It's like opening a birthday gift just to find that the box is empty. So is Google/Apple issuing a 'fix' anytime soon? There's no way they won't do something about it w/ all the uproar, is there?

professorjay

Works with iSync or so it seems to me.

RickStirling

Good job, Apple. Only iPhone owners could possibly want to have their address book synchronized between their computer and Google.

ShavenYak

i don't know...i'm missing something here. i backed up my gmail contacts and checked the sync box, but how do i get it to sync?

twins8791

Yeah that auto add is garbage... I don't need every info@ or sales@ address to be automatically added to my iphone...

geohunt.ca

there's no way i'll sync address book with my gmail contacts until i can turn off auto-add to contact list in gmail.

twins8791

I've used a windows mobile phone with outlook and it's very nice. I'd love something OTA. Basically IMAP is OTA sync for email and it works great. Unfortunately I'm really scared of using most sync software out there. Completely perfect is the only acceptable result for something that's going to be handling my crucial data. Outlook <-> Windows mobile basically meets that standard as does IMAP for email. I can't accept corruption nor do I want to clean up after any extra crap that's added. Outlook-WM syncing does seem to duplicate birthday entries which are yearly recurrences that are linked to contacts but that's about it. And of course it doesn't handle time zones. I'd also probably consider it unacceptable for gmail to put everyone I ever emailed automatically into my main contact list. They should separate that out.

PalmerSparrow

@anwill: But how did you sync it, then? There is no sync menu item or button. It only activates when I sync my Touch.

zingbot

This isn't true. I'm using it without an iPhone on a desktop and a laptop. My contacts are synced between the computers and google.

anwill

Oh I just answered my own question. After looking at the FAQ, seems to be two-way.

ww2db.com

Two way sync or just one way?

ww2db.com

@HalSF: Heh, you're right, this deserves a headline update. I was tempted by your version, but went with something a little shorter. :)

Gina Trapani

Wow, this was my delicious little software cupcake of the day until I read the spoiler news here in the comments. Gina, perhaps revise the headline to read "Mac OS X's Address Book Can Now Sync Google's Contacts In Exchange for a Small $800 Additional Purchase (plus 2-year AT&T Plan)"

HalSF

damn i was REALLY hoping for ical / google cal sync

gorilly

It is soooo soooo Microsoft'ish behavior .. why limit it for iPhone??

naorm

No more excuses for Microsoft, lets get something to sync outlook with Google now!

AvatarZ

Apple, why? You know some enterprising hacker is going to figure this out anyway. Very, very poor... we expect more from Apple.

oszen

Wow, that is really crappy. Just as bad as them forcing Safari on Windows users. What the frak, Apple? So now you need to purchase an iPhone to unlock OS X features? Total BS. I fear a slippery slope...

Gina Trapani

Apparently you will only get the Google sync option if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch. via [arstechnica.com]

samuraispy

iPhone users only.

Derek

the big question is... when is Microsoft going to update Outlook to synchronize with Google (Gmail)

nedarb

Apple, please add Google Contact sync to iTunes for Windows! This way, I can ditch Outlook and my hosted Exchange Server account for Gmail & Google contacts.

Oh, and while you're at it, please add Google Calendar sync to iTunes for Windows too!

rickhuizinga

Isn't this feature only for iPhone users? Also, when I open the Address Book preferences .mac, Exchange, and Yahoo are listed but *not* Google!

samuraispy

Bizarre. I don't get the Google box. I've just done the 10.5.3 update - I get Exchange/Yahoo/.Mac but no Google. grr.

ajtaylor

Hold on, I can sync without my ipod in.

Removed my ipod.

Created a contact in Gmail called atest, email atest@ickle.com

Hit the sync button in iSync and it appeared in my Address book.

iTunes doesn't have to be running, I've it tried it with both.

RickStirling

ugh, I didnt see the iPhone users only before I updated to 10.5.3, oh well.

nka

I think perhaps a correct headline would be: ...iPhone and/or iPod Touch Owners Only, UGH. But that's nitpicky I know. I have an iPod Touch and no iPhone (Canadian), and the Sync with Google option is there for me.

