BlackBerry Desktop coming to the Mac

BlackBerry Desktop software, currently available only for Windows, is coming to the Mac.

(Credit: RIM)

At long last, Research In Motion is bringing its BlackBerry Desktop software to Mac OS X.

In a blog post on Monday, RIM announced that a version of its smartphones' desktop software will be released this September for Apple computers.

According to the smartphone maker, users will be able to sync their iTunes playlists, calendars, contacts, notes, and tasks from their Mac. They will also have the option of adding applications, updating the BlackBerry when new software is made available, and managing multiple handsets on their Apple computers.

BlackBerry Mac software will let you sync your BlackBerry with iTunes.

(Credit: RIM)

Although users will be excited to know BlackBerry software is finally coming to their Mac, some of those users might not be satisfied. RIM said only Mac OS X versions 10.5.5 and up will be supported, meaning that Mac users who haven't updated Leopard or those running Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger likely won't be able to run the software.

Unlike iPhone software, which can be installed in both Windows PCs and Macs, RIM's BlackBerry software has been available only for Windows; a third-party tool has been required to enable communication between Macs and BlackBerrys.

If you want to be notified when the software is available when it's released in September, you'll need to sign up on RIM's Mac page.

[QuetzalcoatlUSA]

Could there be a RIM announcement that mattered less?

[gudin]

Well, presumably it matters to Mac users who use Blackberries. There ARE some you know. RIM would hardly make the effort to create an app with zero potential market. Yes, it's true that Mac people are probably even more likely than the rest of the world to choose an iPhone, but many don't have that choice, because their company's carrier is not AT & T.

[codynews]

Hey, it's big news. This should score RIM about 9 new customers at least.

[Noswal44]

Whatever. Not being able to sync my blackberry with my Mac is simply stupid. Blackberry is about 2 years behind on this...I'd have an iphone by now if AT&T didn't suck for coverage in my area.

[ddesy]

Could there be a RIM announcement that mattered more to the Mac users with Blackberries? There are quite a few of us out there.

[ckh1272]

by Seaspray0 July 21, 2009 7:28 AM PDT
@Yelonde. Who says they aren't already a monopoly? They control over 50% of the music distribution market and they control over 50% of the mp3 market. By definition that's a monopoly in both markets. Google holds a monopoly on internet search. Microsoft holds a monopoly on computer operating systems. It's not illegal to be a monopoly, but there are different rules that apply.

@Seaspray--Bad example of a monopoly since you can buy music at countless brick mortar and online sites. They are not keeping you from buying a CD from Wal-Mart, Target, or Best Buy, nor are they keeping you from going to Amazon.com for online music. It's just that more people have gone to iTunes. If so many others hadn't dropped the ball (Wal-Mart.com, Yahoo Music, Napster, Rhapsody, etc.), then maybe it wouldn't be that way. Based on your example I guess Wal Mart is a monopoly to since most people do their shopping there. Just a very bad example to use.

[VeryBerry]

This is big news -- there are a lot of Mac BlackBerry users as evidenced by the well known BlackBerry discussion forums.

[Seaspray0]

and since blackberry is writing the software, apple won't be able to just release a patch that breaks compatibility.

[Yelonde]

@seaspray0

If apple performed such an action, they would be deemed a monopoly. Considering that RIM is writing the program themselves, and that the MP3, and AAC files that itunes uses isn't necessarily attached to iTunes only, writing an independent program that takes music from iTunes, and moves it onto a blackberry device would be perfectly fine.

I don't think I can say the same about the Palm Pre, which actually uses iTunes for it's media source.

[Seaspray0]

@Yelonde. Who says they aren't already a monopoly? They control over 50% of the music distribution market and they control over 50% of the mp3 market. By definition that's a monopoly in both markets. Google holds a monopoly on internet search. Microsoft holds a monopoly on computer operating systems. It's not illegal to be a monopoly, but there are different rules that apply.

[jimtomlinson--2008]

And a _lot_ of frustrated MissingSync and PocketMac users. If RIM's new software doesn't actually explode upon download, it'll be an improvement.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Did Apple Legal O.K. this ???
Maybe they havn`t placed the threatening phone call yet.

[gudin]

er. . . why would Apple Legal care about this? If anything, this may increase sales of Macs.

[monkeyfun14]

@eponymous

Apple doesn't want marketshare...

They are already being targeted with trjoans and drive by's as it is.

More marketshare will increase this further eventually to Windows levels.

[ddesy]

Monkeyfun14, stop the drive by myth already.

[Seaspray0]

@ddesy. You mean like this myth that turned out to be fact?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10291603-71.html

If I ever hear you again spout nonsense that apples are immune to this sort of thing and advising your fellow users that they don't need antivirus, I will come down on you with a vengence. I do have an interest in seeing people protect their computers, no matter what OS they use.

[ballmerisanape]

Too little too late.

[Seaspray0]

Yes, you are now a hopeless case.

[ballmerisanape]

Your right. This innovative move will send potential iPhone users running toward RIM.....

[Seaspray0]

Or, it could even entice blackberry users into buying a mac.

[PostNoComments]

Before Apple released the iPhone, they actually cared if other phones synced with the Mac. iSync used to work with my Sony Ericsson phone until I upgraded to Leopard. Now it looks like all phone companies are going to have to go the Blackberry way.

[ckh1272]

My LG Voyager syncs via bluetooth just fine. It just depends on the model sometimes. There really isn't a rhyme to the reason (with few exceptions) when it comes to what models work with iSync.

