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[#1]

If you're a Mac user like me who has a BlackBerry, I'm sure you've cursed and complained about the dismal options for syncing (not to mention backing up or updating) your BlackBerry with your computer. When I used Windows, fine it was less than a year ago, there was no problem. I synced my 'Berry with Outlook or Google or whatever. I could connect it up and have a nice backup of the device. Heck I could even load music onto it via iTunes.

Then I got a Mac.

Since then, iCal, Google Calendar, and my 'Berry calendar have been in a constant battle for supremacy. Don't even get me started about contacts and addresses. Updates? Yeah I did those. It died in the middle of the update and wiped out my whole device. Had to start over.

From scratch.

Twice.

Well finally our long wait is over. RIM released their BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac today and ...

It actually works.

No, really, it works. It backed up my 'Berry, then updated all the software. Then I synced it up with Address Book and iCal. I had lost Tasks and Notes at some point (don't ask I have no idea how), but I could just <gasp> reinstall them! Then I could sync those up with iCal. I'm even able to have a "normal" looking calendar now. Sure I still subscribe to my Google Calendar, but that's to see my fiancée's calendar, not mine.

I have My 'Berry sync to Google and then 'Berry to iCal and AddressBook. I think I might actually have a handle on my contacts now.

One of the big fears we Mac users have is that when a rather PC-centric company like RIM releases a Mac app, that it's going to look, well, terrible. Terrible looks, okay we can live with that, but often the app is very "un-Mac-like" in how it behaves. I am happy to tell you ...

The app, it's functions, and UI are all very Mac-like. Here are some screenshots. First the main screen:

 

This is the calendar sync screen:

You can download theBlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac straight from RIM and for more info and reviews TUAW--BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives--and MacWorld have the goods as well--RIM releases official BlackBerry desktop software for Mac | Utilities | iPhone Central | Macworld.

Good job RIM. Here and we all thought you hated Mac users, you were just teaching us a lesson in patience.

Message Edited by Laura on 10-08-2009 02:11 PM