Does anyone know how to sync a Motorola Tundra VA76r with a Mac?

I'm using 10.6.2 on an Intel Mac Pro and have the current version of iSync (3.1.0 build 585.0). I'm wondering if iSync software is still being supported as the Apple iSync support web-page lists the most recent version is 1.5, and I don't see many recent phones listed on either the web-page or in the list of supported hardware. Is this software still being worked on, and if so, can someone please get the Motorola Tundra VA76r included?

...and if not, can someone please suggest some alternatives to iSync that I could use to sync a Motorola Tundra VA76r to a Mac running Snow Leopard. I just really need to sync address book and calendar, but it would be nice to be able to transfer pictures as well.

Dual 3.2 GHz Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Feb 14, 2010 7:27 PM

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4 replies

Feb 15, 2010 12:17 AM in response to Webb Sussman

iSync is still being developed, but support for new phone models is provided by the phone's manufacturer and third-party developers through iSync's Phone Plugin architecture that Apple provides.

Unfortunately, unlike Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG, Motorola haven't bothered to release any iSync Plugins for any of their phones, and they don't provide their own syncing solutions for Mac users either.

Often this wouldn't be a problem as a third-party developer could release a plugin if the phone supports the industry standard SyncML protocol. But there is no mention of this support on the Tundra specifications page.

Another alternative is to use Bluetooth to send vCards (industry standard contact files) to the phone exported from the Mac Address Book, but once again, it appears Motorola have not included the required Object Push Bluetooth Profile to allow this to happen. It would definitely be worth trying though, as it may just have been left off the above linked page.

If the phone does support Bluetooth File Transfers you could also use this method to transfer pictures. Just pair the phone using the Bluetooth system preferences pane, and then use the Bluetooth File Exchange application to send/receive files.

Feb 15, 2010 8:23 AM in response to Julian Wright

Julian,

Thank you for your reply. It was quite helpful and I've already been able to pull my pictures off the phone using Bluetooth. Thanks.

Two last questions - where does Motorola store the contact information on the phone? I've connected via Bluetooth as you suggested, but cannot seem to find the appropriate folder to dump my contacts from Address Book. ...and yes, I have converted them into individual v-cards.

Which brings me to my last question - the phone only seems to grab the number, not the name from the v-cards. An annoyance when I'm moving 1 or 2; a royal pain when I'm moving 75 or so. Can you suggest something for these last two related issues?

Feb 15, 2010 8:56 AM in response to Webb Sussman

Normally the phone stores contacts in an area of memory not browsable by Bluetooth File Exchange.

If you just drag the .vcf file on to the Bluetooth File Exchange application icon, then choose your phone from the list to send to, the phone should accept and store the data appropriately.

To rectify the second problem, try changing the vCard format from 3.0 to 2.1 in Address Book's Preferences. The phone may only recognize the older format.

Some phones will also accept a vCard with multiple contacts in it. If you drag multiple Contacts from Address Book to the desktop, this will create a single vCard containing all contacts. Try sending that to the phone, and if you're lucky, all contacts will be imported in one go. If the phone doesn't import multiple contacts, then you will have to send them one contact per vCard.

Feb 15, 2010 4:20 PM in response to Julian Wright

Julian,

That got it. Switching to 2.1 in Address Book and then bulk saving the vCards in a single file allowed the import to function. I'll need to edit a few of the cards as they ended up getting imported with phone numbers but no names. It's certainly not as easy as iSync, but I guess it will have to do.

Thank you for all your help. We'll mark this one as closed for now.

Webb

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Does anyone know how to sync a Motorola Tundra VA76r with a Mac?

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