Motorola Q and your Mac

Out of the box, the Motorola Q does not support the Macintosh platform. The latest alpha release of third party software Missing Sync for Windows Mobile provides hope for Mac users. Read how we were able to get the Mac working with the Moto Q.

Motorola Q and Mac

Ok, so you own a Mac and it makes sense that you want a cool smartphone that works with the Mac. Up until now, that list ended at the Palm Treo 700p (which is very cool and Mac friendly). Enter Mark/Space and their Missing Sync for Windows Mobile software. The application is currently considered an "alpha" version, so don't expect a full supported release just quite yet.It runs the latest version of Tiger and has Bluetooth built-in. You can read the full requirements at Mark/Space.

Your mileage may vary, but here's how I got the Q to work with my PowerBook which met the criteria for successfully using Missing Sync.

Introduce Your Q To Your Mac

First things first, you'll need to install a copy of Mark/Space's Missing Sync for Windows Mobile 2.5. The only way to get this is to purchase version 2.0 and then upgrade to 2.5. Once again, buyer beware, because version 2.5 is still not "ready for primetime".

With Missing Sync for Windows Mobile installed, I wanted to establish communication between my Q and the Mac. First thing we'll do is make your Q available.

Go to your Q and press the left "soft button" above Home
Use the side scroll to select Bluetooth
Select Bluetooth Manager
Select Settings and check "All other Bluetooth devices to see this phone
Press the left soft button Done twice. Press the Home button

Go to your Apple menu and open System Preferences
Open Bluetooth
Set-up new Device
Your Mac will now look for the Motorola Q. Upon finding the Q, it will provide you with a pairing code. Enter this code on your Q.

Adding Q to Mac

Once you complete this process, notice the Q is now listed among your Bluetooth devices.

Moto Q Listed in Bluetooth Devices image

The Mac and the Q have now established a Bluetooth relationship which is necessary for Missing Sync to work properly. At this time, Missing Sync only supports syncing through a Bluetooth connection. No worries because we've just got that out of the way.

I then proceeded to attempt to sync the Q with my Mac. I initiated the first ActiveSync using the following steps:

Press the left soft button on your Q
Select ActiveSync

Using the right soft button, select Menu and then 'Connect Via Bluetooth'
Press Add to configure a new ActiveSync partner

Select the Mac you've set up. In my case, it was Chris' PowerBook

The Q will initiate an ActiveSync process as shown below

If successful, your Motorola Q will now attempt to connect to Missing Sync for Windows Mobile using your Bluetooth connection. The first time it connects, the Missing Sync on the desktop will alert you that it's a new smartphone and will need to install Missing Sync on the phone. Select OK and Missing Sync will transfer a CAB file to your Moto Q. Select OK and proceed. Once installed, your Q will notify you that it has successfully installed the Missing Sync CAB file.

Missing Sync installed on Q

During communication between the Mac and the Moto Q, you should see the following on your Mac desktop.

Moto Q connecting with Powerbook screen

With this in place, we're on the final steps on getting your Mac working with your Q smartphone.

Press the left soft button and go back to ActiveSync
Using the right soft button, select Menu and then 'Connect Via Bluetooth'
Select your Mac
Missing Sync will now start syncing with your iApps

In this screenshot, the dialog asks "Motorola Q would like to sync Contacts with Address Book". As you can see from the screenshot, it's syncing with my dot mac, my Treo and a host of phones. Of course, you select Allow to start the process. During the sync process, the Motorola screen goes dark. This is normal

Sync Address Book with Q on Tiger

The Motorola Q will then attempt to sync your iCal events and you'll see the dialog, "Motorola Q would like to sync Calendars with iCal and other applications. The answer to this is of course to allow the sync to happen.

Sync iCal with Motorola Q screenshot

Conclusion

That completes the tutorial on how to get your Motorola Q working on a Macintosh. For more information, please visit Mark/Space and you can also sign up for an updates on the Missing Sync for Windows Mobile release. If you sign for the Everything Q eNewsletter, you'll also be notified of the release. While the process above went very smooth, I did spend a few months trying unsuccessfully to get a Treo 700w working on the Mac. Using the process outlined above, I've been able to get both the 700w and Motorola Q working. To discuss the Motorola Q and Mac, please visit our forums.

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Jason said:

	I see that it is possible to connect the Q through bluetooth and tiger. But, is it possible to connect through USB with 10.3.9??? I really don't want to buy a PC, I love my powerbook. Thanks, Jason
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October 23, 2006
Votes: +1

Jeff Davis said:

	Awesome Program, easy to use, nice set up... Everything I wanted and more... Get this software and go download the mac skin from this website... http://www.kooldezine.com/Q.htm Like Borat says "It's Niiiice"
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November 04, 2006
Votes: +0

J.R. said:

	I have done everything above.... still not syncing.... this is what my Q is saying.... to sync with a desktop computer, install ActiveSync on your computer and then connect this device... If your computer supports syncing directly with its Exchange Server you can set uup your device to sync with it. Please help....
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November 10, 2006
Votes: +1

Theresa Boldrini said:

	This software is highly recommended, thank you!
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November 26, 2006
Votes: +0

Joseph said:

I've followed all directions but when I try to connect using ActiveSync I get the following message from my BlueTooth manager...
---
Unanble to establish a connection.
Please make sure the device is enable and in range. Also verify that the requested service is available.
---

Crazy thing is that this used to work. I was able to sync using bluetooth at one time. It didn't work all the time mind you...sometimes it wouldn't connect but it did work. And the worse part is now I can't even sync using the USB cable.

please help
:-

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December 02, 2006
Votes: +4

JR2 said:

i'm getting this too:

to sync with a desktop computer, install ActiveSync on your computer and then connect this device...

