RIM set to release Mac-syncing software

The long-awaited BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac is finally at hand, Research In Motion announced Wednesday.

The new desktop software, designed specifically for Mac users, will be available as a free download on RIM's Mac page, starting at 10 a.m. PDT Friday.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac allows people to sync data with Mac apps for contacts, appointments, tasks, and notes. The software also allows people to schedule back-ups, encrypt files, and perhaps most importantly, install software updates for their BlackBerry devices.

RIM's new BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

(Credit: Research In Motion)

Apart from the business side of things, RIM said the software features BlackBerry Media Sync, allowing people to sync their iTunes music with their BlackBerry. According to the company, people can choose the playlists they want, and all the included tracks will be transferred to the smartphone.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager requires Macs to be running Mac OS X 10.5.5 or higher. Any stragglers still running Mac OS X Tiger or haven't updated their Leopard installations will be left out. The BlackBerry itself must be running BlackBerry OS 4.2 and higher.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac is one of the most anticipated releases from RIM in quite awhile. Unlike iPhone software, which works with both Mac and PCs, BlackBerry Desktop Manager has only been available for Windows users. Until now, a third-party tool has been needed for BlackBerry devices to sync with Macs.

[applediddy]

Palm needs to take note of this. This is the right way to be able to sync your iTunes music with a non-Apple device. Kudos to Blackberry!

[slickuser]

yes, Palm did you notice this? Stop whining and hacking!

[ikramerica--2008]

Exactly. The entire iTunes library information is made available by Apple as a .xml file in plain text. Anyone can open it and read it with a text editor, and any application can open it and parse the data, locate the songs on the disk, playlists, etc. Whenever you make a change in iTunes, that file is updated, so any third party app can track that file for changes too.

That Palm is so lazy that they don't want to deal with this is their problem. RIM is doing the right thing, and creating a nice, likely BETTER experience than syncing with iTunes (which I find a bit cumbersome with the iPhone).

[myles taylor]

While Apple's market share is around or below 10%, that's still a huge market. Other software makers need to realize that and be more Mac compatible. It's great that Blackberry is finally doing this. It's like SMS on the iPhone. It's hard to get excited about something that always should have been there. Still, nice to see.

[ikramerica--2008]

I know plenty of Mac users with Blackberrys. This will be a welcome app for them.

[Gonzie]

I wonder it Palm is going to try and freeload off this then b*tch and moan when RIM block them

[gnarlyswine]

This really seems pointless - Surely anyone dim enough to have bought into the mac hype and having one of the fisher price toys on there desk at work will have allready bought an imyfirstphone and will be to busy boring people with demonstrations and preaching to actually do any work?

[Perry_Clease]

You really need to get a clue.

[Maclover1]

Wow forget your meds gnarlyswine?

There are plenty of Mac users that prefer a Blackberry over a iPhone. I am one of them. For a business phone, that you need email, calendar, contacts on, the Blackberry OS/Devices are hands down the best. I need a real keyboard. Since its for business, I dont care about apps outside of those mentioned or music/media, just phone and email sync and be good at it.

[kaibelf]

gnarlyswine, get a life. I would hardly call an army of marketing and graphics professionals "dim," especially when it comes from the mouth of some forum troll with nothing positive or even topical to offer. Maybe you should worry about the implications for business adoption in mixed environments, instead of offering a useless opinion of what is and isn't "hype." Palm Pre/Vista anyone? Talk about wasted money/effort!

[ittesi259]

@gnarlyswine,

Dude, *** is your problem....I'm a Mac user, I love mine, but I'm no fanboy....I love the iPhone, but after seeing my wife's new iPod Touch decided the iPhone probably isn't my cup of tea....So yeah, I'm a Mac...but I'm a BlackBerry all the way. I'm grateful for this coming software.

I am another Blackberry fan who runs a Mac. Don't like AT&T nor the iPhone. Nor do I BRAG about having a mac. It's my choice. More devices should work in harmony with competing companies. Use you PC Gnarly and enjoy yourself.

[deuceswyyld]

Some industries are heavily invested in the Mac platform (especially education and creative industries). People who have nothing better to do with their day than blast something they don't understand... now that's someone who doesn't really do any work.

[djtechie]

There's one feature that wasn't in the article that I'm really looking forward to in addition to the ones mentioned: the ability to do syncing from multiple computers (an optional feature). I have a MacBook for work and an iMac desktop for home, so being able to sync from both machines and have the same data intact is going to really be a time-saver.

[cary1]

Mac is one step closer to be an office computer.

Let's see what else is left in the list:

Sync to windows mobile
Run MS Office (Access, Publisher etc)
Run Internet Explorer
etc
etc
etc

[ikramerica--2008]

Huh. So it's Apple's fault that MS never created Access for Mac? Or that they dropped IE because they were bitter that Apple created Safari? And Publisher? Seriously? These are the three examples you are using?

Fill in the etc. There are plenty of reasons that you may need a PC, but you don't really list any. And if you must, must, must run Access (or g-d forbid, IE), you can install XP OEM in a VM program (there are 4 and counting), and use them.

[docster87]

On my Mac I can run any Mac OS app, as well as VM Linux and Windows - so I dare say that my computer can "do" way more than your PC can "do" so please get over it. And why would anyone "need" IE???

[ckh1272]

@cary1--Research your history for once and you'll see that IE was on the Mac until Apple released Safari. Microsoft pulled the plug on that one so your "points" are pretty pointless in that regard.

[Zaunto]

Interesting bit of news and just one more reason to move on to a Blackberry. Now as one person mentioned, if you can sync to at least two computers, we're done, and as others have mentioned, Palm should've taken note of this and made a proper Mac sync solution.

[macblackberrytogether]

does anybody know if the new sync will have bluetooth ability? I have seen the pre-released version and there doesn't seem to be any mention of wireless syncing.

[pezzzzz]

Well, the last straw for my Blackberry Curve was the absolute disaster it was syncing with my Mac. I used Missing Sync, and it was awful. I upgraded my Blackberry OS some time back, which broke the sync, so Missing Sync helpfully suggested that I upgrade their software for another $30, less their rebate for my having been their customer the past few months. Of course, the new version made things even worse. Too many hours spent dealing with sync issues convinced me to buy my iPhone 3GS the minute it came out. And I love it.

So congrats to RIM, but they missed me and others by a few months.

[unidentified504]

Funny thing is, I originally wanted a Blackberry instead of the first generation iPhone. Got the Blackberry because I loved it in the store. Then I got home and didn't like the 3rd party software for syncing to my iBook, and didn't want to sit and drag and drop my music every time I got a new song. Brought it back during the 2 week trial and got the iPhone instead. Actually pretty happy with my decision because I have no use for the business apps, but if they had the this software 2 yrs ago, I may have been a lifelong Blackberry customer. So they have a lot to gain from making this software for that 10% of Mac users.

[Bloggs of Blogs]

I use a BlackBerry because I despise AT&T.

Thank you RIMM! At last, freedom!

[VitaPrimo]

LOL! Seeing numerous comment about that network I would too! I use an iPhone but I'm with Telcel (I live in Mexico).
Also I'm a BlackBerry user, a Curve from Nextel. So thanks RIM! =)

[Styleerecordz]

This is so cool. I just bough a mac recently and i just got my blackberry 8900 two days ago and i wasn't sure if there was a desktop manager for mac user and their blackberries, this is BANANAz =].

Big props for RIM A++++++