Migrating to iPhone :-(
David Cantrell
for it, the idiotic sync-with-cloud thing, and a couple of shiny iPhone
applications grabbing my attention, I've finally given up on Palm and
switched to an iPhone. Yeah, it has its limitations and some serious
drawbacks, but taken as a whole, it has fewer of 'em than the
non-existent Pre. And if the Pre does ever appear and if it ends up
having as good a developer community as PalmOS, then I might come back.
The one app that I need and haven't yet tracked down a replacement for -
or rather, I've found lots of replacements, but want a nice easy
migration path - if GNU Keyring. There's a tool here:
http://gnukeyring.sourceforge.net/conduits.html
to export my keys to XML, which I can then trivially mangle into any
other format. But can anyone recommend a work-a-like for iPhone that I
can easily import that data into?
Obviously, Windows "solutions" need not apply :-)
--
David Cantrell | Bourgeois reactionary pig
(PeteCresswell)
>...switched to an iPhone....
I'm thinking about merging my iPod and TX into an iTouch if they
come out with a 64-gigger in the fall.
Two questions:
1) Have you found a hierarchical list? I'm using Brainforest,
but just something that does the equivalent of MS Word in outline
mode is all I need.
2) Can iPhones be backed up to/restored from a PC?
--
PeteCresswell
David Cantrell
> 1) Have you found a hierarchical list? I'm using Brainforest,
> but just something that does the equivalent of MS Word in outline
> mode is all I need.
I've not looked.
> 2) Can iPhones be backed up to/restored from a PC?
They can certainly be backed up to a Mac - when they sync with iTunes,
everything gets backed up. No idea whether the PC version of iTunes
does that, but I'd be very surprised if it can't.
--
David Cantrell | Cake Smuggler Extraordinaire
comparative and superlative explained:
<Huhn> worse, worser, worsest, worsted, wasted
David Arnstein
David Cantrell <da...@cantrell.org.uk> wrote:
>They can certainly be backed up to a Mac - when they sync with iTunes,
>everything gets backed up. No idea whether the PC version of iTunes
>does that, but I'd be very surprised if it can't.
The Windows iTunes backs up everything too. I have not tested a full
restore back to iPod Touch. I really should too. Thansk for reminding
me.
--
David Arnstein (00)
arnstei...@pobox.com {{ }}
^^
David Arnstein
David Cantrell <da...@cantrell.org.uk> wrote:
>The one app that I need and haven't yet tracked down a replacement for -
>or rather, I've found lots of replacements, but want a nice easy
>migration path - if GNU Keyring. There's a tool here:
> http://gnukeyring.sourceforge.net/conduits.html
>to export my keys to XML, which I can then trivially mangle into any
>other format. But can anyone recommend a work-a-like for iPhone that I
>can easily import that data into?
Linkesoft has a collection of products named Secret!. There are
applications for Windows, MacOS, Palm, and iPhone/iPod. I personally
use the Windows and iPod programs and they sync with each other.
These products are not an exact replacement for GNU Keyring.
Basically, you get a collection of text files that are encrytped, and
sync encrypted.
Be careful about the MacOS component. Its web page mentions that
Missing Sync is also required for syncing. The author of these
programs is very responsive, you can ask him about your needs. Me, I
have not used the MacOS component so I can't tell you if it will work
for you.
By the way, I have now completely migrated from Palm to iPod Touch. I
find that the iTouch is grossly inferior to the Palm machines, as
PDAs. Like you, I do not accept the "cloud computing" aspect of Palm
Pre and iPhone. I had to decide between iPod Touch, and the smallest
Windows netbook I could find. I still don't know if I made the right
choice. But I made my choice already.
Here are some of the software applications that I use. Note that I
currently use Microsoft Windws, rather than MacOS:
Microsoft Outlook 2007:
I hate Outlook, but now I need it for calendar, tasks, notes, and
contacts. I also hate that I had to upgrade to recent version to get
the syncing functions that I need. Outlook 2003 is the oldest version
that will work. Use this, and you get effortless syncing of contacts,
calendar, and notes.
Chapura PocketCopy:
I used this to transfer all my personal data from Palm Desktop to
Microsoft Outlook. I only used it once! It worked well though, so it
was worth the money.
LinkeSoft Secret!:
I got the iPhone/iPod app and the Windows desktop app. They sync over
WiFi. This is where I put all of my passwords.
Mark/Space Missing Sync and Fliq Tasks:
Oddly enough, the native iPod/iPhone apps do NOT support a TODO list
(tasks). There is no ideal solution. The combination of Missing Sync,
Outlook 2007, and Fliq Tasks sync via WiFi, but it is pretty rough. In
correspondence with Mark/Space tech support, I was promised an
improved version off Fliq Tasks, soon. There are lots of versions of
Missing Sync (different combinations of platforms) so choose
carefully.
DDH Software Handbase:
A general purpose "database" program that has iPhone/iPod component
and Windows desktop component. These sync with each other via WiFi.
Actually, these programs could be used to develop an encrypted
password store, like LinkeSoft Secret! (above). I use Secret! because
I am familiar with it.
Harold Fuchs
"David Arnstein" <arns...@panix.com> wrote in message
news:h3dvpi$t3e$2...@reader1.panix.com...
> In article <20090712214...@bytemark.barnyard.co.uk>,
> David Cantrell <da...@cantrell.org.uk> wrote:
>>They can certainly be backed up to a Mac - when they sync with iTunes,
>>everything gets backed up. No idea whether the PC version of iTunes
>>does that, but I'd be very surprised if it can't.
>
> The Windows iTunes backs up everything too. I have not tested a full
> restore back to iPod Touch. I really should too. Thansk for reminding
> me.
