Customer Reviews

Missing Sync - Mark/Space Inc.

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

There is no probelm synching a Mac G5 with a Treo 650 using Mark/Space. You may have to fiddle around a bit to make sure you are synching the right 'conduits' but this is simply a question of checking or unchecking boxes in The Missing Sync window. It's perfectly straightforward and I am far from experienced with computers or pdas either. This is a fantastic piece of software which transforms the whole Mac/Treo experience.

Markspace has truly breached "shareware ethics," if such a thing exists. I owned this application for far less than a year, but as soon as I upgraded to Tiger, it became incompatible and I was notified I'd have to pay 20 dollars (on top of the 40 dollar original price) for an upgrade. Customarily, shareware upgrades are optional unless there has been a drastic OS change- a developer has to _earn_ upgrades by including new features or improvements. Bugfixes and compatibility fixes, in both the shareware and commercial software world, are usually free.

And while markspace claims that Tiger is radically different than Panther, why did Pocketmac (the alternative PocketPC sync program) allow Tiger compatibility in just a free point release? Shame on Markspace for at least not extending their free upgrade cutoff time to 1 year. No one should purchase software with an active life of half a year. Markspace is abusing its userbase.

This is a MUST HAVE upgrade for my Palm Tungsten T5. I did have issues getting the first sync to take, but once it did, I haven't looked back once since!

Pro:
-Allows you to sync (back up) BOTH the internal drive/built in memory AND the memory card at the same time. Palm doesn't.
-Communicates with Apple's iCal or Address Book. Now allows me to have only one Calendar and Address Book to keep up to date instead of two... nice!
-I think that the sync interface is much more intuitive, as well is the file structure.
-Saves multiple (last 9 or 10) back ups in your archive as different folders... WOW!
-Warns you if you try to modify more than 5% of your addresses... helps prevent a massive mistake if you try to make one. A neat/nice safety feature.
-Inexpensive download from the internet... buy it and have it right away
-Allows sync of iTunes music playlist(s)... awesome!!!
-If you have an iPod, this will sync OK once set up properly
-Now that I am using iCal and Address Book, I have switched over to my iPhone seamlessly. I didn't have to choose between re-entering 500 addresses or leaving them behind when I switched.

Con:
-Bumpy initial sync required email tag with a specialist and a 4-day delay before I could use the program
-Photo syncing requires another program you must buy ("SplashPhoto... see my review of this wonderful application for more)
-You buy a digital key, not a CD (I'm old-fashioned... I like a tangible thing like a CD and manual)
-There appears to be a crash/hang risk if you connect your Palm to your computer (or wake it) and then immediately try to sync. Through experimentation, we've found that we can prevent this crash/hang when we connect press any of the four buttons on the Palm (e.g. home) immediately prior to a sync. We believe this "wakes up" the Palm and makes it more likely to sync. We theorize that Missing Sync is set for a short time delay for the Palm to respond to a sync request, and when idle or just connected the wake time is slightly too long for Missing Sync sometimes. While this is a guess, this fix has worked quite well.
-Does not appear compatible with iPhone (although compatible with iPod)
-Memos must be cut and pasted into an iPhone compatible application (only applicable if using Missing Sync as a means to move your data from Palm to iPhone)

Bottom Line: "Missing Sync" takes my Palm from 2 stars to 4 stars, but note that you really do need to buy "SplashPhoto" too. I think that this is a must have program, even if you only buy it to get full data back-up capability. Where Palm has dropped the ball, Mark/Space has picked it up and run with it. I used Missing Sync to import Palm proprietary-formatted information into Apple's applications and from there successfully into my iPhone. Highly recommended.

I purchased the Mark/Space's Missing Sync for the palm treo (I realize this isn't for the Palm, but is pertinent--please read on). Not only do their products not work, but they didn't offer a refund after proving it. After noticing duplicates in iCal and AddressBook and appointments being removed after syncs, I contacted their customer service.

After months of running third party programs and sending logs they finally said it wasn't their software. Instead it was the Apple "SyncServices" that was buggy (which wasn't the problem, read below). This was only after spending a lot of time to reproduce the problem and supply debugging information to them. They mentioned that there was a bug in a previous release and to upgrade. That didn't work and they said I'd have to re-import everything and upgrade the OS. I did all of this as well and completely reinstalled but still got the deleted iCal appointments and duplicates in iCall and AddressBook. There was also issues with the MarkSpace notes, but that's a different story.

After giving up and upgrading to the iPhone, I've no duplicates, missing data or any sync problems whatsoever. After upgrading to the iPhone, I didn't do anything at all with the operating system so it isn't a bug in Apple's SyncServices as they said it was.

During this whole period, the ticket would elapse (after 15 days or a month) and I'd have to start a new one, which involved going to their site and re-submitting user and problem data.

After all was said and done, they said that once a purchase was made, they weren't able to provide a refund. Needless to say, after all this, no refund was quiet frustrating and I wouldn't suggest any of their products to anyone given they way they don't take responsibility and are not accountable or the problems in their software.

The software wouldn't sync my HP iPaq 6315 and cannot be removed.
Avoid it like the plague. A total rip off.

Latest version works great! It syncs all stuff nicely, supports Palm categories, supports iTunes, supports AvantGo, allows you to export your memory card as disk drive right from Palm, sets Internet connection sharing so you can use internet from the Palm.
Great product!

Missing Sync is touted as being a better replacement to HotSync. Trust me it isn't. I wish the company had offered a trial before you buy as many compnies do. Now I know why. I was syncing successfully before I installed this program. Now my information will not sync with either Personal Organizer or Entourage, two programs they state they support. After several uninstalls and reinstalls, I have decided to uninstall and not purchase anymore software without a try before you buy.

Purchased the product for my Palm Pre to replace Chapura sync. Short story is I couldn't get it to work. Contacted tech support and they suggested disabling my virus software permanently to make it work. Yeah right! Still waiting for my refund. Looks like I'm going to have to get PayPal involved to get my money back which is a real pain in the....

I purchased the Missing Sync software to use on my new PalmOne Treo 650 (Mark/Space says that it is compatible on their website), but it didn't work at all. After installing the software (which disables the Hotsync Manager) you cannot sync between the PC and the PDA. I tried everything that Mark/Space recommended (soft reset, un-install, re-install, etc.),without any luck. When I finally gave up and asked for a refund they refused. If you're using a Treo 650 - don't buy Missing Sync!!

This was a great product at first. But once windows mobile was updated it became the worst nightmare I've ever had. It ruined 75% of my contacts and deleted atleast 10% of the rest. It would freeze every time I tried to sync my music and when I contacted their customer service they basically in not so few words told me it was my computers fault. I'm on a Mac, I'd have believed that if it was a PC. But I did a fresh install anyway just to prove it was there software. I've never heard from them since. Now I'm on an android phone and they want $40 not for their zero customer service software. I don't normally leave bad reviews unless you really screw me over. But yeah this is by far the worst computer software I've ever paid money for in my 29 years of life. Don't buy if you can possibly avoid it.