Reviews

BoxWave miniSync for palmOne LifeDrive and Sony PSP

June 20, 2005

BoxWave miniSync for the palmOne LifeDrive

The miniSync for LifeDrive allows you to charge and sync your Mobile Manager with one compact solution. Like other retractable cables, the miniSync features a USB end and a connector that plugs into the bottom of your device. The cable extends to three feet in length, so you should have no problem using it with either a laptop that sits on your desk or a regular computer that sits under the desk. If you’re using Windows XP, you may get a message stating that “this device could perform faster” but it’s nothing to worry about— in order to make the miniSync as small and light as possible, BoxWave used USB 1.1 compliant cable instead of the thicker USB 2.0 cable when designing this accessory. I still found synchronization to be lightning fast, and the very slight speed hit is worth it for me— who wants a bunch of cables all over their desk, or cluttering up their gear bag on a trip?

Charging also works well, with a few caveats. If you have your LifeDrive set to stay on while charging, you may notice that the charging LED does not light up when you use the miniSync for LifeDrive. The charging LED only comes on if the LifeDrive is off, but if you look at the battery indicator in the application launcher you’ll see that your device is actually charging. It was a bit confusing for me at first, but once I figured out how it worked I very quickly tossed the standard sync cable and AC adapter into the bottom of my junk drawer, never to be used again!

The miniSync for palmOne LifeDrive is $18.95 at the BoxWave web site.

BoxWave miniSync for the Sony PSP

This one is a little different from the accessory I reviewed in this article; it not only synchronizes your PSP, it also charges it. In order to accomplish this feat, the unit has two parts that plug into the PSP, instead of just one. The mini USB plug goes into the top of the Sony PSP and allows you to transfer music and video files from your PC, or back up your game saves. The round plug goes into the port on the bottom of the PSP so that you can charge the battery from the USB port on your computer. While this means that you’ll have a small dangling end from your PSP miniSync, the convenience is certainly worth it. Most all of the cable retracts into the body of the miniSync, and only a few inches of cable plus the power plug are left (since it splits off from the mini USB connector), which you can wrap around the miniSync before you throw it into your gear bag.

Both functions work perfectly, which means that I don’t have to use the bulky cable and AC adapter that came with my PSP any more. Even better, if you have a wall charger that accepts USB input like BoxWave’s WallCharger for miniSync, you’ll never have to use the stuff that came with your PSP or handheld again— just plug the USB end of the miniSync into the adapter and the adapter into whatever power source you like. If you want a completely mobile solution, you may want to check out the Battery Adapter for miniSync— 4AA batteries will charge your device up to five times!

The miniSync for Sony PSP is $16.95 at the BoxWave web site.

Conclusion

Both miniSyncs work very well and certainly go a long way toward eliminating “techno-clutter” on your desk and in your gear bag. The miniSync is a must-have accessory for any mobile electronics enthusiast, as it allows you to dump the bulky cables and AC adapters and still keep the charging and synchronization functions you need in a sleek, travel-friendly package. Aside from screen protection and a carrying case, the miniSync is the next best accessory investment you can make.

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