I just received and email from NormSoft alerting me that the PocketTunes 4.0.6 upgrade has been released. The 4.0.6 update includes one enhancement and several bug fixes for the 4.x code base.

This is a free upgrade for customers who have purchased PocketTunes 4 or for LifeDrive, TX, Treo 680, Treo 700p, Treo 755p, and Centro customers who have PocketTunes bundled on their devices. Customers who purchased PocketTunes 3.x qualify for special upgrade pricing.

A complete list of PocketTunes 4.x features and fixes is available on the NormSoft website.

You can download the desktop updater or install the update directly on your Internet connected device with the Help > Check for Updates command in PocketTunes. The PocketTunes 4 user guide is also available online.

I’ve done some more testing, and it is becoming clear that to sync with Palm Desktop, the device must meet the two following conditions:

• Be a Palm-branded device running Palm OS 5.2.1 or later
• Be a Palm-branded device with the Palm enhanced PIM applications (Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Memos)

The Palm Treo 600 smartphone is the exception to this rule. It runs Palm OS 5.2.1, but it does not use the Palm enhanced PIMs.

If you have an older Palm-branded device, the Treo 600, or some other Palm OS device that runs Palm OS 3.5 or later, you can use HotSync Manager 7.0.2 to sync your device with Microsoft Outlook only.

The following my list of tested devices and their sync status with Palm Desktop 6.2.2. Devices listed as Working should have no problems synchronizing PIM data with Palm Desktop 6.2.2. Devices listed as Outlook Only will only be able to sync data with Microsoft Outlook.

Palm OS 5.4.x Devices

• Palm Treo 700p – Working
• Palm Treo 650 – Working
• Palm TX – Working
• Palm LifeDrive – Working
• Palm Tungsten T5 – Working

Palm OS 5.2.x Devices

• Palm Tungsten T3 – Working
• Palm Tungsten C – Not Working; Outlook Only
• Palm Tungsten E – Working
• Palm Tungsten T2 – Not Working; Outlook Only

Palm OS 5.0 Devices

• Palm Tungsten T (m550) – Not Working; Outlook Only
• Sony Clie NZ90 – Not Working, Outlook Only

As I stated yesterday, I’m trying to figure out just what Palm OS devices can sync properly with the new version of Palm Desktop 6.2 by ACCESS. Just so we’re clear on the ground rules of my testing, here is what I’m doing.

I’m using an Apple MacBook dual booted into Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP2. I’m not running any software emulation or virtualization here. As far as Windows is concerned, it is running on an Intel Core2 Duo processor.

I have installed Palm Desktop 6.2.2 on top of the Beta 1 release (6.2.1). For my testing, I’m trying to HotSync my contacts exported from the HotSync profile of my Treo 700p which is my everyday device. I am only syncing data with Palm Desktop. I am not working with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, or any other enterprise messaging system.

Now that you know what I’m testing, let’s talk about what I’ve tested. The following is the list of devices that I’ve tested and their status.

Palm OS 5.4.x Devices

• Palm Treo 700p – Working
• Palm Treo 650 – Working
• Palm TX – Working
• Palm LifeDrive – Working, needed to disable the AddIt conduit

Palm OS 5.2.x Devices

• Palm Tungsten T3 – Working
• Palm Tungsten C – Not Working; Address v4.5.1P will not sync data

While I have only tested a handful of devices, it looks like Palm OS devices running Palm’s enhanced PIMs are working at this point. Additional testing with older devices like the Tungsten T and T2 will tell me if I’m correct or not. If that is true, Palm Desktop 6.2 should work with any Palm-branded device launched after September 2003, with maybe the exception of the Treo 600.

Since the release of Palm Desktop by ACCESS 6.2 for Windows, I’ve been trying to figure out what, exactly, of Palm’s devices work with this new release.

The download page states, as a new feature:

“Integrated Desktop: Provides a single desktop and conduit compatibility across all Palm OS 3.5.x through 5.4.x devices.”

The download page also goes on to state in the system requirements section:

“Palm devices:

• Palm Centro
• Treo 755p , 700p, 680, 650
• Palm TX, Z22
• Tungsten E2″

Not wanting to let this direct conflict go unchallenged, I have decided that I’m going to start testing the devices in my collection of Palm OS devices against Palm Desktop by ACCESS 6.2.

So far, I’ve be able to HotSync my Treo 700p (Sprint) and my Treo 650 (Verizon) without any trouble. I’ve also been able to HotSync my Palm TX. But all of those devices are on the supported device list. But what about the LifeDrive, Tungsten T3, m505, and the Handspring Treo 90? What about the Tungsten T, the Palm Vx, and even a Clie NZ-90? I don’t know. Keep reading and I’ll post my findings as I work through my collection of devices.