Q: A1200 and Mac

[bostonwhaler1]

Hi guys,

I'm completely interested in this phone, but would like to know what the chances are that it will ever be compatible with Mac (ie. iCal, Address Book, and/or iSync). I know that it will probably be a long while before official support comes from either Apple or Moto, but running Linux, is there a good chance that a solution will present itself through some kind-hearted dev, or is this a real long shot? I ask because I'm really not familiar with the Moto-Linux community.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[scotty1024]

I used the Bluetooth setup panel in 10.4.6 and it just setup my Ming with Address Book syncing and Dial Up Networking.

Motorola still hasn't figured out how to do browsing so all you can do is push files from Ming to Mac and from Mac to Ming. You can't use the Bluetooth File Exchange to Browse your Ming.

[lazyivan]

hi. i want to know the modem script you use in the dial up networking in mac 10.4.6
Do you mind to email the modem script for MING to me?
my email is lazyivan@gmail.com

[scotty1024]

I do what ATT taught me: use the null modem 115200 script and have it prompt me to dial by hand.

When the window pops up you just enter the ATDT77# and when you get CONNECT you press the connected button and PPP takes over.

Stupid and silly, but it works.

I could script it but mMode is so flaky here that I wind up manually entering the ATDT several times and/or giving up. If I wrote a script I'd always be wondering "Script? Or mMode?" when it failed.

If you wish to make yourself a Ming script I'd take the Null modem 115200 script and add in the ATDT for your carrier and you should be done.

[inijohan]

I am using E680i and can connect to the internet thru my Mac (iBook G4 12"). I am using the modem script from eugenia (look for another thread with similar topic in this forum/section).

As for iSync, too bad it's not working yet. I hope Apple can work on this ... after all, Motorola and Apple are friends.

[scotty1024]

But is all this really on Apple's head? Why can't Motorola pick out a common format for exchanging this data and use that format across their product line? Why does the Ming need to use a different protocol than a V600?

Its a great phone but a contact is a contact is a contact. A calendar entry is a calendar entry is a... oh well.

I used the Bluetooth setup panel in 10.4.6 and it just setup my Ming with Address Book syncing and Dial Up Networking.

Motorola still hasn't figured out how to do browsing so all you can do is push files from Ming to Mac and from Mac to Ming. You can't use the Bluetooth File Exchange to Browse your Ming.

Are you saying that you are able to sync data between Ming and your Mac (contacts and calendar data are what really concern me)? And this is a stock configuration? No modifiications to software on either device to get it syncing?

[scotty1024]

I'm saying the Mac Bluetooth Setup says it setup Address syncing for me. Haven't tried it yet as I'm in the middle of the whole 10.4.6 thing and don't want to risk my SIM card right now (you have to blow away all the data on the phone after you upgrade to 10.4.6.)

What I know for sure right now is 10.4.6 recognizes the Ming as a Phone, which it didn't used to do for my A760.

I can push files via Bluetooth File Exchange. And the Ming can push files to the Mac. The Ming does Dial Up Networking for me using Null Modem 115200 and my ATT ATDT dialing sequence. (not very amusing since its GPRS only for now)

The Ming mounts in USB mass storage mode but its flakey for me about dis-mounting then re-mounting for some reason I haven't sussed out yet. So I've mostly used Bluetooth to avoid the reboots required when it gets stuck not mounting.

More when I get to it, lots of pots on the fire since I got my Ming Saturday at 11:43am.

[bostonwhaler1]

Well, I've picked up an a1200 myself, and determined that while Bluetooth Setup says it can sync the phone with Address Book, this isn't really the case. You're able to get contacts to the phone by going to "Send contact..." in Address Book, but only one at a time.

What would be perfect is a plugin for iSync allowing the a1200 to be supported. Does anyone know if this exists yet? I'd be willing to pay to get this thing working with my Mac, syncing contacts and calendars. I may be being completely naive, but I can't imagine the process being THAT difficult, as both the Ming and iSync use the SyncML transfer protocol.

At this point, I'd even settle for a workaround through Windows, but that seems like a challenge too.

Anyone want to write this plugin or have more info?

[scotty1024]

From what I can tell the iSync uses OBEX File Transfer to request the calendar and contacts be sent to it. It then updates/deletes/inserts any content then puts the SyncML OBEX objects back onto the phone.

The issue with the Ming is that the Mac doesn't detect an OBEX FIle Transfer end point on the Ming, therefore iSync can't ask for OBEX SyncML transfers.

I believe the issue is a missing entry for OBEX File Transfer in the /usr/SYSbt/sppagent.conf file, unfortunately no method exists to change that file at present. I've discovered though that the sppagent will try and open a file named ".sppagent.conf" somewhere on the MMC card before it opens the one in /usr/SYSbt...

I'm researching what the correct UUID for OBEX File Transfer is and then I'm going to try building a .sppagent conf file to get it to turn on OBEX File Transfer and figure out where to put in on the MMC card.

If this can be made to work then I believe no other special effort will be needed to make the iSync work with the Ming.