SyncML 1.0 released; MAL Is Dead. 46
A reader Coward writes: "Finally, there's a standard for sync. SyncML 1.0 was just released. Which also means MAL is pretty much history." Yeah, getting Motorola, Nokia, Ericcson, Palm and about 600 other companies is probably a good move. If it means I can beam sync calender/number information from my Palm to my phone, I'll be a happy man.
i can do that too (Score:2)
It rules! Now if it would only have some decent syncing software to go with my decent operating system, i'd be a happy man again.
-8<--
nokia? (Score:1)
6210 & Palm V, atleast. (Score:1)
______________
What happend too all the Yellow Post-IT notes ?!? (Score:1)
Re:I can do that already (Score:1)
Re:Desktop: Pilotlink, Gnome-cal/address, KOrganiz (Score:2)
When i saw this article, my first reaction was "Great, now it'll be *another lengthy wait for linux to catch up"
Aparantly most people don't know, Linux does support MAL. You can even hotsync avantgo with linux.
You'll need PilotLink (of course), jpilot (curiously enough, the j doesn't mean it's written in java - it's written with gtk+), MALSync (http://www.tomw.org/malsync/) and the jpilot-syncmal plugin from http://home.sprynet.com/~cbagwell/jpilot.html. Get the source for everything but pilot-link, because you will be compiling stuff differently from the standard installation.
Works pretty well here, except i still have to sync with windows to drop channels from avantgo, and you will still need to sync with windows to install and configure avantgo. But follow the instructions in the jpilot-syncmal documentation or it'll be a lot harder than it should be.
Re:nokia? (Score:1)
Re:Why does slashdot require cookies? (Score:2)
Huh? (Score:2)
Re:No Palm client yet? (Score:2)
When will companies learn that it's the *server* that's valuable, not the piddly little SyncML client?
(FWIW: I'm perfectly capable of writing a Palm client for myself. My point is that *no one wants* five different slightly incompatible clients. We want one, officially supported, universally compatible client. And the SyncML folk aren't giving us that.)
Copy & Paste is annoying (Score:1)
Re:Huh? (Score:1)
It's not slow nor impossible
any open-source implementations of syncml in java? (Score:1)
Re:it's about time! (Score:5)
<snip>
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) Ericsson, IBM, Lotus, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., LTD,
Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Inc., Psion, Starfish Software (2000).
All Rights Reserved.
Implementation of all or part of any Specification may require licenses under third party
intellectual property rights, including without limitation, patent rights (such a third party may
or may not be a Supporter). The Sponsors of the Specification are not responsible and shall
not be held responsible in any manner for identifying or failing to identify any or all such
third party intellectual property rights.
</snip>
What's this? The sponsors of the specification "may" have various patents and copyrights making it impossible (or illegal, which isn't the same of course) to implement the specification without paying them money? And they don't even have to tell us about them (until it's too late)?! And I hoped this was going to be an open standard...
Will this present a major hurdle for Linux developers trying to implement the standard so we can use our PDAs and such with a Linux box? I think it looks pretty likely.
Re:more on SyncML (Score:2)
Re:Why does slashdot require cookies? (Score:1)
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
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Another option would be to use conqueror who has an excellent cookie manager.
stuff i noticed (Score:3)
there doesn't seem to be mention of an rsync [samba.org] type approach, which is odd considering the bandwidth problems they're trying to address.
each device is required to maintain a change log for each server that it syncs with. could get expensive in terms of memory if you don't sync for a while, especially on small devices. however, does anybody have an alternative other than a complete resync every time?
one of the things it's based on is that each item to be synced will have a unique ID, which is something that can't be relied upon to exist at the moment. hopefully, this will encourage PIM writers etc to implement these as it makes things much simpler. the only alternative i can see is to compare items every time to try and find similarities which is fraught with difficulties ;)
the best sync stuff i've used has been truesync by starfish, so it's encouraging to see them involved.
Sync, but where is MS (Score:4)
I noticed Avant Go was mentioned in the article. The Avant Go system is a perfect example of a 3rd party coming and and developing a something for a MS product because it was lacking that ability (Avant go allows you to sync across the network and through the web!)
Since MS, who has openly announced they are "going after" the embedded market is conspicuously absent I predict the following.
MS absence smells bad in this context. I only hope that enough people have adopted the protocol and it's use is so ingrained that MS will have to come along. A good example of where MS had to tow the standards line is the netowrk protocol TCP/IP, if MS had had it's way, we would ALL use NETBEUI :)
On that same note I still find it oddly funny that TCP/IP is under Microsoft as a manufacturer when you add TCP/IP to any MS machine. Almost like they invented it (sub liminal associtation?)
