iPhone and iPod Wifi Application Syncing
Hi Everyone, Today I have been twittering with one of our listeners. Marie has the problem that she is using an iPhone application that she wants to sync with the desktop version of the same software.
Apple has not opened the MobileME sync mechanism to them. So they really have only two options. They have to host special web services to let their programs share data. That costs them money and management resources. It puts your data on their servers. So the other option is to let the desktop application recognize the iTouch based application across a local network and synchronize directly. Well that is a problem if you do not have a wireless router in your home.
Victor did a post on sharing your Evdo connection with your iPhone. This should work for the application sync problem if your desktop is something like a current iMac. If you run it wired to the Internet then just pick that as the share from instead of the Evdo mentioned in Victor’s post. That makes your mac act like a wireless access point. Your iPhone or iPod can then see it and your applications can sync. Oh and keep in mind the sharing has to be done on the mac you want to sync directly with.
Just keep in mind that this feature only supports the older WEP wireless encryption which is useless these days for privacy due to the ease it can be broken by someone with intent to get in. It only serves to stop someone from casually jumping on your wireless and seeing your network traffic.
So if you won’t buy a router then this is your only real option for applications that require local wireless connection to sync. Also please do NOT do this if it is your computer at work and you have not cleared it with your IT or IT Security department. It would open your company network and really tick off your IT folks and even can cost you your job in some environments. I know if I caught our employees doing it there would be a serious talking to…
