FireFox Configuration
From Sw
Wouldn't it be nice if you could sync your cell phone without paying your cell phone company for expensive data charges? Now you can with the ScheduleWorld FireFox add-on / extension!
[edit] Simple Installation
- Sign up for a ScheduleWorld account!
- Using Firefox, simply click the appropriate link:
Contents |
[edit] Is My Phone Supported?
There is a good chance it is. Bluetooth synchronization has been standard on a tremendous number of phones released over the past 3 years. Simply follow these steps to see if your phone will work:
- Install the add-on.
- Click the 'SW' button on the bottom right corner of Firefox.
- Click 'Search for SyncML devices'. It takes about 10 seconds to find the devices and a few more to determine what services are available.
- If your device is found and can sync it is supported and will be added to the list (Bluetooth SyncML Devices)!
[edit] Is My Bluetooth Driver Supported?
Your feedback to support@ScheduleWorld.com will help a lot here.
[edit] Windows
There are three main Bluetooth drivers for Windows. If the add-on doesn't 'just work' for you your best bet is to update your Bluetooth driver first.
[edit] WIDCOMM (Broadcom)
BTW Stack software version 1.4.2.10 SP5 or above. Currently the Widcomm drivers are the most tested under Windows.
[edit] BlueSoleil
Note: Version 1.6 will not work because of service discovery bugs in the driver.
[edit] Microsoft
Available only in Windows XP SP2 or newer. Apparently if you have a Bluetooth device that is supported by Microsoft you can just plug it in and the appropriate drivers will be installed.
[edit] Mac OS/X
Intel-based Mac OS X 10.4 (Bluetooth v1.2) or later (Since v2.0.2).
Status: The latest version of the add-on works on the Mac Firefox. However, you MUST enable write access to your java.policy file so the add-on can load a native library needed to talk to the Bluetooth drivers. Instructions for doing this can be found here: http://serialio.com/support/OSX/Termlet/JavaPolicyFile.php
[edit] Linux
All Linux distributions ship the same standard BlueZ Bluetooth stack. If your phone supports SyncML and you have Java 1.5 or greater available in Firefox the add-on should 'just work' for you.
Java Issues: You must run the 32-bit version of Java and the 32-bit version of Firefox. Java doesn't provide an amd64 plug-in so you have no choice. This URL will help you do this in ubuntu: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=1174435 . I realize this is not optimal, but Flash and a host of other plug-ins only with in 32-bits too so it seems the 64-bit version of Firefox is a lame duck at the moment. If you know how to improve this situation please email support@ScheduleWorld.com so I can update this page.
Note: ScheduleWorld developed the Linux D-Bus BlueZ Bluetooth device and service discovery implementation for BlueCove. Because of this experience if any Linux related issues are found it is likely they will be resolved quickly.
The Linux BlueZ version that was tested with was /usr/lib/libbluetooth.so.2.8.5.
[edit] Linux Advanced
If you want to make double sure your device has (or doesn't have) the required SyncML capability you have the ability to test your phone directly with Bluez.
- Install bluez-utils.
- At the command line type this: sdptool browse &> sdptool.out
- The sdptool.out file MUST have the following:
Service Name: OBEX SyncML Client
Service RecHandle: 0x10001
Service Class ID List:
UUID 128: 00000002-0000-1000-8000-0002ee000002
Protocol Descriptor List:
"L2CAP" (0x0100)
"RFCOMM" (0x0003)
Channel: 1
"OBEX" (0x0008)
- If you don't find a SyncML Client entry then your phone WILL NOT sync.
[edit] Sync Instructions
Once you have discovered a device:
- Set your username and password.
- Select which data types you want to sync. (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes).
- Click 'Save' so the add-on remembers your settings.
- Click 'Sync'.
[edit] Features
- Sync for free.
- Initiate your cell phone sync using Firefox. Your phone could be locked in your briefcase and it would still work. (Unless your briefcase blocks Bluetooth radio frequencies :-)
- Fast syncing. Your phone will sync with ScheduleWorld through your computers high speed Internet connection. This is blazingly fast compared to syncing over your cell phone providers data network.
[edit] Troubleshooting
Installing the Java Console add-on helps a lot. If you're having problems with discovery or syncing please install the add-on as it gives you a way via "Tools -> Java Console" to show the console. Just past the console text into an email to support@ScheduleWorld.com or post it to the forums and someone will respond asap.
Java Console add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/141
[edit] How To Report Problems
- Copy/paste the Java Console into an email to support@ScheduleWorld.com.
- Also copy/paste the text beside any red stop signs in FireFox Tools -> Error Console window.
[edit] Known Issues
[edit] Sun's New Java Plug-in
- You MUST NOT use the new Java plug-in technology created by Sun. You can find instructions on how to force Java to use the old plug-in here: https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2/
- FYI: The file name for the old plug-in has 'oji' and the new (broken) plug-in has npjp2.
[edit] Nokia Phones Fail To Sync
Apparently some Nokia devices require you to create a new sync profile that has the correct settings for the URL.
- F.E. URL: http://sync.scheduleworld.com/funambol/ds
- You can find more details about this here: http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showpost.php?p=161325&postcount=49
[edit] First Sync Doesn't Work
The first sync may not work. Just try again and your sync should work from then on.
[edit] Updating The Add-on Fails
Updating the add-on fails if you click the 'Restart Firefox' button after you upgrade the add-on. This is being investigated but for now this procedure works:
- Update the add-on.
- Do not click the 'restart firefox' button.
- Close firefox manually and start it. The add-on will be updated correctly.
[edit] OS/X Likely Won't Work
It has not been tested due to lack of hardware. Please email OS/X feedback to support@ScheduleWorld.com.
[edit] Linux Bluetooth Discovery Fails
Linux - on KUbuntu 7.10 after a reboot Bluetooth discovery won't work. I have to unplug my Bluetooth adapter, then plug it back in and then it works fine.
[edit] The Firefox GUI has a few issues
- It doesn't display enough status information to let you know what is going on.
- It may not save your device-specific settings - like which data types you want synchronized.
- You should be able to schedule syncs. This way you can just forget about manually syncing your device. As long as Firefox is running your phone would have your latest contacts.
- Firefox may take an extra 5 seconds to shut down. It's waiting to shut down the Bluetooth device. An active task exists on how to remove this wait time.
[edit] Enabling Logging
It may help a lot to see device discovery and service discovery as it happens (or not). To enable logging simply open the Java Console. You might be able to do this via Firefox Tools -> Java Console.
In Windows you can right-click the Java icon in the bottom-right part of your task bar and select 'Open Console'.

