One of the more frustrating aspects of being a Mac owner is trying to sync with a Windows Mobile device (shockingly, not all Mac owners have - or even want - an iPhone, some of us like our Smartphones). It's definitely possible, either through virtualization or using a third-party product like Missing Sync or PocketMac, but freeware options have been nonexistent. Until now. Eltima Software has just released SyncMate 1.0 beta, a program designed to connect Tiger OR Leopard Macs with Windows Mobile 5 or 6 devices.

According to their website, SyncMate can:

• Install applications to your mobile phone
• Synchronize Favorites, Contacts, Calendar and Notes with their analogs Bookmarks, Address Book, iCal and Stickies accordingly
• Get information about the device (OS, memory status, alarms, battery state, etc.), view memory status diagram
• Manage SMS (Inbox and Outbox, drafts, sent and deleted messages)
• SyncMate includes a built-in converter to compress video to MPEG 4 and the ability to resize image while copying

And it's free. We like free. The program is still in beta, but its feature set is very, very promising. SyncMate also claims Leopard compatibility - and to us, that's almost as exciting as the price. Missing Sync's Leopard compatibile version is still in beta (available through their website) and PocketMac doesn't have a Leopard solution available (they are working on it).

Maybe it's just us, but if we're going to use a beta product anyway, we'd prefer to use something that's free instead of something that is $39.95. If you already have a Missing Sync license - trying out their Leopard compatible beta certainly makes sense - but for first time buyers, we say give SyncMate a shot.