[wilson350z]

I'm a Mac user that, oddly enough, hates the iPhone, not just AT&T. I do however love my blackberry. It's about time they released this although I will still use my iPod to listen to music, since there is no gapless playback on the blackberry. That and I have about 75 Gb of music, all ripped from CD's and converted from vinyl at 320kbps or higher.

why not just have it show up as a usb drive?

[DragonWizard]

Just another story that will be ruined by a bunch of useless flaming back and forth between Mac and PC FANATICS who take every one of the stories that pop up here as an excuse to start there childish "My OS is better than your OS" and "your OS is trash" excrement. I get so sick of reading these stories just to have it ruined by a bunch of EXTREMELY childish people wh take EVERYTHING as an opportunity to try and slam the "other" guy... do you all know how absolutely immature you sound and frankly your really getting old with this crap. It seems none of you can stay on topic. The story is not "How much trash can I talk about anyone who doesn't think just like me".. it is about a particular subject. I wish the people that write these things would just ban anyone who uses this as an excuse to start the OS Wars all over again.. Frankly I don't give a D*MN what kind of computer you use or whether you can come up with something "CUTE" to say to flame anyone. Why do any of you waste not only your time but MY TIME with all of this pointless urinating on the heads of people that use anything other than what you use to do your computer work.. GROW UP AND STAY ON SUBJECT...!!! To many users of these commenting sections anonymity means another excuse to act out your infantile insecurities on anyone you choose. I for one wish they would ban Mac users that flame PC users and ban PC users that flame mac users. Many of these stories seem written with the idea of starting these squabbles in mind to start with. PLEASE a little bit of maturity for once....

[ballmerisanape]

Unless I have missed something.. and a bunch of posts were deleted... yours was the first post that even mentions "OS wars"... All of the above posts were about the topic.. well except for Seaspray's.

[ckh1272]

I agree with most of your post, but so far most people have stayed on topic (the usual suspects aside). It will end up being the usual OS pooh flinging soon enough though.

[Seaspray0]

"well except for Seaspray's". Yep. That's me! I really wanted to discuss the merrits of frosted mini wheats on which side was better... the wheat side or the frosted side. Unfortunately, I strayed from the topic.

[bitofdingle]

AT&T is the face of greed with lousy coverage and horrible customer service. In fact AT&T taught their customer service associates etiquette at the School of Saddam. Verizon wireless just dropped the ball with Apple but my contempt for AT&T directed me to stay with Verizon and buy the Blackberry Storm-and I'm not the only granola eating, artsy fartsy, left coaster , Mac user that has a Blackberry. So There!

[Lemi4]

I wonder if RIM will ever release BB Desktop for Ubuntu... Even proprietary, it would make a BB Bold useful as a HSDPA modem for Ubuntu-based netbooks...

[ethana2]

I'm thinking I may need to get a comp to run OS 10.6 and dual boot ubuntu so that I have more access to new application releases like this.. OS X is missing a lot of the features in Ubuntu I can't do without, but at least it's worth keeping on a hard drive.. The price tag of the comp though.. with my job at BK, that's going to suck-- over two months' solid wages.

[nunzio0007]

GREAT - GET A BYTE OUT OF APPLE !!!!!!!!! NUNZIO BAGLIERE SYRACUSE N.Y

[CreativeMalcolm]

You know I read a report a while ago that said that a lot of iPhone users are also BlackBerry users. I know I have both, granted my Berry is through work. My sister just got a MacBook Pro and moving her away from a Berry would be pretty much impossible. For some people it really is the best tool, and I'm glad RIM is choosing to support Mac users.

[Seaspray0]

From a standpoint of sychronizing to corporate emails, there are a few minor differences. The email contacts didn't synch until we installed itunes and synched manually and you must change your password in active synch when your domain password changes. But, the iphone didn't require a blackberry license and enterprise server to get the mail. Thats my perspective from the admin side. I wouldn't mind hearing the user side.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I suspect Apple may have some issues with the sync software as it looks incredibly similar to iTunes in placement and layout of all the features. While it's different to the practiced eye, it is also close enough to cause potential confusion to less observant users to the point where Apple may ... have some concerns.

Remember back when Apple used to mess with Palm back and forth to keep Palm from synching on the Mac platform before Palm eventually dropped out of the PDA market entirely? Now with Apple having their own device, they may be in a position to want to keep competition off their platform no matter how little of a threat that may be.

[ckh1272]

Never had a problem syncing my old Tungsten E back in the day and I used it for three years. I guess my luck was better. I suspect some people are reading too much into this once again.

[Valerie Cudnik]

Blackberry is a bit late getting on board with this... Mark/Space has offered solutions for syncing with all manner of smart phones for a while (http://markspace.com/ ). Before I got my iphone, I used to use an MDA and "The Missing Sync" software worked perfectly, right out of the box, for a reasonable price.

[CreativeMalcolm]

Thing is people don't wanna pay for syncing software, it's seen as something the company should provide, especially a company making a SMART phone.

As for RIM making it look too much like iTunes, i don't think so, if anything Apple tends to encourage developers on the Mac to mimic their style of things. The sidebar is a standard OS X element. The funny thing is the new software looks better than the PC version.

[useful_worms]

More competition in the market makes better products. I like it. Thanks RIM.

[alivejrs2]

I can't wait for this ability to sync my bb with my mac. I would love an iphone, but will not switch to AT&T...horrible service. I love my new BB Tour. I just need the info synced over without a flaw....