Sync Archive

  • iPhone/iPad Wi-Fi Sync author goes (almost) legit

    iPhone/iPad Wi-Fi Sync author goes (almost) legit

    You know when an app company is serious when they send out a press release. I've gotten more releases about durfy little apps that I know what to do with, but this one is special. Sent to us by Greg, the author of Wi-Fi Sync, it basically says "This is great and new, but to get it you have to hack your iPhone and give money to the Cydia store." As far as I can tell, this is the first formal press release for a jailbroken iPhone/iPad app ever. While it's no big deal to have a press release on PR Newswire - anyone can do it - it's fascinating to see the Cydia store be given a jolt of authority with Greg's move.

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  • Ford adds GPS-enhanced 911 location awareness to its Sync system

    Ford adds GPS-enhanced 911 location awareness to its Sync system

    Ford's Sync system is a fantastic application suite capable of a seemingly endless amount of functions. The system currently provides navigation, traffic info, voice commands, Internet radio, and a 911 Assist mode that automatically dials 911 in case of an accident and provides emergency dispatchers with an approximate location from the connected phone's GPS or through signal triangulation. That's the old 911 Assist, though. Most of the 2011 Ford and Lincoln models take safety up level. The new and improved 911 Assist mode improves the accuracy thanks to a dedicated onboard GPS module. Even with the new capabilities, the whole Sync system remains subscription free. You just need to provide the Bluetooth cell phone.

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  • Firefox Home ‘coming soon’ to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser

    Firefox Home ‘coming soon’ to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser

    Continuous client functionality, you say? Sounds like Mozilla might be just what the doctor ordered. The company has announced that its upcoming Firefox Home app is coming soon to the iPhone. The program will sync up with your desktop client so that you can go mobile with all your browsing history, bookmarks and "the set of tabs from [your] most recent browser session" going along for the ride. Not only that, but there's an "Awesome Bar" -- Mozilla's words, not ours -- that'll let you search through everything and predict options based on the available data. While not a "full" Firefox browser, according to the blog post (with the addendum, "either technically or due to policy"), the pages still load from within the app itself. No solidified release date yet -- it's still being polished for app store submission, but Opera's luck give us hope for a smooth approval. In the meantime, you can get a quick preview in the video after the break.

    Continue reading Firefox Home 'coming soon' to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser

    Firefox Home 'coming soon' to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Wi-Fi Sync for iPhone video hands-on: it works!

    Wi-Fi Sync for iPhone video hands-on: it works!

    We just got our hands on Wi-FI Sync and guess what? It actually works -- fancy that! For those of you out of the loop, Apple recently rejected this gem of an app (go figure), but thanks to the magic of jailbreaking, that was hardly the end of the road. Days later, Wi-Fi Sync ended up on Cydia (Mac-only, for now) with a completely-affordable price tag of $9.99, promising iPhone and iPod touch users the ability to sync their device with iTunes sans any cabling whatsoever. Since we're notoriously lazy when it comes to actually plugging in our phones and syncing, we fired up the program on our jailbroken 3GS in order to see exactly what the law-abiders in attendance were missing out on.

    Installation couldn't have been easier. We parted ways with our Hamilton, downloaded the necessary companion software for our laptop, and fired up the application. The iPhone was immediately recognized, and after a few prompts we were ready for action. Syncing was just as easy as it normally is (with "easy" being a relative term here), just without that iPod wire hanging around and bumming everyone out. We will say, however, that things weren't as snappy OTA as a standard hardwired connection. It was a bit sluggish on the first couple of runs, and although iTunes crashed a few times (boo), we're fairly confident in saying that a poor WiFi connection was to blame for the jankiness. Once we migrated closer to the router, things went much smoother. Still unsure if it's worth the investment? Then give the video past the break a look.

    Continue reading Wi-Fi Sync for iPhone video hands-on: it works!

    Wi-Fi Sync for iPhone video hands-on: it works! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Wi-Fi Sync app rejected by Apple, headed to Cydia for $9.99

    Wi-Fi Sync app rejected by Apple, headed to Cydia for $9.99

    Can't say we're surprised to hear that Apple rejected Greg Hughes' Wi-Fi Sync app. You know, the app that allows you to wireless sync your iPhone / iPod touch with iTunes without having to USB tether to your computer. Messing with Apple's synchronization technology is a pretty big no-no as demonstrated by Palm's webOS bluff. Here's the rejection as explained by Greg from an unnamed Apple rep over the phone:
    "While he agreed that the app doesn't technically break the rules, he said that it does encroach upon the boundaries of what they can and cannot allow on their store. He also cited security concerns."
    So while you won't find it in Apple's App Store, it will make its way to Cydia as expected for a cool $9.99. You have jailbroken your device haven't you? Don't make us get all MuscleNerd up in here.

    Wi-Fi Sync app rejected by Apple, headed to Cydia for $9.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 00:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac

    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.

    Continue reading Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac

    Kin Media Sync for Mac syncs Kin media with Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Hands-on: The next-gen version of Ford’s Sync flawlessly controls Pandora and other apps

    Hands-on: The next-gen version of Ford’s Sync flawlessly controls Pandora and other apps

    Want a single valid reason to buy the 2011 Ford Fiesta besides the silky-smooth 6-speed transmition, roomy interior, and confident ride? Sync. It’s that awesome. The Microsoft co-developed system has been in Ford vehicles for a few years, but the Fiesta is the first car to receive the next-gen functions that bring the hands-free control to Android and BlackBerry apps. This was announced a few days ago along with the API, but I got a chance to try it myself and must say that it deliverers. It works just as advertised and is likely the safest way to control Pandora, get your Tweets, and listen to podcasts off your phone. You must watch the video after the jump to see this sweet system in action. Welcome to the future, everyone. It smells nice here. It smells nice here.

