iHub Syncs Macs, Mobiles Wirelessly

The new software from Nova Media uses a Mac-based WiFi network (and can create one if necessary) to sync calendars and contacts to iOS mobile devices.Usually, getting your calendar and contact list synced between multiple Macs and iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads requires either a cloud-based solution, such as Apple's own MobileMe, or a direct wired connection to a Mac running iTunes. Nova Media claims, however, that iHub Basic can accomplish the same tasks over a WiFi network.

"Thanks to iHub Basic, there is no need to store sensitive data on a far-away cloud service," said Nova Media's Jan Fuellemann. "In addition, the user does not have to use a cable and run iTunes just to add an appointment in the calendar or to change an address."

iHub Basic runs on Mac OS X as a server application and can sync data to other Macs via WiFi or Ethernet. Mobile devices sync via WiFi. If you don't already have a WiFi network, you can use Nova's MoHub (integrated into iHub) to set up an ad hoc network for syncing. The software also offers some backup protection: it saves two weeks worth of contact and calendar information, so you can restore something you accidentally deleted even after you synchronized the error.

iHub costs $30 plus VAT (the company's in Germany) and requires Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on the server machine (and so the server must be an Intel Mac). Syncing contacts requires Snow Leopard on the other Macs and iOS 4 on the mobile devices; syncing calendars is possible with OS X 10.5 Leopard on the client Macs and iOS 3 on the mobiles.