Disappointment

So I was all excited earlier this year when I heard about Google Calendar Sync, which would not only export my calendar data, but actually sync it with another application. Unfortunately, it only syncs with Microsoft Outlook, and I use Palm Desktop (with my Sony CLIE PEG-NX70V. Long story. Don't get me started).

Surely, I thought, there must be a better solution! I knew lots of companies make third-party conduits for syncing various data sources with Palm OS devices, so I finally went looking tonight, and sure enough, CompanionLink makes a product to sync directly between Google Calendar and Palm Desktop. I immediately downloaded the 14-day trial, and while waiting for the file, read their setup guide. It all seemed pretty standard until this part:

For Password, fill in your password. (NOTE: This must contain only alphanumeric (A through z and 0 through 9) characters. If it contains anything else, then you will not be able to use CompanionLink for Google Calendar at this time.)

What. The. FUCK.

I'm not giving anything away when I tell you that I include punctuation in my passwords. You're telling me that in order for me to use your product, I have to change my password? And not only that, I have to change my password to something less secure? Are you out of your mind?

I really can't think of a single good reason why they couldn't support non-alphanumeric characters in passwords. It can't be a transmission issue; hell, HTML includes escape codes for any damn character you want, and a whole bunch more you probably don't. Are they lazy? Incompetent? Or just uncaring? In any case, I'm not wasting my time or money on them.

So I'm still looking for a good way to sync my Google Calendar with my PalmPilot (yes, I still call it that, and yes, I'm going to keep using it until it dies). I may just break down and use the Google utility to sync to Outlook, then buy PocketMirror or Intellisync to sync Outlook with Palm Desktop. It'll be kludgey, but still less offensive than the alternative.

~CKL