Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices) [LWN.net]

LinuxDevices looks at a Linux-to-Blackberry sync solution, now in beta testing. "Initially, PocketMac for Blackberry, Linux Edition (let's call it "PBLE") is currently being tested only on the Xandros distribution. Currently, it is designed to sync with the KDE PIM suite. Other Linux distributions will be supported in the near future, says the IAA, which did not offer any additional information on Linux application support."

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Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices)

Posted Oct 8, 2008 8:01 UTC (Wed) by rvfh (guest, #31018) [Link] (4 responses)

<rant>

Am I the only one wondering why Gnome and KDE do not use the same synchronisation back-end? I thought it was going to be the case with - what was the name again? - OpenSync...

I can understand that the GUIs differ, but surely the middle-ware could be shared? Then only one Blackberry-specific sync module would be needed for all...

</rant>

Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices)

Posted Oct 8, 2008 10:07 UTC (Wed) by nlucas (subscriber, #33793) [Link] (3 responses)

I would go even further and would ask why the hell do we need different GUI's between Gnome and KDE.

If someone likes Firefox it doesn't make sense to have a Qt version of Firefox and another version using Gtk.

The same can be said of Amarok or any other app. If it's good, it doesn't make sense to have clones of applications for each framework.

We don't need even more library wrappers for internal use of KDE or Gnome. What we need is good wrappers around KDE and Gnome, so a program can be framework neutral.

Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices)

Posted Oct 8, 2008 18:32 UTC (Wed) by foom (subscriber, #14868) [Link] (2 responses)

We don't need even more library wrappers for internal use of KDE or Gnome. What we need is good wrappers around KDE and Gnome, so a program can be framework neutral.

That sounds pretty impossible, and really, why bother? I have a gnome desktop and run lots of KDE apps on it. As far as I can tell, there's no problem with that...I'm sure the reverse works just as well.

Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices)

Posted Oct 9, 2008 11:57 UTC (Thu) by renox (guest, #23785) [Link] (1 responses)

Somehow I doubt that for example if you manage your contacts in a KDE application, a Gnome mailer would be able to suggest you the emails from your contact list..

So yes having KDE and Gnome mixed is possible, but only if you don't care too much about interoperability..

Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software (LinuxDevices)

Posted Oct 10, 2008 13:18 UTC (Fri) by wstephenson (guest, #14795) [Link]

Actually this is what the Akonadi project is aiming to do: a desktop-neutral local store for your email, contacts, appointments and other PIM. So given an Evolution ebook that backs on to Akonadi, you could very well read your mail in Evo that shares a contact list with pretty Plasma widgets.

It would be better to use the open source solution - barry

Posted Oct 8, 2008 8:38 UTC (Wed) by morhippo (guest, #334) [Link]

There is a blackberry syncing software that is OSS and has opensync plugins. I have not used it for syncing myself, but for backup purposes.

See http://www.netdirect.ca/software/packages/barry/

The project is GPL and on sourceforge. The latest version was published in September...