MobileMe's Push Services Detailed, No Mac to Mobile Me 'Push'

[macDonalds]

Anyone want to replace Ron Burgandy with Steve Jobs in this part of the Anchorman?

Ron Burgundy: [Ron Burgundy is handed a salad with cat poop] I will *not* eat that.
Tino: You will eat that cat poop.
Ron Burgundy: I will not eat cat poop.
Tino: You will eat that cat poop before you talk about my city that way again.
Ron Burgundy: Fine, if I eat the cat poop, will you bring me a steak?
[he eats the cat poop]
Ron Burgundy: Oh, God.
Tino: Somebody get him a steak quick.
Ron Burgundy: I'll eat the whole hunk of s h i t. I don't care.
[he begins crying]

 

[Daveoc64]

iSync never opens for me during a manual sync.

How are you doing the sync? If I use the sync icon in the Menu Bar, then it opens iSync (I do have a mobile phone in iSync, so I assume that's why).

If I sync from System Preferences>MobileMe then it doesn't open iSync.

But that's a bit extreme to do every day.

 

[DeuceDeuce]

Well that kinda sucks but I can wait 15 minutes and since I didnt purchase mobileme (existing.mac user) I cant really complain.

 

[PJF13]

I'm a huge fan and realize I've grown accustomed to the higher standard set by Apple. I'm sure all will be redeemed. I'm so sick of reading headlines that read to likes of "Apple's apple get worms..." etc.

I bet/hope we'll see several bug fix updates in the next 30 days.

 

[Daveoc64]

How so, exactly?

The screenshot above shows quite clearly that they are misrepresenting the service.

Most people don't listen to the Keynote - they look at Apple.com

 

[Phil A.]

It is if you close your Notebook 10 seconds after adding a new entry in Calendar.

As I said above, just use the web interface until it's sorted out if that's how you work. Might not be ideal, but the web interface is very feature-rich and does allow you to ensure you're always in sync.

 

[hewcardpacklet]

Could anyone write a simple AppleScript that would force a MobileMe sync every time a Calendar, Contact, or Mail item changes? I am no script genius but have scripted a few things using Automator and AppleScript editor, and I am pretty sure it is feasible... Does anyone know of such a script or the feasibility theresuchof?

 

[Daveoc64]

As I said above, just use the web interface until it's sorted out if that's how you work. Might not be ideal, but the web interface is very feature-rich and does allow you to ensure you're always in sync.

What's the point of the whole service if I have to use the web interface?

 

[YoGramMamma]

gripes gripes gripes

Overall I have been pretty impressed with mobileme since it's actually been working. That being said I have 2 major gripes with it (other than the one already mentioned)
1. They seemed to have omitted the feature to send files via the iDisk ala YouSendIt. This is absent from the web videos now too. Does anyone else's allow this function because this was something I was really looking forward to. This is a real bummer if they just up and cancelled it.
2. Since I've recently decided to use a calendar and be a more responsible individual.... And since I never used iCal really before 2 days ago... Every time mobileme syncs with iCal I always get an alert telling me that it's about to change more than 5% of my stuff and I have to ok that. It's very annoying when it happens everytime I go to add something on me.com or on the iPhone, and anytime it syncs. Anyone know of a way to disable the alerts?

 

[randyg]

Why wait...just sync

Is it really so difficult to just go up to the menu bar, click on the Sync icon, and pull down to Sync Now? I'll admit, it would be swell if it would auto sync immediately, but it's not like the workaround is painful. Incidentally, I'm wondering if this is a coming feature. I've got two calendars that I Publish. As soon as I make a change to either one of them on my MBP, it immediately updates the published calendar.

 

[Feverish Flux]

How are you doing the sync? If I use the sync icon in the Menu Bar, then it opens iSync (I do have a mobile phone in iSync, so I assume that's why).

If I sync from System Preferences>MobileMe then it doesn't open iSync.

But that's a bit extreme to do every day.

Clicking the Sync button in the menu bar, then "sync now."

 

[Daveoc64]

Clicking the Sync button in the menu bar, then "sync now."

That's what I'm doing, but it causes iSync to open.

Do you have a mobile phone/other device set up to sync in iSync?

 

[anthonyjr]

2. Since I've recently decided to use a calendar and be a more responsible individual.... And since I never used iCal really before 2 days ago... Every time mobileme syncs with iCal I always get an alert telling me that it's about to change more than 5% of my stuff and I have to ok that. It's very annoying when it happens everytime I go to add something on me.com or on the iPhone, and anytime it syncs. Anyone know of a way to disable the alerts?

Go to iSync in your applications & switch your alert percentage to 50%. No more pop-ups!

 

[Mindflux]

2. Since I've recently decided to use a calendar and be a more responsible individual.... And since I never used iCal really before 2 days ago... Every time mobileme syncs with iCal I always get an alert telling me that it's about to change more than 5% of my stuff and I have to ok that. It's very annoying when it happens everytime I go to add something on me.com or on the iPhone, and anytime it syncs. Anyone know of a way to disable the alerts?

Open iSync's preferences and tell it to not warn you when 5% (or change the percentage) of your data has changed.