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  • Ford’s Sync AppLink is the missing link between driver and smartphone

    Ford’s Sync AppLink is the missing link between driver and smartphone

    Ford keeps rolling out updates to its Sync ecosystem, this time giving drivers hands-free control of select BlackBerry and Android apps with AppLink. The system will first be available for the 2011 Ford Fiesta later this year with the upgrade rolling out to all Sync-equipped vehicles next year. While the voice-activated service only works with certain apps, it's still a welcomed addition. It's a bit unsafe trying to control Pandora on a 3-inch screen tethered to the car's radio while navigating I-75.

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  • Ford’s SYNC might change the way we use Internet in our cars

    Ford’s SYNC might change the way we use Internet in our cars

    Ford is set to announce the next version of SYNC at CES this year, but an interesting feature leaked early. Apparently SYNC 3.0 will play nicely with USB modems and turn the car into a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot. The official announced hasn't been release just yet so keep in mind a key detail my be missing, but so far we like it. This solution is dramatically more versatile and consumer-friendly than the dedicated Autonet other manufacturers have been turning too.

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  • Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010

    Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010

    Ford has already shown it can tie the controls of Sync-enabled vehicles to the music and contacts databases of drivers phones and PMPs and though it may take time before our emotions can be detected, the next step is extending that connectivity to downloadable apps on those devices. Since Sync first debuted, the explosion of the App Store concept has meant nearly every smartphone owner is packing plenty of ways to access and use information from the internet, but without an easy way to interact with it while driving. Extending access to vehicle controls could lead to programs like Pandora or Google's turn by turn navigation letting users change stations with their existing stereo knobs, or listen to directions via the in-car system by simply updating their existing software. The first ones to get a crack at it? A few university students, check after the break to see what they came up with given just a few weeks to test system out.

    Continue reading Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010

    Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Gigabyte fixes iPhone sync issue with BIOS update

    Gigabyte fixes iPhone sync issue with BIOS update

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    The Intel P55 Express chipset snafu that caused iPhones to lose their syncing minds has now been remedied -- at least by one motherboard maker. Gigabyte has issued a BIOS update making things all hunky-dory between the phone and the mobo, putting your troubles to an end. The P55 is Intel's latest midrange chipset and orchestrates things for newer Core i5 / i7 machines. The other two P55 purveyors, ASUS and MSI, were also caught by the bug, and there are anecdotal reports of success with an ASUS BIOS update, but not official fixes as of yet. Given the competitive nature of this market, though, we'd be surprised if those two companies didn't quickly follow suit. All's well that ends well, right?

    Read - Gigabyte Beta BIOS download page
    Read - Update fixes iPhone sync problem

    Gigabyte fixes iPhone sync issue with BIOS update originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone and Windows 7 don’t play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame

    iPhone and Windows 7 don’t play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame

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    The iPhone is one of the most wildly popular phones the world has ever seen, while Windows 7 is well on its way to becoming the globe's most ubiquitous OS. So compatibility between the two would be kinda sorta important, right? Tell that to Intel's quality control team who seem to have somehow missed an issue between Apple's app carrier deluxe and the P55 Express chipset's USB controller. Consistent (and persistent) syncing issues have been reported on Apple's support forums, wherein iTunes on Windows 7 machines recognizes the iPhone, but spits out an "error 0xE8000065" message whenever the user attempts to sync. While some have found limited success with using PCI-based USB cards (and bypassing the chipset), this is clearly a major issue and something Apple would expect to be fixed before shipping its Core i5 / i7 iMacs, which are likely to sport the chipset. Hit the read link for the original thread of sorrow and regret, and do chime in with your own experience in the comments.

    [Via The Register]

    iPhone and Windows 7 don't play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Funambol: open source mobile cloud sync (with contest!)

    Funambol: open source mobile cloud sync (with contest!)

    funambolSmartphones are great. Ubiquitous data access is great. Mobile computing is great. Unfortunately, each smartphone represents its own little walled garden of convenience. Apple's iPhone is tied tightly with iTunes and various other Apple services. Android is tied tightly with Google services. Each manufacturer makes a modicum of effort to allow their smartphone to sync with someone else's services, but as is too often the case, such integration is usually lacking some important functionality. After all, there's little business incentive to allow your users to use someone else's services, right? Enter Funambol, and their open source mobile cloud sync.

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  • Nuance and BMW vs Ford and Microsoft

    Nuance and BMW vs Ford and Microsoft

    Ford and Microsoft have found great success partnering together on Sync and the rest of the automotive industry have finally taken notice. We’ve taken Sync for a ride or two and know that it works as advertised. We even took a 2010 Mustang for a spin over the weekend and even without the full-fledged Nav system with touchscreen, Sync worked great. BTW- Ford kicked some ass on the new Mustang. The interior is plush. Anyway, BMW and Nuance announced earlier today that they’ve partnered to bring Nuance’s Music Search and One-shot Destination Entry tech to the Bavarian’s 2010 lineup of whips with Professional. Said system launches this month in the US and Europe. The speech recognition technology will go hand-in-hand with BMW’s already overly complicated iDrive system. Have fun with that.

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