my name is mwd

For some reason people continue to write shonky software, despite the fact that Apple prove it generally can be done. The particular thing that has got on my goat at the moment is the software Motorola provide with the V3 RAZR under Windows. Now, on the Mac I have the slight weirdness that because the V3 isn’t supported with iSync over bluetooth I have to synchronise my contacts over USB and copy files over bluetooth. Weird, but 1) support for the V3 will be in Mac OS X 10.4 out in a couple of weeks, and 2) even though I have to use two paths, the two bits of software involved just work. iSync will not my phone over USB and just sync my address book and calendar.

But the Motorola Windows software is a work in pain. The interface seemed to be in addition to the standard Windows “we have detected new hardware…” box which is confusing, as two things claim to be installing your phone, leaving you unsure as to what’s the right thing to do. It’s not like Motorola didn’t know Windows would try and install the hardware, as it does that for pretty much everything you try and insert into a USB port. Then there’s the UI, which tries to look like a phone with and icon draw at the side, but no obvious “Transfer Files” option (which is what I wanted to do, as I’d left my bluetooth dongle at work, and I’m an impatient lad :), but I had to go to “Multimedia Center” instead.

It’s nonsense like this that makes me glad I own a Mac. The Mac isn’t devoid of stupidly designed third party add ons (the canon scanner driver we have springs to mind), but you typically can avoid it for most things, as common devices like phones tend to be well supported and work out the box. Even if you do need two mediums to do so!

</rant%gt