If your computer supports syncing directly with its Exchange Server you can set uup your device to sync with it.

_____

says connecting, then for a flash says connected. then comes up with that screen (above).

strange this is that i've already synced successfully a few days ago. any ideas?

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December 08, 2006
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bryan said:

	Does this sync work only with tiger version of OS for mac? can it work with lower version, which I have on my powerbook?
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December 20, 2006
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Dan Faust said:

	I followed the above process and it worked fine the first time but have tried repeatedly to connect again with Missing Sync with no success. I have no trouble with a bluetooth connection to my Mac and can always browse the Q from the Mac's bluetooth browse device option but Missing Sync will not see the Q no matter what I try.
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December 29, 2006
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Myles Weinstein said:

	I've gone through every step in this tutorial and I only get as far as seeing the "starting connection" with the two dots. Then nothing happens.
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February 24, 2007
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Justin S. Richter said:

	Beautiful program except for no internal navigation from the phone on the computer. I am running on an Intel Mac, the phone stays at the same page, but everything updates when run sync on the computer. Disconnects simply and easily with one click. Very good adaptation.
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March 09, 2007
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Paul Rutten said:

	I have been reading and rereading everything on here and I still cannot find the method to sync using my USB connection. My Mac does not have bluetooth. Am I missing the explanation somewhere?
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March 09, 2007
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Britblogger said:

	I'm getting the same error - 2 dots on my Mac's screen, and no message saying that it's received the CAB file at all... where's the help here? What a waste of $35, I'm getting my money back.
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March 10, 2007
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Britblogger said:

	I got it working. Reading the help menu in Missing Sync gave me additional info which I think solved my problem - you MUST remember to quit/delete ALL previous pairing between your MotorolaQ and your Mac - then re-pair, follow the above instructions and voila! awesome app - I'm playing around with installing new homescreens etc - very cool.
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March 10, 2007
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don said:

	how do you quit/delete ALL previous pairing between your MotorolaQ and your Mac?
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March 19, 2007
Votes: +1

Blake Swanson said:

	I was getting thoes screens also but when i ran the program on the mac and hit sync everything went from the mac to the Q... also i tried connecting the usb and it worked right off...
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March 23, 2007
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kristi said:

I found another site that describes another step. You have to go to the Missing Sync app, right-click or control-lick on it and go to "Show Package Contents." Copy MissingSync.CAB to your phone via Bluetooth. On your Q, go to My Documents and select MissingSync.CAB. It will install. Reboot your phone if it doesn't do it on its own. Reboot your Mac. Then try the steps above. Here is the link I found: http://www.everythingq.com/for...ac-84.html . Go to the headline/posting called "Using alpha version of The Missing Sync." I got it to work this way. I am runniong OS X 10.4.9 (Intel Mac).

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April 04, 2007
Votes: +1

darthbass said:

	The example above shows syncing with iCal. Can I sync my Q with my Entourage calendat and contacts?
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July 16, 2007
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Linda - CA said:

	I am used to syncing with a usb cable on my PC as well. How secure is syncing this to my Mac using blue tooth technology?
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August 30, 2007
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Leilani Q said:

	I have the latest version of missingsync and it works great. having the ability to mount it like any other computer and add and delete files is great plus syncing with all the applications works. I just want an icon for it and iconfactory doesn't have it- any clues? also is there anyway to make even more.. well.. like a mac?
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September 01, 2007
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Bryant Coffey said:

	I have my Moto Q. I have my Mac and Missing Sync, which is fantastic! And when I disconnect my phone from my Mac it freezes up and makes me reboot my mac...anyway to disconnect without rebooting my computer?
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September 02, 2007
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Tristan T said:

	This was very easy to do. I think from start to finish (start being i purchased the software) to sync was like 15 minutes. Thanks!!!!
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September 04, 2007
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TJ said:

	Will it run with the Leopard OS?
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November 06, 2007
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Randy Johnson said:

	this is good info. i've only had my mac for a couple of days so i may ask dumb questions. first, where does one read the answers to the above questions? second, do you think i can sync with leopard? third, will i still be able to sync with my kludgey windows machine in the office? thanks.
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November 20, 2007
Votes: +3

Shack said:

	According to Mark/Space support you also need to make a change in the phone settings to allow sync via USB. Start > Settings > Connections > USB to PC and disable the "advanced network support" option there. This has worked twice for me when the phone would not sync. You also need to change the setting anytime you hard reset the phone.
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