I'd have preferred two-way syncing with iCal/Google Calendar, but such is life. Either way, I'm not impressed Apple.

ross.m

@ShavenYak: i don't understand why anyone would want all the auto-added addresses muddying up their address book.

twins8791

Seriously? Switch to Linux? Over this? Disclaimer: I'm a Linux sysadmin as well as a MacBook Pro owner.

Let me give you a bit of a highlight from this weekend, getting my HP DV2412ca laptop up and running with Ubuntu 8.04. Specifically, getting the onboard wireless to work:

$ sudo su -
# apt-get install ndiswrapper-utils cabextract

download WinXP wifi driver from HP's site

# cd ~/Downloads
# cabextract sp34723.exe
# ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
# vi /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

blacklist bcm43xx
blacklist b43

# vi /etc/modules.conf

ndiswrapper

# modprobe ndiswrapper
# ifconfig eth1

hrm. Still not working. A quick Google says that the ssb kernel module has to load *after ndiswrapper*

# rmmod ndiswrapper
# rmmod ssb
# modprobe ndiswrapper
# modprobe ssb
# ifconfig eth1

Ah! There it is. Great.

Reboot.

Doesn't work. Right. Make sure that ssb gets loaded afterwards during startup too.

# vi /etc/rc.local

rmmod ssb
modprobe ndiswrapper

(hrm. maybe I should just blacklist ssb altogether ... ah well).

Reboot. Hey! Wireless! Great! Now I select the Wireless network icon, select the network, enter my password, and then go. That was easy!
---

versus wireless on my Mac: Click the Airport icon, select the network, enter password and go.

So seriously? You're switching to Linux over not being able to sync contacts to Google? Enjoy!

michealk

According to the Macrumors forum:

Open the com.apple.iPod.plist with Property List Editor, and change the "Family ID" to 10001. Save.

[forums.macrumors.com]

joshuaferris

iphone < (& mo $$) blackberry

iao_

@michaelk
Was all that really necessary?
Didn't exactly contribute to the topic of this post.

Anywho, Gina, I think you're right about the "slippery slope." It would seem that Apple,Inc. is letting their stellar ascent towards market share equality in 'puters and software (and absolute dominance in MP3 players) get to their heads. With each major uptick in market share, they seem to employ a more brash business tactic as part of an increasingly aggressive business strategy. This is not the first example of this.
C'mon, Apple, please don't sabotage your successful ascent by alienating a large chunk of your market with garbage tactics like this!
Steve Jobs, are you listening?

usnmustanger

According to Macrumors, they say:

Open the com.apple.iPod.plist with Property List Editor, and change the "Family ID" to 10001. Save.

Open Address Book and check your preferences.

[forums.macrumors.com]

joshuaferris

I wonder when are we going to have something similar in windows/linux

ChambrasWeed

wtf? over.
More evidence of Late Capitalism.
The decadence is even destroying the good guys.
Watch for more

leoeris

I want this for Windows/Outlook!

DreamFlasher

Try this:

[www.rsart.co.uk]

It's working for me, but it might be because I have an iPod touch, even though it's not connected.

RickStirling

You may find the following to solve this issue, but use it at your own risk. http://www.technicalstressings.com/?p=121

AdleyAulus

[www.google.com]

Lilx

Finally, holy crap.

Myles

Uh... wow... who said you needed an iPod touch / iPhone... it's just saying you can sync it with your iPhone...

johngrinde

How do you get this to work? I have it set up, but none of my contacts have been synced over to gmail...

geohunt.ca

This is a stupid move by Apple which will only attract more negative press. I really don't understand the logic in locking out Apple users who don't happen to have purchased an iPhone/iPod Touch ? Do they think this is something that would encourage them to do so ? If so I think they have to re-assess this theory....

ukmac

There's another Lifehacker thread at [lifehacker.com] that contains a lot of information on how to make this work. A lot depends on whether or not you have an iPhone or Touch (I do not).

Instead of trying to rehash everything on this thread as well, suggest you look over there if you can't get it to work. Your mileage may vary...I had to go through a good amount of tweaking (all of which may not have been necessary) with my trial and error, but I do have it working now.

-Gary

psulion