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Houston, we have a problem. One of the biggest issues facing a Mac user making the transition to Pocket PC is the lack of software to synchronise secure data between the handheld device and a desktop Mac. Until such time as a developer addresses this market opportunity and creates a sync solution, here's a tip for transferring data exported from PasswordWallet for Mac and securing it on the Pocket PC.

There are several good secure information managers for the Pocket PC. These include CodeWallet Pro ($US 30) with synchronisation to an optional Windows Desktop Edition ($US 30), eWallet Professional Edition ($US 30) which includes sync to a Windows desktop edition, FlexWallet 2005 ($US 25) which includes sync to a Windows desktop edition, and SplashID (free) which includes sync to a Windows desktop edition ($US 20). The latter company also has a Macintosh Standalone desktop edition ($US 30), but this syncs to Palm devices only: there is no means to share data between the Mac version and Pocket PC version!

I've been using PasswordWallet (Selznick Scientific Software) for Mac and Palm (with Hotsync Conduit) for the past four years, upgrading each since my original purchase because this pairing suited my needs well. What this software lacks in features it makes up for in ease-of-use—and that's what makes a good product:

Unfortunately, despite the new Missing Sync for Windows Mobile (MSWM) plugin architecture, no one has yet taken advantage of it to develop a plugin to allow the synchronisation of secure data between Mac and Pocket PC. Until this happens Mac users with Pocket PCs have to find an alternative. This is my workaround:

• In PasswordWallet on the Mac chose File > Export To Text File...;
• After the password prompt name the file with a text extension e.g. Passwords.txt;
• Send Passwords.txt to your Pocket PC via Bluetooth, or desktop mounting using MSWM;
• On the Pocket PC (if sending via Bluetooth) ignore the Unknown Object message and tap Save;
• Use Resco Explorer 2005 ($US 25) to locate Passwords.txt in your My documents folder;
• Tap and hold on Passwords.txt to bring up the contextual menu;
• Chose Encryption > Encrypt...;
• Enter a password or PIN number;
• The file is now protected from prying eyes.

The file is now protected from prying eyes (and now has a lock icon):

But there's one more trick to make your secure data easier for you to get at:

• Go to Start > Settings > Today > Items > Resco Today Plugin > Options;
• Select "change items" for "Show applications & documents";
• Select Add > Document;
• Tap on Passwords_txt then OK x 3 then X to close Settings.

The Today screen now offers instant access to your encrypted data. Tap the icon and you'll be prompted for the password as usual:

Note that you won't be able to use this trick again until you have re-encrypted the file (or you'll get a file not found error).

Should you have need of accessing your secret stuff on the Pocket PC, tapping on the file name will prompt you for the password/ PIN number. Once decrypted the file will open in Pocket Word where you can use the Find function (Edit menu) to locate the information you require.

The main drawbacks are that you need to remember to re-encrypt the file when you're done and, of course, it's a one-way ticket. Yes, it's something of a compromise. If you have a better solution please do share it!

Solution feature wish list

• Mac desktop application with MSWM-compatible plugin for data exchange with a Pocket PC companion app;
• VGA support (so we can really make use of the Notes field);
• Organisation by similar items (categories) e.g. credit cards, web logins, etc. Nested folders/ tree display?;
• Templates for different data types (cards, memberships, accounts, web logins, etc) OR (perhaps simpler) the ability to rename fields on a per-entry basis;
• Active hyperlinks on the PPC (click to open Messaging, Internet Explorer);
• Favicons (16x16 pixel) as visual add to finding the correct entry on small PPC screen, mirrored in desktop app for continuity;
• Clear delineation between e.g. O (capital letter) and 0 (zero), perhaps numbers in bold typeface?;
• Automatic backup of desktop database to a .Mac account;
• Clear indication that an entry has attached notes;
• Notes field with good capacity (e.g. for storing software registration confirmation e-mails, etc.);
• The option of a big numbers-only keypad (harder to miss!) at application launch as an alternative to the standard keypad for password/ PIN entry;
• Find function for the PPC app;
• Portrait and landscape screen support.

Any other must-have feature requests that you want to pass on to developers that might be listening? Add a comment...

Update 27.10.05: The above workaround is not really workable. What I decide to do was assign key entries in PasswordWallet to the category "SplashID". These I manually re-entered into SplashID on the PPC using a custom template based on the familiar and fairly generic PasswordWallet fields:

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