Running Pocket PC with Apple Mac

philbattenburg · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 28

I've recently purchased an iPAQ 2210 and TomTom3 and Bluetooth GPS receiver with the specific intention of using the set up in conjunction with the downloadable Speed Camera database off this website.

I've managed to get the system up and running, but not in the way that I hoped. I am an Apple Mac user and have the PC emulation software "Virtual PC 6" running Windows 98 which, in theory, offers me the same connectivity via USB as if I were using a PC itself. For some reason, I cannot make connection between the iPAQ 2210 and the Virtual PC using ActiveSync. I managed to get the Speed Camera database and POI-Sync onto the iPAQ 2210 by installing all the necessary software onto my daughter's laptop, but unfortunately, I only had access to the laptop for a couple of days.

I'm wanting a permanent solution to the connectivity problem, and there are 2 applications that specifically offer USB connectivity between a pocket PC and an Apple Mac; 1. PocketMac Pro and 2. Missing Sync. If I purchase either of these applications, I should be able to sync address books, games etc. and other applications on to my iPAQ 2210. BUT, the question that I need answering is: will I be able to hot-sync the POI's using POI-Edit onto my iPAQ 2210 using either PocketMac Pro or Missing Sync, or, do I really need to use an ActivSync connection via a PC to do this?

TIA

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

If you have a WIFI or wired network CF or SD card then the iPAQ could talk to the Apple over the network rather than USB... Windows 98 doesn't really have USB support.
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Lutz

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Sonyboy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 01, 2004 Posts: 2

Lutz is right, Windows 98 SE is the lowest version of Windows to support USB straight out of the box - if I remember correctly.

philbattenburg · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 28

lbendlin · Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 6:56 am Post subject:

How is your Mac connected to the Internet? via cable modem? Or do you have a wireless router (like an Apple Airport). OH, WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity, also known as WLAN - Wireless LAN, or 802.11b (or a or g etc). Basically a high speed network without wires.

Since your maps are on the SD card you would now need a wireless CF network card to connect the iPAQ into your existing wireless home network (assumption). Alternatively, if you only have a wired network, you would need a standard CF network card.

Not sure about the prices - depends where you are located.
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Lutz

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philbattenburg · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 28

Lutz,

I'm afraid that my intenet connection is a standard internal 56k modem. So from what you say, I would need to use a standard (wired?) CF network card to make the connection.

When I run VirtualPC/ Windows on my Mac, I use the internet connection on my Mac and the internet connection that I make via VPC/Windows is through the network between the VPC/Windows and the Mac. I can simultaneously access the internet via Windows and Mac OS using the network.

In view of the fact that the iPAQ has Bluetooth capability and that a USB/Bluetooth adapter can be purchased ($40) to allow Bluetooth connectivity to the Apple Mac, do you think that this is a possible means of making the vital connection I'm after?

I wonder if the Mac OS would need to recognise the iPAQ first rather than act merely as a conduit/bridge between VPC/Windows and the iPAQ?

BTW, I'm in the UK

Dave · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:34 am Post subject:

Phil, there is a thread at http://www.macintouch.com/vpc5.html mentioning VPC 5 (not 6) and ActiveSync doesn't work under VPC 5. I'm not 100% sure about it working under VPC 6, but inherently Mac users do have a bumpy ride. There is a MacSync program around, but I'm not sure it will be of much use for installing programs because the exe files you need to run will need to be run on a PC before it fires up ActiveSync (a bit of chicken and the egg syndrome).

VPC 5 thread at above URL "On another VPC note, users of Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 that get Virtual PC to use with the PDA will be disappointed to learn that VPC (regardless of the Windows OS installed) does not support ActiveSync. A note on the VPC support page indicates that they are aware of the problem, but not having luck finding a workaround just yet. "

This thread suggests VPC 6.1 won't work with ActiveSync either...
http://www.talkaboutmac.com/group/microsoft.public.mac.otherproducts/messages/2637.html

Take a look at Pocket Mac, this might help but it does cost 24.91 GBP
http://www.pocketmac.net

Darren · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:37 am Post subject:

I've heard excellent reports regarding PocketMac, a number of my colleagues who are diehard Mac fans swear by it and as it has support for Entourage and iCAL it is a good solution.
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Darren Griffin

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