I got a new Sony Ericsson W880i this weekend and, although it’s not officially support by Apple’s iSync, I had gambled that, like other SE models, I would be able to hack the plugin files to get it working.
However, A few hours spent in front of the Mac on Sunday morning and I’ve managed to duplicate Apple’s W810 plugin and modify it so that the W880 works (over USB and Bluetooth)!
Once I’ve sorted out the minor bugs I hope to release this plugin as an installable PKG file and then expand the series to support other models that iSync doesn’t support out of the box.
For now though, I need a few Beta testers to use my plugin and report any results.
Install Instructions:
Download the tar.gz file below and double click to uncompress it. Place the uncompressed “SonyEricsson-W880.phoneplugin” folder into your:
“Macintosh HD::Users::yourusername::Library::PhonePlugins”
directory (create this if it does not exist) and restart iSync. Then just search for your phone and away you go!
You can also place the folder into the system Library folder but until I’ve ironed out any bugs I suggest that you stick to your personal folder to begin with.
Troubleshooting:
Some users have reported sync failures when pairing was initiated from the Mac. I’m not sure why this would be but I think it’s more a bluetooth problem than specifically to do with iSync as it seems to affect file transfers too. The solution seems to be re-pairing from the phone itself.
If you find this plugin useful, please consider making a small donation to help me make more!
Download the plugin for iSync 2.3 (Tiger 10.4.8) here.
Plugin for iSync 2.4 (Tiger 10.4.9) ALPHA here.
EXPERIMENTAL: Installable package for 10.4.9 and later here. Download, unzip, double-click. If this works for you, please let me know!
I also have instructions to get the Address Book app working with SMS and Call notification.
Update: 21/03/2007
Version 0.2 coming soon – Fixed 10.4.9 compatibility, modified support information.
You’re the man
Hi:
just wanted to say that the plug-in was a success on OS X 10.5.1 now i can iSync my w880i to my mac thank you so much!!
Just to let you know that the installer package worked perfectly on 10.4.11! Thanks loads for this!
great, the installment pack even automatically work on 10.5
Thanks! Your experimental plugin works perfect on my Leopard with w880i
You are the best one! Works fine with Jaguar.
Hello David,
Thank your for the plugin! It works perfectly and the installation package is very nice.
Man, this is nice thanks so much
Just downloaded, copied to a new folder and then replaced all occurances of 880 to 890 – worked a treat with my W890i
Why Apple / Sony couldn’t do something so simple is beyond me!
G
Thnks for this wonderful app! I first tried to download and make the folder manually but this didn’t worked. Now I’ve downloaded and installed it on my mac and it works like the cherry on the cake! Even I’m running Leopard and using iSync 3.0
The experimental installable package works perfect on my Leopard with iSync v3.0. I just had to vinculate the phone to the computer and then iSync was able to find the device…
Good work!
Hi,
I have just installed the experimental version of the plugin for 10.4.9 and later on my macbook air (version 10.5.2) and it has added the device and seems to be sync-ing all my contact now just fine.
Thanks !
Alexia
hi david,
installing the plugin on mac os x, leopard, macbook. using it with my w200I.
works nice ! thank you !!
pio
The experimental plugin seems to work great with leopard on my macbook, great job.
I don’t suppose you have anything in the works for the just release W890i? My g/f wants my 880i so am thinking about getting the 890i… just a thought
Just downloaded the package and installed on my 10.5.2 macbook. works perfectly all contacts on my phone without any errors.
Great Job! Thanks a lot
Hi – thank you, thank you, thank you.
Have been using MobileSync for years, but it’s no longer supporting OSX 5.x, Office 2008, etc.
Used your ‘experimental’ version, installed it, ran iSync 3.02 and it found my phone first time and synced perfectly.
Thank you.
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Just used the experimental package on Leopard and it works perfectly. Many thanks.
Hello David,
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Your program worked perfectly on my w880i and OS X 10.5.3. Thank you so much!
At the end of my day and was so disappointed by my phone being a pain. Found your app and… well what do you say to your excellence?
Thanks.
It works like a breeze. Thanks a million!
I hate to be the one in 170 having trouble, but my library doesn’t seem to have a Phone Plug-Ins file and I’m ignorant enough not to know what to put where. There is a “Phone” file, but no “directory” inside. Is that it? Should I just name a file “Phone Plug-Ins” then one called “Directory” inside and put the plug in there? Thanks for your help.
Works like a charm. Thank you very much!
Installed the file with the EXPERIMENTAL file. It asked my password and it installed quickly and without problems. I found it back though in the MAIN LIBRARY of my Mac Mini, not in username/Library. Since I don’t have my (2nd hand) W880i yet, I can’t test if it works. I opened the Folders and found the little tiff, only in BLACK. Would be nice if I could download a silver model too, as that’s the one I’m going to buy.
Thanks for the great plugin, I sync’d my W880i with isync 3.02 all good.
Installation and synchronization worked flawlessly between my w880i and macbook pro running Leopard 10.5.4. I used the ‘experimental’ installer and synced via bluetooth!
Thanx a lot!
If you have a little spare time left and like it to tweak around with applescript you definitely have to check out this blog:
http://web.mac.com/jhollington/technocrat/The_Technocrat/Entries/2007/3/18_Bluetooth_Proximity_Detection_on_OS_X.html
It allows you to monitor bluetooth Proximity so you can add actions when you w880i enters or leaves the bluetooth range. This way you can sync your phones calendar automatically when you come near your macbook.
It also allows you to lock your mac when you leave the room and unlock it when you come back. (That is: If you don’t forget your phone..
Have fun!
Jim ;o)
That’s correct – the installer places the plugin into the main library. As it’s an installer rather than a self installed module I chose to place it there. This also means that anyone using the computer can sync with an 880, not just the person who installed the plugin.
Thanks,
David.
Travis,
I suggest you download the experimental installer instead of trying to install by yourself if you are having problems. It seems to work like a charm!
Thanks,
David.
The experimental installer works perfectly in Leopard!
Tons of props to you!
Thanks a lot
Oscar
Denmark
I didn´t get it work at first but then realized that I hadn´t set up the Bluetooth-connection properly. After first adding the computer as a bluetooth unit in the phone it worked.
Thank you for the program, real nice job!
Great install package!! Worked great on Leo!!
Thnks a lot!
Hi,
Installed on 10.4.11 and works without any problems together with a W880i.
David you are a superman!!! After struggling to put my W880i contact into my Mac I found your article and it worked:) Thanks a lot!!!!!
Thanks for the installer. Got a perfect sync via bluetooth.
What a hero. Used the experimental installable package for 10.4.9 and later on 10.5.5. Works like a charm. Beautiful.
Worked like a charm! Thank you!
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dude it works great tnx nothing to complain
God bless you man! thx a lot!
as with glyn – i changed all instances of 880 to 890 to get it going on my new 890 – the only difference being that for some reason my phone plugin is outside my user directory – thanks all
Just wanted you to know that your installer package still works with OS 10.5.6! Thanks again for the good work!
Hey!
I’ve been experiencing a problem with the W880-plugin: when I sync it with my iCal it puts the activities an hour early on my phone. What might be wrong? is there something I can do?
Thank you!
Christian,
Please see comment no. 115 for the solution to your problem
)
Regards,
David.
PowerBook G4 + 10.5.6 + experimental installer =
Thanks David.
I was researching the w880 and finding your site was the decider. Just got the phone an hour ago. Worked straight up.
Thanks mate, great work,
Herb.
thanks buddy that works a dream, not a single problem
just installed the experimental package on a 10.5.7. Mac OS X, and it works well. thanks.