Errm.
Does iTunes on Windows back up Contacts? Calendar? Notes? Safari bookmarks?
If you run an App like Bloomberg, you configure it with a list of stocks you
are interested in following, several lists of "markets" (currencies,
commodities, equity indices etc.) and a list of news categories. Does iTunes
back up those lists?
I think your definition of "everything" is different from mine.
Harold Fuchs
London, England
Jim Anderson
iTunes on windows backs up everything and will restore everything, but
not just something, it all or nothing.
DevilsPGD
<m...@privacy.net> was claimed to have wrote:
>Does iTunes on Windows back up Contacts?
Yes.
>Calendar?
Yes.
>Notes?
Yes.
>Safari bookmarks?
Yes.
>If you run an App like Bloomberg, you configure it with a list of stocks you
>are interested in following, several lists of "markets" (currencies,
>commodities, equity indices etc.) and a list of news categories. Does iTunes
>back up those lists?
Yes. Not the "lists" themselves, but the underlying data files.
>I think your definition of "everything" is different from mine.
I'm not sure what your definition is, but the iTunes definition includes
all user applications and data on the device.
The only exceptions are mainly involving media, which is also handled by
iTunes (but is separate from the device backup since loading GBs of
media to the device then copying it back for backup would be
particularly stupid)
The other remaining exception is the order of home screen icons. This
is an artifact of the way the restore process works, iTunes restores
applications and data separately, the home screen preference file is
restored before applications are loaded, so the home screen will
actually end up with the built-in applications in the order they
appeared when you backed up, followed by all third party applications.
The results are similar to if you manually deleted all your third party
apps and then restored them individually.
Harold Fuchs
"Jim Anderson" <jos...@charter.my_finger.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.24c50368c...@nntp.charter.net...
Hmm. Sorry. I mis-spoke. I said "back up" but I was thinking "synchronise".
--
Harold Fuchs
London, England
David Cantrell
> Linkesoft has a collection of products named Secret!. There are
> applications for Windows, MacOS, Palm, and iPhone/iPod. I personally
> use the Windows and iPod programs and they sync with each other.
>
> These products are not an exact replacement for GNU Keyring.
> Basically, you get a collection of text files that are encrytped, and
> sync encrypted.
I ended up using Keeper <http://callpod.com/products/keeper>.
Data on the phone is encrypted and protected by a password, and gets
backed up by iTunes. To extract it as plain-text (which is essential -
I'm sure I won't use an iPhone for ever) you need to buy their desktop
app, which is a bit annoying. But that's also how you import your old
data, and the 14 yankee-dinars I paid for it was worth it for that
alone, as for me to re-type 300 usernames/password *correctly* on the
iPhone would have taken *hours*.
The one missing feature is categories, but that's not terribly important
for this app.
> find that the iTouch is grossly inferior to the Palm machines, as
> PDAs. Like you, I do not accept the "cloud computing" aspect of Palm
> Pre and iPhone.
The iPhone isn't really cloudy in the same way that the Pre is, as it
syncs with the desktop. That it can do cloud jibber-jabber *as well*
is a *good* thing.
But yes, as a PDA it has some fairly serious shortcomings:
Calendar: can't configure it to automatically add an alarm to events;
onyl a very limited choice of alarm times; doesn't make good use of
the user interface - eg, can't "swipe" from one day to another. And
annoyingly, you can't install a different interface to the same
database like you could on PalmOS - Apple won't let anyone develop it.
Tasks: errm, what tasks? FWIW, I now use Toodledo.
Mail: the mail client hangs when it tries to contact my IMAP server, and
eventually crashes. I believe this is because it stupidly assumes
that everything in my home directory, including .cpan and .git, are
mailboxes, and that it needs to generate a list of every available
mailbox and all its children. Stupid. But even if it didn't do that,
the user interface is appalling and it's impossible to use. But
that's OK, I never used any PalmOS mail app either.
> Here are some of the software applications that I use ...
>
> Chapura PocketCopy:
> I used this to transfer all my personal data from Palm Desktop to
> Microsoft Outlook. I only used it once! It worked well though, so it
> was worth the money.
I used Missing Sync for that. And likewise, only used it once. If
anyone would like to buy the licence off me, make me an offer :-)
> DDH Software Handbase:
I think I used their Palm app ages and ages ago. It couldn't easily do
what I wanted then, but I think I should take another look!
--
David Cantrell | Hero of the Information Age
Fashion label: n: a liferaft for personalities
which lack intrinsic buoyancy
David Arnstein
Harold Fuchs <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>Hmm. Sorry. I mis-spoke. I said "back up" but I was thinking "synchronise".
If you are asking if iTunes synchronizes all applications, the answer
is no.
iTunes synchronizes contacts, calendar, notes, mail, browser
bookmarks; possibly a few other items that I forgot. These items all
relate to iPod applications supplied by Apple "out of the box." These
items sync efforlessly. In the default configuration, you connect iPod
to peecee via USB and these items all sync immediately.
Apple does not provide a method for third party applications to sync
via USB, or any other means. The third party developers have to build
a method themselves. This means WiFi to your peecee, usually. I
emphasize that each developer has to reinvent this wheel for his app.
Not very efficient.
This is very inconvenient. When I want to sync via USB, I have to
1. Connect USB cable, wait for native Apple apps to sync.
2. Launch Fliq Tasks app on iPod Touch, tap button to sync it (WiFi).
3. Launch Handbase on both iPod and peecee, instruct both programs to
sync (WiFi).
4. Launch Secret! on both iPod and peecee, enter password into both
programs, instruct both programs to sync (WiFi).
I wish that Apple would provide an API to developers so that this
process could be streamlined. Palm's conduit system comes to mind.