Hi Steve,
The current iPod sync has been working well, thanks very much. I haven't lost playlists since I reported it fixed some time ago. Is it intentional that the auto-sync progress is now hidden unless you click on the 'handheld' action window item?
It still would be very nice if you could enhance the sync process to have a more hands-free option. It's described in detail below, but the basic idea is:
* Dock portable media player
* MC counts down to auto-sync with cancel option
* MC starts sync when countdown is finished
* MC syncs all possible files without interruption and ignores errors
* MC counts down to eject with cancel option
* MC ejects portable media player
Thanks,
bg
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[Previous notes]
My normal portable usage goes something like this...
* Check email and dock my iPod
* MC starts iPod auto-sync
* (Several seconds pass before any warnings will be displayed)
* I immediately switch to another process or leave the room and do other tasks
* Eject iPod using system tray or by closing MC
* Grab iPod and head off to drive to a meeting, go for a run, etc.
Anything that could interrupt the sync, like a duplicates warning, means I can't just dock and forget it. Or that I do just dock and forget it, and then eject it without seeing the modal warning dialog that stopped the sync.
I don't want to have to monitor the sync, I would like it to work as much like the PocketPC sync as possible. With the PocketPC, you dock, the sync starts automatically, and you can remove it at any time. If there is an error in the process, the status icon for the sync indicates it and you open it to review and resolve any problems. I don't know of any way to get a bad sync by removing at the wrong time.
I know the iPod has a less sophisticated synching architecture than the PocketPC, but I would very much like the auto-sync to work like this:
- Dock iPod
- MC analyzes, deletes files, then transfers all possible files
- MC ignores incompatible files and duplicates, but logs them
- After auto-sync is completed, automatically eject iPod
- Display a warning icon/highlight if all selected files could not be transferred
- Display the transfer log if the warning icon is clicked
- Turn off warning icon after the log has been viewed.
Auto-eject could be confusing since some users may want to cancel the auto-sync and manage their iPod manually or use it as a HD. For this I would suggest a short countdown before the sync starts and a button to cancel the sync.
Action Window:
Auto-sync will start in 10 seconds (9,8,7...)
[Cancel] [Start]
If cancel is clicked then behave as if auto-sync was not invoked for this instance.
For a future version, it would be great to have a systray icon to show status.
Thanks,
bg
Author
Topic: Hands-free iPod Sync (Read 2310 times)