Palm Desktop 4.2.1 Rev C for Mac

[Joel]

This version has fixed file and folders permission issue which could impair iSync functionality when installing Palm Desktop without administrator rights. If you encountered this issue, install this version (Rev C) to fix it. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1212)]

[Joel]

Just a warning from Art McGee at MacInTouch (http://www.macintouch.com/#tips.2005.09.05). What do you Mac users think? Personally I use v4.2.1 and The Missing Sync and have not had any problems.

"Art McGee raised a red flag about more file-permission abuse by bad installers:

I have just examined the contents of the Palm Desktop 4.2.1 Revision C package installer, and I have come to the conclusion that either PalmOne is intentionally trying to damage our computers, or the software is a trojan horse that someone uploaded in place of the real software.
After the program files are installed, the installer runs a shell script called "postflight" that attempts to "fix" any permissions issues which may prevent the program from running properly. Unfortunately, the script violates the most basic programming principle in the universe - thou shalt not alter the files of programs other than thyself - and it does it so blatantly that I can only assume malicious intent. At the end of the script, it runs a final set of commands to change permissions (The "$2" variable is replaced at runtime by "/"):

sudo chmod 775 "$2"
sudo chown :admin "$2"
sudo chmod 775 "$2Applications"
sudo chown :admin "$2Applications"
sudo chmod -R 775 "$2Applications/Palm"
sudo chown -R :admin "$2Applications/Palm"
sudo chmod 775 "$2Library"
sudo chown :admin "$2Library"
sudo chmod -R 775 "$2Library/CFMSupport"
sudo chown -R :admin "$2Library/CFMSupport"
sudo chmod -R 775 "$2Library/Application Support"
sudo chown -R :admin "$2Library/Application Support"

While any bad changes to the "/", "/Applications", or "/Library" directories can be easily fixed by repairing permissions or issuing another single command, the most OUTRAGEOUS and potentially damaging change is the last one:

sudo chmod -R 775 "$2Library/Application Support"
sudo chown -R :admin "$2Library/Application Support"

The "/Library/Application Support" directory is where many programs place critical system-wide configuration and program files that are referenced on an as-needed basis. This is a directory whose permissions should NEVER be changed or altered, lest you end up breaking many of your installed apps. In particular, all sorts of system-level programs such as Anti-Virus and Disk Utilities place parts of themselves there, and any changes to their permissions will prevent them from loading at boot time. Even more dangerous, some programs place symbolic links from that directory to "/System/Library", and running a chmod command that recursively drills down that directory could end up completely trashing your entire system.
In short, this is the most irresponsible and potentially dangerous Mac OS X install program of all time. I have never seen anything this egregiously idiotic, and I have seen some pretty bad install programs. I am placing this in the category of a Trojan Horse, and warning anyone and everyone NOT to install it. "

[Homie S]

Holy crap, someone definitely dropped the ball or it sounds like we're being setup. I just bought a Treo 650 off Ebay, and I'm going to eventually need to use Palm Desktop to install some apps: If I can't use this version that's supposed to "fix" the problem, will the earlier version work (even with the file and folder permission errors bug)?

Tell me someone emailed PalmOne about this.

[dragonsgames]

This is scary :(
I just read this one, just to see what people had to say...
Palm must be trying to kill us! Windows Mobile Treo, now this? :mad:

[ZeRo66]

yah HOMIE...you can use the previous version of Palm Desktop(rev a/rev b) as long as it installs cleanly and without error....like i said, the common cause of hotsync errors like volume is locked and/or file is locked is either corrupted data/corrupted conduits or a hyperactive anti virus....

[Homie S]

yah HOMIE...you can use the previous version of Palm Desktop(rev a/rev b) as long as it installs cleanly and without error....like i said, the common cause of hotsync errors like volume is locked and/or file is locked is either corrupted data/corrupted conduits or a hyperactive anti virus....

Well I have the Palm Desktop that came with my CD, and it seems to be working fine. I'll definitely wait though until I start hearing the go-ahead for rev C. Treocentral obviously reported the same thing, some how PalmOne definitely borked.