[missing-sync-pocketpc-talk] Re: [missing-sync-clie-talk] PPC conduits

[Brian Hall]

>People over at PocketMac forum
>http://discuss.cewindows.net/ubb/Forum46/HTML/000259.html are abuzz with
>the rumors of the upcoming MissingSync for PPC. There are many questions:
>1) Will it be free for MissingSync customers?

No, it will not be free. This has been, and will be, a *significant*
financial, time, and resource investment on the part of Mark/Space. Not
meaning to sound harsh here, but this IS a business. The (perhaps not
obvious) advantage is that a profitable product is a healthy product (gets
updated, upgraded, supported, etc). It is in our mutual interest for this
"virtuous cycle" to be present.

Pricing to be determined.

We may offer updgrade/sidegrade discounts. This is under internal
discussion/review.

I can say with certainty we won't charge *more* than PocketMac, nor *less*
than the CLIE version of Missing Sync ;-)

>2) Will it provide Entourage syncing?

Not in the 1.0. Although we realize this is a very popular request and it
is high on the list (if not at the top!) for what we do after 1.0. Our goal
is to provide a robust and stable experience. We add new features after
existing ones are stable. Similar to the CLIE where we had 1.0, 2.0 then
3.0 and each major release added major new functionality.

>3) What other conduits are planned?

For sure:
  Datebook -> iCal
  Task -> iCal
  Contacts -> Address.app

Very likely part of 1.0 (TBD):
  Notes (both text and bitmap) -> Our own note app
  Backup

High Priority, but NOT part of 1.0:
  Entourage

(Sure, it *could* be part of 1.0, but then you'd all be waiting longer for
1.0!)

>4) How will it differ from PocketMac?

The features other than PIM sync - iTunes/iPhoto support, desktop mounting
(this is a BIG feature - you treat the device like a hard drive, so you can
save to it from apps, double click on files to open them on the mac, use
the finder to copy, backup programs to do backups, etc).

Screen shots of these truly unique features are at the preview page,
http://www.markspace.com/pocketpcpreview.html

We also have international and US distribution (online and retail),
advertise and do trade shows, have experience in multiple
language/localization/support (we currently do
English/Japanese/French/German for CLIE Missing Sync), etc etc.

This is an exciting new product, and we're looking forward to the release!

Thanks for your support.

Brian