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Personal digital assistant
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===Synchronization=== Most PDAs can [[data synchronization|synchronize]] their data with applications on a user's computer, allowing the user to update contact, schedule, or other information on their computer, using software such as [[Microsoft Outlook]] or [[ACT!]], and have that same data transferred to the PDA—or transfer updated information from the PDA back to the computer, eliminating the need for the user to update their data in two places. Synchronization also prevents the loss of information stored on the device if it is lost, stolen, or destroyed. When the PDA is repaired or replaced, it can be "re-synced" with the computer, restoring the user's data. Some users found that data input was quicker on their computer than on their PDA since text input via a touchscreen or small-scale keyboard was slower than a full-size keyboard. Transferring data to a PDA via the computer was, therefore, a lot quicker than having to manually input all data on the handheld device.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Most PDAs come with the ability to synchronize to a computer. This is done through ''synchronization software'' provided with the handheld, or sometimes with the computer's operating system. Examples of synchronization software include: * [[HotSync]] Manager, for [[Palm OS]] PDAs * Microsoft [[ActiveSync]], used by [[Windows XP]] and older Windows operating systems to synchronize with [[Windows Mobile]], [[Pocket PC]], and [[Windows CE]] PDAs, as well as PDAs running [[iOS]], Palm OS, and [[Symbian]] * Microsoft [[Windows Mobile Device Center]] for [[Windows Vista]], which supports Windows Mobile and [[Pocket PC]] devices * Apple [[iTunes]] used on [[Mac OS X]] and Microsoft Windows to sync iOS devices * [[iSync]], included with Mac OS X, can synchronize many [[SyncML]]-enabled PDAs * BlackBerry Desktop Software, used to sync [[BlackBerry]] devices. These programs allow the PDA to be synchronized with a [[personal information manager]], which may be part of the computer's operating system, provided with the PDA, or sold separately by a third party. For example, the RIM BlackBerry came with RIM's ''Desktop Manager'' program, which can synchronize to both Microsoft Outlook and ACT!. Other PDAs come only with their own proprietary software. For example, some early Palm OS PDAs came only with [[Palm Desktop]], while later Palm PDAs—such as the [[Treo 650]]—have the ability to sync to Palm Desktop or Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft's ActiveSync and Windows Mobile Device Center only synchronized with Microsoft Outlook or [[Microsoft Exchange Server]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Third-party synchronization software was also available for some PDAs from companies like CommonTime<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commontime.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970530205947/http://www.commontime.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 1997|title=CommonTime – Cross-platform mobile app development tools|work=CommonTime|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> and [[CompanionLink]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.companionlink.com/|title=Sync calendar, contacts, tasks and notes to Android, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry – CompanionLink|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> Third-party software can be used to synchronize PDAs to other personal information managers that are not supported by the PDA manufacturers (for example, GoldMine and [[IBM Lotus Notes]]). ====Wireless synchronization==== Some PDAs can synchronize some or all of their data using their wireless networking capabilities, rather than having to be directly connected to a personal computer via a cable. Devices running Palm's [[webOS]] or Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android operating system]] primarily sync with the [[Cloud computing|cloud]]. For example, if [[Gmail]] is used, information in contacts, email, and calendars can be synchronized between the PDA and Google's servers. RIM sold [[BlackBerry Enterprise Server]] to corporations so that corporate BlackBerry users could wirelessly synchronize their PDAs with the company's [[Microsoft Exchange Server]], IBM [[Lotus Domino]], or [[Novell GroupWise]] servers.<ref>{{cite web |title=BlackBerry — Enterprise Server — BlackBerry BES Server |url=http://us.blackberry.com/business/software/bes/overview.html |access-date=21 August 2010 |publisher=Research in Motion |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713073104/http://us.blackberry.com/business/software/bes/overview.html |archive-date=13 July 2012 }}</ref> Email, calendar entries, contacts, tasks, and memos kept on the company's server are automatically synchronized with the BlackBerry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.blackberry.com/business/software?LID=us:bb:software:businesssoftware&LPOS=us:bb:software|title=BlackBerry — Business Software Features|publisher=Research in Motion|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416171116/http://us.blackberry.com/business/software?LID=us:bb:software:businesssoftware&LPOS=us:bb:software|archive-date=2012-04-16|access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>
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