Hidden “Home Sync” Feature in the Latest Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger)

“One reader notes the existance of a “Home Sync” feature in the final version of Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) which does not appear to be enabled. Under:

System -> Library -> CoreServices -> Menu Extras

are a list of Menu bar menus that are available in Tiger. “HomeSync.menu” enables a curious menu that gives you options to “Sync Home Now” and open “Home Sync Preferences”. Trying to Sync your home gives the following error:

You must have a portable home folder to use this feature.

To create a mobile account and a portable home, open System Preferences and click Accounts. Then click Create mobile account and click Configure. If these items are disabled, see your system administrator.

Opening Home Sync preferences simply opens the Accounts System Preferences — but no option for Mobile accounts exist. Home Sync was first spotted in betas of Tiger, but curiously, this unusable menu item has made its way into the final version.

Readers will be reminded of a previous unrealized feature of Panther called “Home on iPod” which promised similar features. Details about Home on iPod were posted by Apple on their Panther feature pages but were quickly removed after their discovery. This feature promised to give users the ability to carry their home directory, files and apps on your iPod or any Firewire drive.” Source: Mac Rumors