 

[Daveoc64]

Is it really so difficult to just go up to the menu bar, click on the Sync icon, and pull down to Sync Now? I'll admit, it would be swell if it would auto sync immediately, but it's not like the workaround is painful. Incidentally, I'm wondering if this is a coming feature. I've got two calendars that I Publish. As soon as I make a change to either one of them on my MBP, it immediately updates the published calendar.

No, but is it really difficult to do anything.

The whole point of MobileMe is that I don't have to manage my Mac, Windows PCs and iPod touch.

When a local application is unable to tell another local application something then there's a serious flaw with the design.

They figured out how to make an online service convey updates to a computer.

 

[Phil A.]

What's the point of the whole service if I have to use the web interface?

You don't have to use the web interface, but as has been noted there is currently a known issue with not immediately syncing calendar events added in iCal. So, if you can't wait for the sync cycle you have several options:

1) You can manually sync before closing your notebook down
2) You can use the web interface
3) You don't have to use MobileMe at all, but in that case you won't get any push / syncing at all unless you use an alternative product (don't personally know of any)

Personally, if there is an issue with something I try and find a workaround that inconveniences me the least and just go with that until the issue has been resolved.

 

[xix]

It's not "push" if you have to initiate the sync. Bad show, Apple. Bad show.

 

[localoid]

Then something is wrong for your config. This is how it should work. see:

http://massoh.com/chris/push.mov

Updates on Me.com triggers a Mac sync. At least on Leopard. Tiger or Windows may not do this. I haven't heard one way or the other, but the knowledgebase article linked in the original post suggests its Leopard only.

arn

I didn't put a stopwatch on this (other things going on today), but: I just rescheduled a 4pm Sunday appointment to Monday @ 4pm using my iPod touch, then logged into MobileMe and the calender reflected the change. Within a minute or two, I woke my sleeping 10.5 Mac and the calendar was changed there. Went to my 10.4 system (which wasn't in sleep mode) and the old appointment was showing. Within about 15 minutes the change showed up on the 10.4 system's calendar.

If I get the time I'll check out variations on this theme...

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Change "Apple" to "Microsoft" in that statement, and you'd be upset. If we point out broken stuff to Apple, you know "Complain", then they'll fit it. Just sitting there and taking it makes them fat and lazy, and more apt to just give us garbage.

This ain't a dig at you, just don't want people that are so enamored with Apple to let the rest of us languish in mediocrity. Question their missteps, it's a very good way to get things fixed.

Personally, it's a non-issue.

The biggest advantage of MobileMe is the phone push. Means I don't have to plug in my phone into the computer every night.

You can always do a manual sync on your computer(s) before you walk away if you want and those who need more than MobileMe offers in this regard can but exchange server space for not much more a year...

I don't understand the big uproar.

 

[Daveoc64]

Change "Apple" to "Microsoft" in that statement, and you'd be upset. If we point out broken stuff to Apple, you know "Complain", then they'll fit it. Just sitting there and taking it makes them fat and lazy, and more apt to just give us garbage.

This ain't a dig at you, just don't want people that are so enamored with Apple to let the rest of us languish in mediocrity. Question their missteps, it's a very good way to get things fixed.

Exactly.

Unless you take that attitude, they'll continue to make things with issues.

 

[*GG*]

As I said above, just use the web interface until it's sorted out if that's how you work. Might not be ideal, but the web interface is very feature-rich and does allow you to ensure you're always in sync.

The problem is the web interface isn't working properly for a lot of people - according to the poll in these forums - the mail app online is still not working for about 60% of users.

 

[CWallace]

My god, 15 minutes is such a deal breaker!

It is if you close your Notebook 10 seconds after adding a new entry in Calendar.

Before MobileMe, how did you folks sync .Mac, whether it was 10 seconds or 10 hours after you updated something?

You pushed the Sync button.

Ok, so now MobileMe does it for you in most situations. Is it so hard to keep doing it like before for the few situations it still (as yet) not do so?

 

[Daveoc64]

I didn't put a stopwatch on this (other things going on today), but: I just rescheduled a 4pm Sunday appointment to Monday @ 4pm using my iPod touch, then logged into MobileMe and the calender reflected the change. Within a minute or two, I woke my sleeping 10.5 Mac and the calendar was changed there. Went to my 10.4 system (which wasn't in sleep mode) and the old appointment was showing. Within about 15 minutes the change showed up on the 10.4 system's calendar.

If I get the time I'll check out variations on this theme...

That all seems correct. iPod touch and iPhone genuinely "push" data up to the service, this is instantly applied to the site. Your 10.5 Mac did a sync because it was in sleep mode and your 10.4 system did a sync on schedule.

 

[Feverish Flux]

The screenshot above shows quite clearly that they are misrepresenting the service.

Most people don't listen to the Keynote - they look at Apple.com

Exactly. Go here (Apple.com) and see where it in no way says "instantaneously" in reference to Mac - .Me syncs.

 

[Feverish Flux]

Change "Apple" to "Microsoft" in that statement, and you'd be upset. If we point out broken stuff to Apple, you know "Complain", then they'll fit it. Just sitting there and taking it makes them fat and lazy, and more apt to just give us garbage.

This ain't a dig at you, just don't want people that are so enamored with Apple to let the rest of us languish in mediocrity. Question their missteps, it's a very good way to get things fixed.

It's not any blind love with Apple on my part. It does what it was advertised to do and suits me fine. No complaints here, so why should I complain?