Buzzzzzzwords (Score:1)
Re:Sync, but where is MS (Score:1)
Why Reinvent the Wheel? (Score:2)
See http://www.gnu-designs.com/pilot-link/ for further details.
Developing SyncML compliance would be a Very Good Thing.
Geoff
How flexible is it? (Score:1)
Psion Revo Rules! (Score:1)
The logo for PDA at Slashdot should be changed to a Psion image instead of a Palm. I mean, the Psion is *the* hacker PDA.
-Justin
Re:Desktop: Pilotlink, Gnome-cal/address, KOrganiz (Score:2)
My guess would be that the SyncML folk are trying to encourage servers to be written, and understand that people *much* prefer to develop servers for Linux rather than windows.
Desktop: Pilotlink, Gnome-cal/address, KOrganizer (Score:1)
No Palm client yet? (Score:3)
Re:it's about time! (Score:1)
Re:SyncML is needed on the PC as well! (Score:1)
Re:nokia? (Score:2)
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Re:beam synching (Siemens) (Score:1)
But that's different to syncing, of course. I always mess my addressbooks up when I try to sync my nuttscape addressbook with my Palm's. If there will really be a standard sync protocol, supported by all major vendors, heaven!
Re:How flexible is it? (Score:1)
If you read the specs, SyncML is mostly concerned about how to make the sync connection between devices, and how to handle possible versioning conflicts, etc.
It doesn't make any requirements on the actual data being synchronized, but rather leaves that to data abstraction standards like vCalendar and vCard. So basically any data could be transferred using SyncML as long as both the client and server side can use the same abstraction standard.
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Re:it's about time! (Score:2)
Welcome to the world of telecoms. And that is the exact reason I will buy myself a visorphone. Because it is built from the PDA to the phone so that it is not encumbered by the standard nasonal telecom appreciation like all the GSM phone stuff currently in circulation. And in btw, some patents there are much sillier than the patents in software.
Re:How flexible is it? (Score:1)
Re:Huh? (Score:1)
it's about time! (Score:1)
more on SyncML (Score:3)
hmmm can't find a linux project for it. anyone what to start one?
nmarshall
The law is that which it boldly asserted and plausibly maintained..
SyncML is needed on the PC as well! (Score:2)
This will have a huge impact on PIM managers, email clients, and calendaring software on PCs as well as handhelds.
Re:Good Thing? (Score:1)
Re:more on SyncML (Score:1)
any lawers what explain that license?
seems that they are holding onto some IP.
but what that means i dont know...
nmarshall
The law is that which it boldly asserted and plausibly maintained..
anyone for a game of risk? (Score:1)
the perfect world is a world without lag. a world without lag is a world without people
Re:bah (Score:1)
I can do that already (Score:1)
If it means I can beam sync calender/number information from my Palm to my phone, I'll be a happy man.
I have a Palm, and a Nokia 8210. I can already beam stuff like that between the two.
Having an open standard so that more devices support it would be even better though.
beam synching (Score:2)
Uh, you can do that ALREADY with at least Nokia phones because both Palm and Nokia uses vCal and vCard.
Re:i can do that too (Score:1)
Yes, Linux support for Epoc devices is abysmal at the moment. Hopefully SyncML will help with this, though.
The lack of available synchronization options between Linux software and a Psion PDA is why I've considered switching my trusty Psion Series 5mx [series5mx.com] to a Palm.
Luckily, the is at least some information for Epoc-Linux interoperability on http://5-tux.ifrance.com/5-tux/ [ifrance.com]. It is in French, though.
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sync ml (Score:2)
Re:Sync, but where is MS (Score:3)
Of course, you could make the point that the Windows desktop is the ultimate destination of most syncing operations, which gives them some control. However, Microsoft would need to convince third-part developers (Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, etc.) it's worth the trouble to support it. And if those developers signed on, MS would still need to give out a well-defined protocol, and even if MS made them sign a bunch of non-disclosure agreements, there are so many parties involved that the odds of leakage are decent. Once that protocol gets out, it's not so hard to hop on board and write your own version in Linux/MacOS/Be/whatever.
As a side note, I think one of the big trends to watch in portable devices is convergence. Nobody wants to carry around a cell phone, PDA, and MP3 player -- they'd rather have all those functions in one gadget if possible. This convergence is fast approaching -- there's that Handspring Visor cell-phone module, for example, and that Samsung MP3-player/cell phone. Although Microsoft's PocketPC (WinCE) is a pretty respectable entry, I would expect the company to be behind the curve in terms of device convergence, since it's primarily a software company, and not a consumer products company. So their small leverage in the handheld world will probably shrink even further.