobileMe so I have no way to enter a valid username/password there.

My best guess is this is Apple's way of saying "subscribe to our service!!!!" *shrugs*

FYI if you're savvy with the "unix" portion of Mac OS X, and feel comfortable. The following command fixes the problem and actually sync's the Address Book with Google (finally YAY, I set it up to run once an hour from cron).

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/GoogleContactSync.framework/Versions/A/Resources/gconsync --sync com.google.ContactSync

 

[EarlyMon]

And you have MobileMe syncing turned off in your Address Book prefs?

And fwiw, the foundation and infrastructure of OS X is unix (blending OpenBSD, NetBSD and FreeBSD) with a Mach kernel - no quotes required.

Nice cron entry btw.

 

[zaphon]

And you have MobileMe syncing turned off in your Address Book prefs?

And fwiw, the foundation and infrastructure of OS X is unix (blending OpenBSD, NetBSD and FreeBSD) with a Mach kernel - no quotes required.

Nice cron entry btw.

Yes I have MobileMe syncing turned off in my Address Book preferences, just google sync'ing enabled (and it goes off every time I quit and restart Address Book)

As for "unix", yes I'm aware of what's underneath of Mac OS X (it's the reason I use it, I work for an internet company and we use FreeBSD on all our servers, and have for the past 10+ years, so to me Mac OS X has always been FreeBSD that runs MS Office (I spend 90% of my time in a terminal window SSH'd to another server somewhere)). Unfortunately I would guess the majority of Mac users have no idea there's a unix system running underneath there, thus why I said if you feel "unix" savvy. As I know short of me, everyone in my family (parents, siblings, etc.) who all use Mac's have no idea that unix is running underneath the pretty interface they're used to. I would hate to try and walk my parents for example through trying to setup a cron job.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

1. I setup Address Book to sync, but there's no sync button, so nothing ever shows up in my gmail account. I read some articles that basically say it's a known problem, run this shell script. I tried that, still didn't do it. So at a loss as to how to get my address book sync'd.

Here's how I had to do it the first time to get it going correctly. I set everything up so it looked right in Address Book, then exported all my contacts as a Vcard. I then deleted all the contacts (after backing them up) and imported them into Gmail. I went into the Prefs in Address Book and set it up to sync with Google...and nothing happened. And when I went back to check, syncing with Google had unchecked itself. Regardless, when I told it to sync now in the MobileMe/iSync toolbar icon, everything synced up. Now I still have MobileMe set up to sync bookmarks between my Macs (my account doesn't expire until November), so I haven't run into any problems. I have heard, however, that if you set up Yahoo to sync, as well, then Google will work correctly and you won't get any errors. A little annoying, but no real sweat if you don't have a bunch of contacts in Yahoo that will screw you up.

2. I setup iCal to connect to google, but the problem is all my appointments, etc. are in my calendar, and google set's up as it's own calendar. So while I can create new appointments there, what about the 100's I already have in my home and work calendars. There is commercial software evidently available that will sync these to the phone properly, versus having to re-create them all in the google calendar. So again, not very useful.

Here's what I did when I encountered the same problem: First, back up your calendars, then set up Google sync and let it create its own calendar in iCal. Rename that calendar Home (or whatever you have your "main" calendar in iCal named. Export your Home calendar (the original, iCal one), then re-import it, and tell iCal to import it into your new Google "Home" calendar. Next, go into Google Cal on the web and create any other calendars you have on there (Work, etc.). In iCal prefs, under Accounts > Delegation, select all of your new calendars. They will appear (rather messily under their own headings) in the sidebar. Follow the above step to export each of your old iCal calendars, then re-import them into each of the Google "delegates". After doing all of that, you can safely delete (or just uncheck, if it scares you) all of your old calendars, as they have been replicated on the Google cloud.